From en.wikipedia.org:
[American musician (born 1965)] [other uses] [date=July 2021] {{Infobox
musical artist | image = Moby 12 17 2018 -16 (31743191557).jpg | alt = Moby
playing his guitar in 2018 | caption = Moby performing in 2018 | birth_date =
[1965] | birth_place = New York City, U.S. | birth_name = Richard Melville
Hall | occupation = [Musician] | years_active = 1983–present | genre =
[Electronica] | label = {{flatlist|
- Instinct
- Elektra
- Mute
- Little Idiot/ Fontana
- V2 / BMG
- Virgin / EMI
- Because
- Deutsche Grammophon / [zwsp] Universal Classics
}} | instruments = {{flatlist|
- Vocals
- guitar
- bass
- keyboards
- drums
}} | website = [moby.com] | module = {{Infobox person|embed=yes
| signature = Signature of Moby.svg
| signature_size = 100px
}}
}}
RICHARD MELVILLE HALL (September 11, 1965), known professionally as MOBY, is
an American musician, songwriter, record producer, disc jockey, and animal
rights activist. He has sold 20 million records worldwide. AllMusic
considers him to be "among the most important dance music figures of the early
1990s, helping bring dance music to a mainstream audience both in the United
States and the United Kingdom".[1]
After taking up guitar and piano at age nine, he played in several underground
punk rock bands through the 1980s before turning to electronic dance music.
In 1989, he moved to New York City and became a prolific figure as a DJ,
producer and remixer. His 1991 single "Go" was his mainstream breakthrough,
especially in Europe, where it peaked within the top ten of the charts in the
Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Between 1992 and 1997 he scored eight top
10 hits on the _Billboard_ Dance Club Songs chart including "Move (You Make Me
Feel So Good)", "Feeling So Real", and "James Bond Theme (Moby Re-Version)".
Throughout the decade he also produced music under various pseudonyms,
released the critically acclaimed _Everything Is Wrong_ (1995) and composed
music for films. His punk-oriented album _Animal Rights_ (1996) alienated
much of his fan base.[2]
Moby found commercial and critical success with his fifth album _Play_ (1999),
which, after receiving little recognition, became an unexpected global hit in
2000 after each track was licensed to films, television shows, and
commercials. It remains his highest selling album with 12 million copies
sold.[3] Its seventh single, "South Side", featuring Gwen Stefani, remains his
only one to appear on the US _Billboard_ Hot 100, reaching No. 14. Moby
followed _Play_ with albums of varied styles including electronic, dance,
rock, and downtempo music, starting with _18_ (2002), _Hotel_ (2005), and
_Last Night_ (2008). His later albums saw him explore ambient music,
including the almost four-hour release _Long Ambients 1: Calm. Sleep._
(2016). Moby continues to record and release albums; his twenty-first studio
album, _Resound NYC_, was released in May 2023.
In addition to his music career, Moby is known for his veganism and support
for animal rights and humanitarian aid. He was the owner of TeaNY, a vegan
cafe in Manhattan, and Little Pine, a vegan restaurant in Los Angeles, and
organized the vegan music and food festival Circle V. He is the author of
four books, including a collection of his photography and two memoirs:
_Porcelain: A Memoir_ (2016) and _Then It Fell Apart_ (2019).
** Early life and influences
Richard Melville Hall was born September 11, 1965, in the neighborhood of
Harlem in Manhattan, New York City. He is an only child of Elizabeth McBride
([née] Warner), a medical secretary, and James Frederick Hall (1941–1967), a
chemistry professor, who died in a car crash while drunk when Moby was
two.<ref
name=TI05>[url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/moby-i-am-a-messy-human-being-and-i-dont-have-a-problem-admitting-it-4325.html]<ref
name=TG14/>[4]<ref
name=TG160521>[url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/may/21/moby-bags-drugs-having-sex-stranger-miranda-sawyer]
His father gave him the nickname Moby three days after his birth as his
parents considered the name Richard too large for a newborn baby. The name
was also a reference to the ancestry Hall says he was told by his
family,[5][6] though he is not directly related to Herman Melville, author of
_Moby-Dick ._[7] Moby is distantly related to David Melville, inventor of the
first United States-patented gas light system.[8]
Moby was raised by his mother, first in San Francisco from 1969 for a short
period. He recalled being sexually abused by a staff member at his daycare
during this time.<ref
name=KQED19>[url=https://www.kqed.org/arts/13855452/how-it-fell-apart-moby-talks-new-memoir-addiction-and-trauma]
This was followed by a move to Darien, Connecticut,<ref name=NYT11/>[9] living
in a squat with "three or four other drug-addicted hippies, with bands playing
in the basement."<ref name=TG16 /> The two then moved to Stratford,
Connecticut, for a brief time.<ref
name=HA00>[url=https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/moby-3] His
mother struggled to support her son, often relying on food stamps and
government welfare.<ref name=TI05/> They occasionally stayed with Moby's
grandparents in Darien, but the affluence of the Connecticut suburb made him
feel poor and ashamed.<ref name=TG16/> Shortly before his mother's death in
1997, Moby learned from her that he has a half brother.<ref name=TG16/> His
first job was a caddy at a golf course.<ref
name=NPR08>[url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89237216]
Moby took up music at the age of nine.<ref name=PT04/> He started on classical
guitar and received piano lessons from his mother<ref name=THC95/> before
studying jazz, music theory, and percussion. In 1983, he became the guitarist
in a hardcore punk band, the Vatican Commandos, playing on their debut EP _Hit
Squad for God_.[10] Around this time he was the lead vocalist for Flipper for
two days; Moby played bass for their reunion shows in the 2000s.<ref
name=V13/> Moby formed a post-punk group named AWOL around the time of his
eighteenth birthday. He is credited on their only release, a self-titled EP,
