Ron Carroll was born in Chicago in 1968. As a boy, he learned to sing while a member of his church choir. As a teenager, he was a fan of rock band KISS, but became interested in house music when he attended a high school dance and spent time watching the DJ perform.
Ron started performing as a DJ in the late 1980s in a club he himself opened. He released his first official record, “My Prayer”, in 1993, a track produced by local producers Hula (from the Outhere Brothers), Kay Fingers and Ron Trent. Because of his style of singing like a preacher, he received the nickname “The Minister of Sound”.
Ron Carroll is well known for his vocal performances on such Mega Hit songs such as “Lucky Star” with Superfunk, “Back Together” with Hardsoul, “Wonderful World” with Axwell & Bob Sinclar and his own solo track “Walking Down The Street”. Unknown to the public eye, Ron has been producing for over 22 years, and has co-produced some of Chicago’s biggest classics, as well as remixed for some of Americas largest artist. Such as: Beyonce, Mary J. Blidge and Eryka Badu. Ron has also been a DJ going on almost 30 years now.
SUM :Congrats on your recent releases and thanks for joining for this interview. It’s such an honor to such a legendary name on Straight Up! Music so we’re very grateful for your time. So tell us, what does a normal day in the life of Ron Carroll look like?
i’m happy to be apart of this project, and thank you for having me. a normal day for me is waking up, looking out of my window in meditation, drinking some water, and directly i go sit at my computer to check emails, then start creating music.
SUM :Tell us about Light It Up, your recent collaboration with J Nitti, were you able to get into the studio together or was this made possible via internet?
This was definitely an internet love affair…lol. one of those situations where the vibe was already dope, and all i had to do was add my spice to it. and the result is awesome!!
SUM :Your track with Siren, Follow Me, was released under your R.O.N.N. alias. What’s the differentiation between Ron Carroll and the R.O.N.N. alias?
Ron carroll is the vocalist. r.o.n.n. is the producer. for many years people did not understand my position on tracks i was not using my voice on, asking me things like: “where is your vocal” and i would always have to explain that i produced it..lol. so r.o.n.n. gives me the open lane to be a producer, and respected as one.
SUM :Having been involved with dance music for over twenty years, how have things changed overall in the scene for you?
Things are always moving in the music world. today it is the most commercial music on the charts and in venues worldwide. real arena superstars are being born, and people are becoming increasingly wealthy from this. is this good for the scene?? that is the real question…i personally feel it’s not a good position to be in. sure it looks great, but everything that goes up, must come down. and when it finally comes down, it will be catastrophic for everyone in every genre. not just the edm stuff. just look at the disco era.
SUM :Which part of the production process do you enjoy the most? Is it the beat-making, songwriting, recording vocals or producing for other artists?
Production for other artist is where i really have a good time. it’s just a feeling of the spotlight not being directly on you, so it allows you to be more creative and free in all processes.
SUM :It seems like you love all kinds of house: Your mixes range from soul and disco house to deep/techno and even big room/progressive. What does a usual set from you consist of?
I love all styles of music, and my set’s range according to venues. this is what keeps me working all of the time. i can do a progressive set in vegas on a saturday, and fly back to chicago and do a 9hr disco classics set. i love the variety.
SUM :How would you explain to someone the relationship between the city of Chicago, house music, and yourself?
It’s like the holy trinity…lol. chicago is the epicenter of house music. i feel that i am house music. it just flows right. people look at me and say “house” and this feels good.
SUM :You’ve created some amazing tracks with some amazing artists including Axwell, Bob Sinclair, Cece Peniston, Beyonce, and Eryka Badu. Who was your favorite to work with?
i really loved working with bob sinclar. there is something that happens magically when we get in the studio that touches people on a global scale.
SUM :We know you’re sometimes called “The Minister of Sound” and we love the idea of letting the music take over. Did your soulful vocal style come about from a religious background or some other way?
It comes from my surroundings for sure. black gospel and soul roots.
SUM :How do you feel about current trends in dance music like trap and a resurgence of uk garage?
I love for people to express themselves freely through music. i think it’s great.
SUM :Other than Chicago, what’s your favorite house music epicenter to travel to or perform in and why?
For me there are two places that give me amazing shows. australia and brazil. the energy and love i get from these places are unmatched. always sold out shows. amazing experiences.
SUM :Who are your top 3 favorite artists (not necessarily electronic) at the moment?
John Legend, Calvin Harris, Marco Carola. because they are amazing and consistent a what they do.
SUM :It’s nice to see someone who’s been in the scene for a long time that’s open to today’s new styles and genres. What do you say to the purists that aren’t so accepting of today’s house music?
Purist should open there minds to future music, because there are future purist being born as we speak, and there non-willingness to adapt will not even matter in years to come. find new things that suit there taste and support.
SUM :What’s are the key tools in your production process? What mics, DAW, plug-ins, synths are vital to your music?
I love working with logic 9. sylenth and my akg mic. i love the idea of still putting work into creating music, and not having something sitting there pre made. i like to get my hands dirty…lol.
SUM :What’s the best place in the city to grab a Chicago-style dog or deep-dish pizza? Or if you don’t have one, favorite place to eat?
Chicago’s #1 eateries: lou malnatti’s pizza, portillo’s hot dog’s, ms. biscuit (for breakfast) and hub 51 for lunch or dinner.
