Samantha Ronson

Samantha Judith Ronson is an English DJ, singer, and songwriter born on 7 August 1977. She is widely known for her extensive career as a full-time DJ, performing at high-profile public and private events, as well as her work as a solo recording artist and as a member of the band Ocean Park Standoff.

Ronson was born in Camden, London, England, to writer and socialite Ann Dexter-Jones and music executive and real estate entrepreneur Laurence Ronson. Following her parents' divorce when she was six years old, she moved to New York City with her mother, siblings, and her mother's partner, Foreigner guitarist Mick Jones, whom her mother later married. Raised in Conservative Judaism, Ronson attended the Chapin School on Manhattan's Upper East Side and went on to study creative writing and philosophy at New York University. She grew up in a prominent creative family that includes her brother, music producer Mark Ronson, and her fraternal twin sister, fashion designer Charlotte Ronson.

Her DJ career began by chance after she accepted an invitation to play at a club she regularly visited. She quickly established herself in the industry, becoming a full-time DJ and performing live at major events such as MTV's New Year's Eve show, the Super Bowl, the Sundance Film Festival, the Cannes Film Festival, and the MTV Video Music Awards, as well as private events for numerous celebrities. Ronson became the first rock act signed to Roc-A-Fella Records, where she released tracks including "Pull My Hair Out," "Fool," "If It's Gonna Rain," and "Built This Way," the latter of which appeared on the soundtrack for the film Mean Girls. During this period, she also opened for JC Chasez on his 2004 tour and co-owned the New York City nightclub The Plumm.

In November 2011, Ronson released her solo album, Chasing the Reds, through her own label, Broken Toy Records. The album was co-produced by Jimmy Messer and Ronson, with her brother Mark producing the track "Skyscrapers." The record featured guest appearances from artists including Wale, Alex Greenwald, and Slash. Alongside her music career, Ronson served as the official DJ for Hennessy Black in 2011, designed sneaker collections for Supra in 2009, 2010, and 2014, and appeared in a 2011 campaign for the fashion label Boy London.

In 2016, Ronson formed the group Ocean Park Standoff alongside Pete Nappi and Ethan Thompson. The band released their debut single, "Good News," in October 2016, followed by a self-titled debut EP on Hollywood Records in March 2017 and a U.S. tour. In addition to her musical releases, Ronson has appeared in music videos for artists such as Usher, Alicia Keys, N.E.R.D, Awolnation, and Mark Ronson, as well as an advertisement for Gap alongside rapper Common.

Ronson has resided in Santa Monica, California. Following intense media scrutiny and legal disputes surrounding defamation and legal fees during the late 2000s, she continues her creative work. In February 2022, she spoke about her personal journey and acceptance of her sexuality during an appearance on the Queery podcast, where she stated that she identifies as gay.