as Moby Hall.<ref name=NYT02>[last=Marzorati]
In 1983, Moby graduated from Darien High School[11] and started a philosophy
degree at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, Connecticut. Around this
time he had found the instruments he had learned "sonically limiting" and
moved to electronic music.<ref
name=TVS95>[url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/495628331/] He spun records
at the campus radio station WHUS, which led to DJ work in local clubs and
bars.<ref name=THC95/> Moby grew increasingly unhappy at university, however,
and transferred to State University of New York at Purchase, studying
philosophy and photography, to try and renew his interest in studying. He
dropped out in April 1984 to pursue DJing and music full-time, which started
his interest in electronic dance music.<ref name=TI05/><ref name=F97/><ref
name=HC97>[url=https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1997-03-05-9703050028-story.html]
For two years he lived in Greenwich, Connecticut, where he DJ'd at The Cafe,
an under-21 nightclub at the back of a church.<ref
name=HC08>[url=https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-2005-10-18-0510180608-story.html]<ref
name=MW/> In 1987, he started to send demos of his music to record labels in
New York City; he failed to receive an offer, which led to a two-year period
of "very fruitless labor".<ref name=MW/> Around 1988, Moby moved into a
semi-abandoned factory in Stamford, Connecticut, that had no bathroom or
running water, but the free electricity supply allowed him to work on his
music,<ref name=HC97/> using a 4-track recorder, synthesizer, and drum
machine.<ref name=BM12>[url=https://believermag.com/an-interview-with-moby/]
Moby cites English band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) as "heroes",
without whom he would never have begun making electronic music.[12][13] His
other formative influences include Nick Drake, Suicide, Silver Apples, Eric B.
& Rakim, and Public Enemy.[14]
** Career
*** 1989–1993: Signing with Instinct, "Go", and breakthrough
In 1989, Moby relocated to New York City with his close friend, artist Damian
Loeb.<ref name=NYT11/><ref name=NYT02/> In addition to performing DJ sets in
local bars and clubs, he played guitar in alternative rock group Ultra Vivid
Scene and appeared in the video for their 1989 single "Mercy Seat".[15][16] In
1990, Moby joined Shopwell and played on their album _Peanuts_.[17]<ref
name=TG00/> Moby's first live electronic music gig followed in the summer of
1990 at Club MK; he wore a suit for the show.<ref
name=MW>[url=http://www.mercurywheels.com/Moby.htm]<ref
name=EXC02>[url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/moby-whale_of_tale] His future
manager Eric Härle, who was in attendance, recalled Moby's set: "The music was
amazing, but the show was riddled with technical mishaps. It left me very
intrigued and impressed in a strange way."[18]
By mid-1990, Moby had signed a deal as the sole artist of Instinct Records, an
independent New York City-based dance label then still in its infancy. The
three-man operation saw Moby answer incoming calls and make records in a
studio he set up in the owner's lounge.<ref
name=BS16>[url=https://newsflash.bigshotmag.com/features/46894/] To appear
that Instinct had more artists, Moby's early singles were put out under
several names such as Voodoo Child, Barracuda, Brainstorm, and UHF.<ref
name=MW/> The first, "Time's Up" as The Brotherhood, was co-written by Moby
and vocalist Jimmy Mack.[19]<ref name="CT92"/> This was followed by
"Mobility", his first single released as Moby, in November 1990, which sold an
initial 2,000 copies.<ref name=EXC02/> He then scored a breakthrough hit with
a remix of "Go", originally a B-side to "Mobility" with an added sample of
"Laura Palmer's Theme" by Angelo Badalamenti from the television series _Twin
Peaks_. Released in March 1991, it peaked at No. 10 in the UK in October and
earned him national exposure there with an appearance on _Top of the
Pops_.<ref name="hitquarters.com" /> Instinct capitalised on Moby's success
with the late 1991 compilation _Instinct Dance_ featuring tracks by Moby and
his pseudonyms. The following year, Moby revealed that "Go" had earned him
just $2,000 in royalties.<ref name=CT92/>
The success of "Go" led to increased demand for Moby to produce more music and
to remix other artists' songs. He often arranged for the artist and himself
to trade remixes as opposed to being paid for his work, which was the case for
his mixes for Billy Corgan and Soundgarden.<ref name=SPIN97/> The increased
mainstream exposure led Moby to request a release from his contract with
Instinct for a bigger label. Instinct refused, so Moby retaliated by holding
out on new material. However, Instinct continued to put out records, mostly
from demos, without his consent having previously copied many of his tapes and
had the master rights.<ref name=THC95/><ref name=BS16/> This was the case for
Moby's debut album, _Moby_, released in July 1992 and formed mostly of
previously unreleased demos that Moby considered old and unrepresentative of
the musical direction he had taken since. Nonetheless, he claimed Instinct
had insisted and had the legal right to put it out.<ref
name=BB92>[url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2REEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA34][James]
It was re-titled _The Story So Far_ and presented with a different track
listing for its UK release. Four singles were released: "Go", "Drop a Beat",
"Next Is the E", and a double A-side of "I Feel It" with "Thousand". The
latter was recognised by _Guinness World Records_ as the fastest tempo in a
recorded song at 1,015 beats-per-minute.<ref name=HA00/>[20]
In 1992, Moby completed his first US tour as the opening act for the
Shamen.<ref name=MW/><ref name=CC93/> In mid-1992, Moby estimated that he had
earned between $8,000 to $11,000 a year for the past six years.<ref
name=CT92>[url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30422341/] At the 1992 _Mixmag_
