Amy Winehouse was ‘musical encyclopedia’

Amy Winehouse was an "encyclopaedia" of music, according to producer Mark Ronson.

Amy's posthumous album Amy Winehouse Lioness: Hidden Treasures was released earlier this month, and consists of 12 previously unreleased archive recordings of the late singer.

The record was compiled by friends and music producers Mark and Salaam Remi.

Although he was initially reluctant to come on board the project after Amy's death in July, Mark felt compelled because of her dedication to music.

"It's an insight into the songs she loves. She was an encyclopaedia of old songs. It was in her musical DNA," he explained in an interview with BBC Breakfast.

"When you went over to her house, her music collection was 60s girls groups and hip-hop."

Mark and Amy were long-time friends and collaborated on the star's award-winning album Back to Black together. The 36-year-old British DJ-and-producer was constantly inspired by Amy's talent.

"To be honest, it's hard for me to listen to [her posthumous album] from start to finish," he revealed. "I said no initially. I didn't know if they necessarily needed me and it was a bit too soon for me. I heard a vocal and thought I wanted to be part of something magical for the last time with Amy.

"The time we had before she became a megastar – they're the times I remember the most. They were special."

Mark says Amy's music speaks for itself. He has explained his input into the recent record.

"I just pulled the vocal and wrote the arrangement around it," he explained.

Amy Winehouse Lioness: Hidden Treasures reached the number one spot on UK charts in its first week of release.

The singer was found dead in her north London flat at the age of 27.

The star publicly battled with drink and drug addictions and an October inquest into her death heard she was more than five times the UK legal drinking and driving limit when she died.

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