awards, he smashed his keyboard after his set.<ref name=EXC02/> After his
second nationwide tour, this time with the Prodigy and Richie Hawtin, in early
1993,<ref name=MW/> a second compilation of Moby's work for Instinct followed
named _Early Underground_. His second and final album on Instinct, _Ambient_,
was released in August 1993. It is a collection of mostly ambient techno
instrumentals of a more experimental style. By this time Instinct had agreed
to release Moby who then took legal action, claiming that the label demanded
"a ridiculous amount of money" that he did not have to leave. He also
expressed disagreements over the way Instinct had packaged and handled his
music.<ref name=CC93>[url=https://www.chaoscontrol.com/moby/] Moby was
eventually released after he paid the label $10,000.<ref name=TVS95/>
*** 1993–1998: Signing with Elektra, _Everything Is Wrong_ , and _Animal Rights_
In 1993, Moby signed with Elektra Records, which lasted for five years. He
secured a deal with Mute Records, a British label, to handle his European
distribution.<ref name=NYT02/><ref
name=CCD99>[url=https://www.chaoscontrol.com/moby-1999/] Moby's output for
Elektra/Mute began with _Move_, a four-track EP released in August 1993. He
attempted to make it in a professional studio, but he disliked the results and
re-recorded it at home. The song "All That I Need Is to Be Loved (MV)" is his
first song to feature his own vocals.<ref name=CC93/> The first single, "Move
(You Make Me Feel So Good)", reached No. 1 on the US _Billboard_ Hot Dance
Music/Club Play chart and No. 21 in the UK.[21] In 1993, Moby toured as the
headlining act with Orbital and Aphex Twin. A rift developed between Aphex
Twin and himself, partly due to Moby's refusal to tolerate their cigarette
smoke, so he travelled to each gig by plane, leaving the rest on the tour
bus.<ref name=EXC02/> In 1994, Moby put out _Demons/Horses_, an electronic
album of two 20-minute tracks under the name Voodoo Child.[22]
Moby's contract with Elektra allowed the opportunity to make his third
full-length album, which was underway in 1994. He chose to include a variety
of musical styles on the album that he either liked or had been influenced by,
including electronic dance, ambient, rock, and industrial music. _Everything
Is Wrong_ was released in March 1995 to critical praise; _Spin_ magazine named
it Album of the Year and some commentators considered it to be an album ahead
of its time as it failed to crack the _Billboard_ 200 or have an impact on the
dance charts.[23]<ref
name=LAT95>[url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/154668659/] In the UK, the
album reached No. 25 and the singles "Hymn" and "Feeling So Real" went to
Nos. 31 and 30, respectively. Elektra took advantage of its diverse sound by
distributing tracks of the same style to corresponding radio stations
nationwide.<ref name=THC95/> Early copies put out in the UK and Germany
included a bonus CD of ambient music entitled _Underwater_. Moby toured the
album with some headline spots on the second stage at the 1995 Lollapalooza
festival.<ref name=LAT95/> He followed it with a double remix album,
_Everything Is Wrong—Mixed and Remixed_.
The success of _Everything Is Wrong_ had Moby reach a new peak in critical
acclaim. The _Los Angeles Times_ thought the 29-year-old Moby was "poised for
greatness [...] to make that big crossover" from a respected underground
artist to a mainstream dance and rock musician.<ref name=LAT95/> _Billboard_
declared him "King of techno" and _Spin_ named him "the closest techno comes
to a complete artist."[24] In 1995, Moby was approached by Courtney Love to
produce the next Hole album, but he declined.<ref name=EXC02/> He directed the
music video for "Young Man's Stride" by Mercury Rev.<ref
name=TW13>[url=https://theweeklings.com/joe-daly/2013/08/03/moby-the-interview/]
In 1995 and 1996, Moby put out a number of "self-indulgent dance" singles
under the pseudonyms Lopez and DJ Cake on Trophy Records, his own Mute
imprint, so he could release material that he was interested in without
concern for its commercial impact.<ref
name=F97>[url=https://www.furious.com/perfect/moby.html] In 1996, Moby
contributed "Republican Party" to the AIDS benefit album _Offbeat: A Red Hot
Soundtrip_ produced by the Red Hot Organization and released his second Voodoo
Child album, _The End of Everything_.<ref name=LAT97/>
While touring _Everything Is Wrong_, Moby had grown bored with the electronic
scene and felt the press had failed to understand his records and take them
seriously. This marked a major stylistic change for his next album, _Animal
Rights_, combining guitar-driven rock songs with Moby on lead vocals and
softer ambient tracks.<ref
name=SFE970209>[url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/462302404/]<ref
name=SFE970824>[url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/462708652/] Upon
completing the album Moby said that it was "weird, long, self-indulgent and
difficult".<ref name="hitquarters.com" /><ref
name=LAT97>[url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/156718292/] Its lead single
is a cover version of "That's When I Reach for My Revolver" by post-punk group
Mission of Burma. _Animal Rights_ was released in September 1996 in the UK,
where it peaked at No. 38, and in February 1997 in the US. It was poorly
received by his dance fan base who felt Moby had abandoned them, creating
doubts as to what kind of artist Moby really was. Moby pointed out that he
had not abandoned his electronic music completely and had worked on dance and
house mixes and film scores while making _Animal Rights_.<ref
name=SPIN97>[url=https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/moby-tech-inoi-]<ref
name=LAT9700910>[url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/157168215/]
After _Animal Rights_, Moby's manager recalled: "We found ourselves struggling
for even the slightest bit of recognition. He became a has-been in the eyes
of a lot of people in the industry".<ref name="hitquarters.com" /> Despite the
hit in sales and critical response, Moby promoted the album with a European
tour with Red Hot Chili Peppers and Soundgarden, and headlined the Big Top
tour with other dance and electronic DJs.<ref name=SFE970824/> He returned to
the genre after liking the house music that a friend and DJ had played at a
party.<ref name=LAT9700910/> In October 1997, Moby displayed his range of
music styles with the release of _I Like to Score_, a compilation of his film
soundtrack work with some re-recorded tracks.<ref name=SFE970824/><ref
name=AAS97>[url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/356872661/] Among them are
updated version of the "James Bond Theme" used for _Tomorrow Never Dies_,
music used in _Scream_, and a cover of "New Dawn Fades" by Joy Division, an
instrumental version of which appeared in _Heat_.<ref name=AAS97/>[25] Late
1997 saw Moby start his first US tour in two years.<ref
name=AJ97>[url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/156156870/]
In 1998, Elektra granted Moby's request to be released from his deal on the
condition that he paid to leave, which amounted to "quite a lot". He felt
Elektra did little to capitalise on the critical success of _Everything Is
Wrong_, and that it was only interested in radio friendly hits.<ref
name=TR99>[url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30660171/] Left without an
American distributor, his only deal remained with the UK-based Mute
Records.<ref name=NYT02/><ref
name=LAT99>[url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/160490176] Moby considered
himself an artist that did not belong to a major label as his music did not
fit with the genres that they promoted.<ref name=CCD99/>
*** 1999–2004: _Play_ , worldwide success, and _18_
Moby's fifth album, _Play_, was released by Mute and V2 Records in May 1999.
The project originated when a music journalist introduced Moby to the field
recordings of Alan Lomax from the compilation album _Sounds of the South: A
Musical Journey From the Georgia Sea Islands to the Mississippi Delta_. Moby
took an interest in the songs and formed samples from various tracks which he
used to base new tracks of his own.[26] Upon release in May 1999, _Play_ had
moderate sales but eventually sold over 10 million copies worldwide.[27] Moby
toured worldwide in support of the album, which lasted 22 months.<ref
name=B0300>[url=https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/moby] Every
track on _Play_ was licensed to various films, advertisements, and television
shows, as well as independent films and non-profit groups.[28] The move was
criticised and led to some to consider that Moby had become a sellout, but he
later maintained that the licenses were granted mostly to independent films
and non-profit projects, and agreed to them due to the difficulty of getting
his music heard on the radio and television in the past.<ref name=NPR08/> In
2007, _The Washington Post_ published an article about a mathematical equation
dubbed the "Moby quotient" that determined to what degree had a musical artist
sold out. It was named in reference to his decision to license music from
_Play_.<ref name=NPR08/>[29]
In 2000, Moby contributed "Flower" to _Gone in 60 Seconds_.[30] He co-wrote
"Is It Any Wonder" with Sophie Ellis-Bextor for her debut solo album, _Read My
Lips_. _Moby: Play - The DVD_, released in 2001, features the music videos
produced for the album, live performances, and other bonus features. It was
nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Long Form Music Video.[31] In 2001, Moby
founded the Area:One Festival which toured the US and Canada across 17 shows
that summer with a range of artists. The set included Outkast, New Order,
Incubus, Nelly Furtado, and Paul Oakenfold, with Moby headlining.
Moby started on the follow-up to _Play_ in late 2000.<ref name=NYT02/> Prior
to working on tracks for _18_, he got friends to search for records with
vocals that he could use and make samples from and went on to write over 140
songs for the album.<ref name=W02>[url=https://www.wired.com/2002/05/moby/] At
the same time, Moby familiarised himself with the ProTools software and made
_18_ with it.<ref name=NYT02/> Released in May 2002, _18_ went to No. 1 in
the UK and eleven other countries, and No. 4 in the US. It went on to sell
over four million copies worldwide.<ref name=RS16/> Moby toured extensively
for both _Play_ and _18_, playing over 500 shows in the next four years.[32]
The tour included the Area2 Festival in the summer of 2002, featuring a
line-up of Moby, David Bowie, Blue Man Group, Busta Rhymes, and Carl Cox.[33]
In December 2002, during a tour stop at Paradise Rock Club in Boston, Moby was
punched in the face and sprayed with mace by two or three assailants while
signing autographs outside the venue. The incident left him with multiple
bruises and cuts.[34]
In February 2002, Moby performed at the closing ceremony of the Winter
Olympics.<ref name=EXC02/> That month he hosted the half-hour MTV series
_Señor Moby's House of Music_, presenting a selection of electronic and dance
music videos.<ref
name=LAT02>[url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-may-12-ca-hilburn12-story.html]
His song "Extreme Ways" was used in all five of the _Bourne_ films, from 2002
to 2016.[35] Moby said that after it was used for the first, the producers
originally sought a different artist for the second but they had too little
time to secure someone, leading them to pick "Extreme Ways" for the entire
series.[36] In 2002, rapper Eminem mocked Moby in his song "Without Me" and
its music video, dressing up like him and calling him a "thirty-six-year-old
baldheaded fag" and his techno music outdated. Eminem had also shot a mock
figure of Moby on stage. Moby put the attack down to Eminem having "this
unrequited crush on me."[37]
In 2003, Moby headlined the Glastonbury Festival on the final day.[38] He
co-wrote and produced "Early Mornin'" for Britney Spears' album _In the Zone_
released that year. Moby returned to his dance and rave roots with the
release of _Baby Monkey_, the third album under his Voodoo Child moniker, in
2004.[39] Later that year, he collaborated with Public Enemy on "Make Love
Fuck War", a protest song against the Iraq War.[40]
*** 2004–2010: _Hotel_ , _Last Night_ , and _Wait for Me_
Moby's seventh album, _Hotel_, was released in March 2005. The album contains
little use of samples, which Moby reasoned to using different audio recording
software which had a sampling function that was too difficult to learn, "so it
was me just being lazy". He nonetheless said that _Hotel_ is a more
satisfying album as a result.<ref
name=SR06>[url=http://www.shakenstir.co.uk/interviews/moby_the_very_best_of_interview/]
The instruments were recorded live by Moby except for the drums, for which he
enlisted his longtime live drummer Scott Frassetto. The album features vocals
from six other performers, including Laura Dawn and Shayna Steele.[41] In
2013, Moby looked back on the album as his least favourite of his career,
pointing out that it was the only one not recorded at his home studio.<ref
name=V13>[url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/moby-interview-innocents/] The
singles "Lift Me Up" and "Slipping Away" became top-10 hits across Europe.[42]
Early copies of the album included a bonus CD of remixes and ambient music
entitled _Hotel: Ambient_ that was released on its own in 2014.<ref
name=USAT14>[url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2014/11/24/song-premiere-moby-live-forever/19348453/]
In 2006, he accepted an offer to score the soundtrack for Richard Kelly's 2007
movie _Southland Tales_, because he was a fan of Kelly's previous film,
_Donnie Darko_.[43] In 2007, Moby also started a rock band, The Little Death
with his friends Laura Dawn, Daron Murphy, and Aaron A. Brooks.[44] Following
the dissolution of V2 Records in 2007, Moby signed a new deal with Mute
Records to handle his American distribution.[45] In 2007 Moby produced and
performed on a remake of "The Bulrushes" by The Bongos that appeared on the
special anniversary edition of the group's debut album _Drums Along the
Hudson_, on Cooking Vinyl Records. From 2007 to 2008 he ran a series of New
York club events titled "Degenerates".[46][47]
In 2008, Moby released _Last Night_, an electronic dance album inspired by a
night out in his New York City neighborhood. The album was recorded in Moby's
home studio and features various guest vocalists, including Wendy Starland, MC
Grandmaster Caz, Sylvia of Kudu, MC Aynzli, and the Nigerian 419 Squad.<ref
name=album>[url=http://www.moby.com/news/2007-12-05/new_album_last_night.html
] The singles from _Last Night_ include "Alice" and "Disco Lies".
Moby wished for the follow-up to _Last Night_ to be emotional, personal, and
melodic.<ref name=suicidegirls>[url =
http://suicidegirls.com/interviews/Moby%3A+The+Fly+Life/ ] He felt creatively
inspired by a David Lynch speech at the BAFTA Award ceremony in the UK which
prompted him to write new material that he liked with little regard to its
mainstream commercial success.<ref name="waitforme" /> He decided against
recording in a professional studio as he wanted to record the entire album at
home, and chose to have the album mixed using analogue equipment. _Wait for
Me_ was released on June 30, 2009.[48][49][50] Moby and Lynch discussed the
recording process of _Wait for Me_ on Lynch's online channel, David Lynch
Foundation Television Beta.[51] The video to the first single, "Shot in the
Back of the Head", offered as a free download, was directed by Lynch.<ref
name="waitforme" />
Moby held a user-generated content competition to have fans create a video for
"Wait for Me", the last single from the album, which was to be used as the
official video. The winning entry was written and directed by Nimrod Shapira
of Israel, and portrays the story of a girl who decides to invite Moby into
her life. She attempts to do so by using a book called _How to Summon Moby, A
Guide for Dummies_, putting herself through bizarre and comical steps, each is
a tribute to a different Moby video.[52] The single was released in May
2010.[53]
The _Wait for Me_ tour featured a full band.[54] Moby raised over $75,000 from
three shows in California to help those affected by domestic violence[55]
after funding for the state's domestic violence program had been cut. The
tour also saw Moby headline the Falls Festival in Australia[56] and various
Sunset Sounds festivals.[57] An ambient version _Wait for Me_ was released in
late 2009 as _Wait for Me: Ambient_, which Moby did not produce.[58]
In 2010, Moby enlisted vocalist Phil Costello as a songwriting partner for a
new heavy metal band, Diamondsnake. After writing 13 songs, they recruited
guitarist Dave Hill and a drummer named Tomato to complete the line-up. They
recorded their self-titled debut album in one day and released it for free on
their website. It was promoted with a series of gigs in New York City and Los
Angeles.[59] Moby contributed four songs to the soundtrack of _The Next Three
Days_, including the single "Mistake".
*** 2010–2015: _Destroyed_ and _Innocents_
In January 2010, Moby announced that he had started work on a new album.[60]
He later summarised its style as: "Broken down melodic electronic music for
empty cities at 2 a.m."[de1] The album was promoted with an EP containing
three tracks from the album, given free to those who had signed up to Moby's
mailing list, entitled _Be the One_, in February 2011.[de1][off1] The album,
_Destroyed_, was released in May 2011.<ref name =
off1>[url=http://www.moby.com/discography/2011/destroyed.html ]<ref name =
de1>[url=http://www.moby.com/journal/2011-02-15/destroyed.html ] A same-titled
book of Moby's photography was released around the time of the album.[de1]
Moby took to an online poll to decide the next single from _Destroyed_; the
fans picked "Lie Down in Darkness".[61] This was followed by "After" and "The
Right Thing", both influenced by what fans had picked.[62] A limited edition
remixed version of _Destroyed_ was released in 2012 as _Destroyed Remixed_ and
includes new remixes by David Lynch, Holy Ghost! and System Divine, and a new
30-minute ambient track named "All Sides Gone".
Moby toured worldwide throughout 2013, completing acoustic and DJ sets at
various concerts and festivals.[63][64][65] His DJ set at Coachella was
produced in collaboration with NASA with various images from space projected
onto screens during the performance.[66] On Record Store Day in 2013, Moby
released a 7-inch record, _The Lonely Night_, featuring Screaming Trees
vocalist Mark Lanegan.[67] The track was subsequently released as a download
with remixes by Moby, Photek, Gregor Tresher, and Freescha.[68]
In October 2013, Moby released _Innocents_. He had worked on the album for
the previous 18 months and hired Spike Stent to produce it. Moby used several
guest vocalists on the album, and picked Neil Young and "Broken English" by
Marianne Faithfull as the biggest influences to the musical style on the
album.<ref
name=PM13>[url=https://www.popmatters.com/175458-going-wrong-an-interview-with-moby-2495722396.html]
As with _Destroyed_, the photographs used for the artwork were all shot by
Moby. The first single from the album was "A Case for Shame",[69] followed by
"The Perfect Life", which featured Wayne Coyne. A casting call for its video
asked "for obese Speedo-sporting bikers, nude rollerskating ghosts, and an S&M
gimp proficient in rhythmic gymnastics".[70] Moby promoted the album with
three shows at the Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles, following his decision to
undergo little touring from 2014.<ref name=PM13/> He wrote: "Pretty much all I
want to do in life is stay home and make music. So, thus: a 3 date world
tour."[71]
Six of Moby's songs are feature in _Charlie Countryman_ (2013). His music set
the tone to _Cathedrals of Culture_ (2014), a 3D documentary film about the
soul of buildings, directed by Wim Wenders.[72] In December 2014, Moby
performed three shows of ambient music at the Masonic Lodge in Hollywood
Forever Cemetery to support the release of _Hotel: Ambient_. The performances
were accompanied by visuals created by himself and with David Lynch.<ref
name=USAT14/>
*** 2016–present: Recent albums and documentary
After _Innocents_, Moby proceeded to make a new wave dance album with a choir,
but realised the difficulty in recording a full choir in his home studio and
resorted to multi-tracking vocals performed by himself and guests. He then
decided against the new wave album and opted for one made by himself and seven
guest vocalists he named the Void Pacific Choir.<ref
name=RS16>[url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/moby-talks-fast-post-punk-lp-embracing-commercial-irrelevance-114417/]
_These Systems Are Failing_ was announced in September 2016 and coincided with
the first single release, "Are You Lost In The World Like Me?". Its video, by
animator Steve Cutts, addresses smartphone addiction which won a Webby
Award.[73][74][75][76] _These Systems Are Failing_ was released on October 14,
2016.[77] Moby's sole live performance of 2016 was at Circle V, a vegan food
and music festival that he founded that took place on October 23 at the Fonda
Theatre in Los Angeles.[78] A second album with the Void Pacific Choir name
followed in June 2017, entitled _More Fast Songs About the Apocalypse_,
influenced by the results of the 2016 United States presidential election.
Released for free online, it was marketed from a spoof website using elected
President Donald Trump's alleged PR alter-ego, John Miller.[79]
Moby announced his fifteenth studio album, _Everything Was Beautiful, and
Nothing Hurt_, in December 2017. The announcement coincided with the release
of the first single, "Like a Motherless Child". In contrast to the
politically inspired and punk nature of the two Void Pacific Choir records,
the album explores themes of spirituality, individuality, and
humanity.[80][81][82] The album was released on March 2, 2018.<ref name="BB17"
/> The second single, "Mere Anarchy", was described by Moby as "post
apocalypse, people are gone, and my friend Julie and I are time traveling
aliens visiting the empty Earth."[83] "This Wild Darkness" was the third
single, released in February 2018.[84] Moby described the song as "an
existential dialog between me and the gospel choir: me talking about my
confusion, the choir answering with longing and hope."<ref name="spin.com" />
Moby promoted the album with three live shows in March 2018 with a full band,
one at The Echo in Los Angeles and two at Rough Trade in New York City.[85]
All profits from the album and gigs were donated to animal rights
organizations.[86]
Later in 2024, "This Wild Darkness" would go on to be featured in the
critically acclaimed _True Detective: Night Country ._
In 2018, Moby was a guest performer on "A$AP Forever" by American rapper A$AP
Rocky which samples "Porcelain". This resulted in Moby's second ever
appearance on the US _Billboard_ Hot 100 singles chart, having previously
charted for "Southside", 17 years prior.[87] Moby contributed several songs to
the comedy _Half Magic_ (2018) directed by Heather Graham.[88]
In March 2019, Moby released a follow-up to his first long ambient album,
_Long Ambients 2_.
In January 2020, Moby announced that his new studio album _All Visible
Objects_ will be released on May 15. The first single, "Power is Taken"
featuring D. H. Peligro, was released on the same day as the announcement.
All profits from the album will be given to charity.[89]
In December 2020, Moby released another ambient album, _Live Ambients –
Improvised Recordings Vol. 1_. It features tracks recorded under three
conditions that he set himself: improvise with nothing written beforehand, no
editing of the pieces after recording, and that every part of the process was
to be "calming". The album was released on digital streaming platforms,
followed by videos of Moby performing each track on December 30 on his YouTube
channel.[90] Moby's next album, _Reprise_, was also released that month on
Deutsche Grammophon. It features orchestral versions of his greatest hits
with multiple guest artists.<ref
name=USM21>[url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/news/moby-reprise-deutsche-grammophon/]
The album charted in 16 countries and includes vocals by Gregory Porter, Kris
Kristofferson, Jim James and more. In May 2022, Moby released _Reprise
Remixes_, featuring remixes of tracks from the _Reprise_ from various artists,
including Topic, Anfisa Letyago, Planningtorock, and Biscuits. On June 1,
2022, Moby launched his new record label, Always Centered at Night. He
established it to sign "emerging and fascinating variety of singers to join
with me in making music they might not have been able to make elsewhere." The
first single, "Medusa", features Grammy nominated singer Aynzli Jones.
On January 1, 2023, Moby released a two-and-a-half-hour ambient album _Ambient
23_. It was made almost exclusively with dated drum machines and
synthesizers, with his "early ambient heroes" as sources of inspiration,
including Brian Eno and Jean-Michel Jarre.[91]
On June 14, 2024, Moby released A_lways Centered At Night__._ Featuring vocals
from several artists including Brie O'Banion on the first single released on
music platforms, "We're Going Wrong", serpentwithfeet, returning to the album
Lady Blackbird on the second single "Dark Days", Benjamin Zephaniah on the
third single "Where Is Your Pride?", Gaidaa on "Transit", Danae, J.P. Bimeni,
Raquel Rodriguez, Aynzli Jones, Akemi Fox, Choklate on the fourth single
"Sweet Moon", India Carney on the fifth and final single, "Precious Mind", and
Jose James. Moby released the music videos for both "Transit" and "Where is
your Pride?" on YouTube in June shortly after the album released. Rolling
Stone praised the album on Moby for his "creativity knows no boundaries".
Moby later release a complimentary remix album in mid September titled "always
centered at night (quiet home: remixes dj mix)". Fans would go on to say the
original album is "like a sequel" to Moby's smash hit "Play" released in 1999
going on to be his most recognized album.
*** Collaborations
Moby has collaborated live with many of his heroes while on tour or at
fundraisers. He has performed "Walk on the Wild Side" with Lou Reed, "Me and
Bobby McGee" with Kris Kristofferson, "Heroes" and "Cactus" with David Bowie,
"Helpless" with Bono and Michael Stipe, "New Dawn Fades" with New Order, "Make
Love, Fuck War" with Public Enemy, "Whole Lotta Love" with Slash, and "That's
When I Reach For My Revolver" with Mission of Burma.
He has performed two duets with the French singer Mylène Farmer ("Slipping
Away (Crier la vie)" in 2006 and "Looking for My Name" in 2008) and produced
seven songs on her eighth album, _Bleu Noir_, released on December 6, 2010 and
two songs on her twelfth album L'Emprise, released on November 25, 2022 .[92]
She also sang the vocals to the rework of the song "Hyenas" present on the
Resound NYC album.
In 1992 he contributed vocals to song "Curse" on Recoil's "Bloodline" (Alan
Wilder's solo project, he was Depeche Mode member at time of that recording).
Moby arguably later used this inspiration for his breakthrough 1999 album,
Play, for which he used several old field recordings by Alan Lomax, much as
Wilder had used a 1937 recording of White's "Shake 'Em On Down".
In 2013, Moby was responsible for the soundtrack of the documentary _The Crash
Reel_, who tells the story of snowboarder Kevin Pearce.
On October 16, 2015, Jean Michel Jarre released his compilation album
_Electronica 1: The Time Machine_, which included the track "Suns have gone"
co-produced by Jarre and Moby.[93]
On September 24, 2016, Moby announced the release of an album titled _These
Systems Are Failing_, released under the name Moby & Void Pacific Choir. The
followed the release of two singles from Moby & The Void Pacific Choir in
2015, "Almost Loved" & "The Light Is Clear In My Eyes".[94]
*** TV work
Starz aired a special episode of _Blunt Talk ,_ the Patrick Stewart comedy
which involved Moby. He had been friends with Jonathan Ames for a long time,
and "when we both lived in NY we did a lot of really strange, cabaret,
vaudeville type shows together, and we just sort of stayed friends over the
years. I guess when he and the other writers were writing _Blunt Talk_ one of
them thought it would be funny to include me as Patrick Stewart's character's
ex-wife's current boyfriend."[95]
Moby was one of the first musicians to have an episode on Netflix's new music
documentary series titled _Once In a Lifetime Sessions_; where he records,
discusses, and performs his music.[96]
_Moby Doc_, a documentary about the artist's life was released on May 28,
2021.[97][98][99]
His documentary _Punk Rock Vegan Movie_ was released in February 2023.[100]
*** Little Walnut
In 2020, Moby established Little Walnut Productions (see
https://www.littlewalnutproductions.com/) , a full-service production company
dedicated to creating compelling stories that shed light on animal and human
rights issues and environmental causes. He started the company with his
creative partner, producer Lindsay Hicks. Little Walnut's inaugural feature
documentary, "Moby Doc (see
https://variety.com/2021/film/reviews/moby-doc-review-1234981000/) ," was
released in May 2021. Their subsequent short animated film, "Why I'm a
Vegan," directed by Hicks, was showcased at several film festivals and
received recognition at The New York Movie Awards, The Global Independent Film
Awards, The DOC LA Los Angeles Documentary Film Festival, and The Malibu Film
Festival, among others.
In January 2023, Little Walnut released its second documentary feature
directed by Moby himself, "Punk Rock Vegan Movie (see
https://www.kerrang.com/mobys-punk-rock-vegan-movie-to-premiere-at-slamdance-this-month)
," which examines the intersection of punk rock music and animal activism.
Moby released the film for free on YouTube. "Punk Rock Vegan Movie" premiered
as the opening night film at the prestigious Slamdance Film Festival in Park
City, Utah, ultimately earning awards at the Awareness Festival and Santa
Monica Film Festival.
The company has given funding and production assistance to independent
documentary features such as “Meat The Future” directed by Liz Marshall,
“Slay” directed by Rebecca Capelli, and “Rowdy Girl (see
https://variety.com/2023/film/global/moby-hot-docs-rowdy-girl-1235596843/) ”
directed by Jason Goldman. They also helped produce the short film “Super Cow
(see https://vegnews.com/animals-individuals-statistics-super-cow) ” by
director/writer Dustin Brown. Little Walnut recently invested in the scripted
feature film “Eternal Return (see
https://deadline.com/2023/12/kit-harington-naomi-scott-eternal-return-village-roadshow-macro-bk-studios-1235667735/)
” starring Kit Harrington and Naomi Scott and directed by Yaniv Raz. In
addition, Little Walnut has produced several music videos, including “Natural
Blues” (featuring Gregory Porter and Amythyst Kiah), "Walk with Me (see
https://www.billboard.com/music/features/moby-resound-nyc-orchestra-hits-album-interview-1235331097/)
" (featuring Lady Blackbird), and the award-winning animated video "Are You
Lost in the World Like Me?" directed by Steve Cutts.
Little Walnut produces Moby's "Moby Pod (see
https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/moby-interview-play-album-anniversary-trump-1235689936/)
" podcast, which premiered in late 2022. The podcast focuses on several
topics: animal rights, climate change, creative expression, and mental health.
It has featured guests as diverse as Hunter Biden (in one of his rare
interviews), Ed Begley Jr., Lisa Edelstein, Dan Buettner, Peter Kalmus,
Steve-O, and Joe Manganiello.
Little Walnut is currently in post-production on their first scripted feature,
“Tecie (see
https://variety.com/2024/film/news/moby-mark-webber-tecie-animal-rights-1236016078/)
,” penned by Moby, directed by Mark Webber, and produced by Hicks and Teresa
Palmer. The film is based on the activist culture of the Los Angeles animal
rights community and is set to star Sarah Jeffery, Mena Massoud, and others.
** Business ventures
Starting around 2001, Moby launched a series of co-owned business ventures,
with the two most prominent being the Little Idiot Collective—a New York City
bricks-and-mortar clothing store, comics store, and animation studio[101] that
sold the work of an "illustrators collective". In May 2002, he launched a
small raw and vegan restaurant and tea shop called TeaNY in New York City with
his then-girlfriend, Kelly Tisdale.<ref name=TG160521/>[102] In 2006, Moby
said he had removed himself from any previous business projects.[103]
In November 2015, Moby opened the vegan restaurant Little Pine in the Silver
Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles.[104] The restaurant served organic, vegan,
Mediterranean-inspired dishes and had a retail section with art and books,
curated by Moby himself.[105] All profits were donated to animal welfare
organizations. In May 2016, Moby estimated the year's donations at
$250,000.[106] In December 2019, Moby launched the Little Pine lifestyle range
of products and merchandise, with all profits donated to six charities.[107]
Little Pine closed permanently in December 2022.[108]
On August 23, 2016, Moby announced the inaugural Circle V Festival along with
the official video for "Don't Leave Me", by Moby & the Void Pacific
Choir.[109] The event took place at LA's Fonda Theatre and featured Blaqk
Audio & Cold Cave on the bill, amongs others, as well as talks and vegan food
stalls. Moby described Circle V as "the coming together of my life's work,
animal rights and music. I couldn't be more excited about this event and am
so proud to be head-lining."[110]
The second Circle V event took place on November 18, this time at the Regent
Theatre in Los Angeles. Moby headlined the event for the second year, with
artists Waka Flocka Flame, Dreamcar, and Raury featuring on the bill.[111]
** Personal life
Moby lived in New York City for 21 years. From 1996 to 2010, he lived in an
apartment on Mott Street where he also recorded his albums.[112] He then
relocated to the Hollywood Hills area of Los Angeles, spending almost $4
million to purchase a castle known as Wolf's Lair (built in 1927 by developer
L. Milton Wolf), spending an additional $3.5 million to restore it. He also
owns an apartment in Little Italy, Manhattan.<ref
name=NYT11>[url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/28/garden/28moby.html] In
2014, Moby sold the castle and downsized to a smaller home in the Los Feliz
neighborhood of Los Angeles.<ref
name=WSJ15>[url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/moby-downsizes-in-los-angeles-1441897463]
In June 2013, Moby and numerous other celebrities appeared in a video showing
support for Chelsea Manning.[113][114]
Moby identifies himself as heterosexual and cisgender; in a 2018 interview
with _The Guardian_, he claims to have felt "disappointed" to be straight.<ref
name=TG16>[url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/nov/26/moby-i-was-disappointed-to-be-heterosexual]
He does date, but has stated that he feels more comfortable alone than in a
relationship.<ref name=TG16/> In 2016 he was in a relationship, his first in
ten years, that spanned at least eight months. He has no children.<ref
name=TG14>[url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/jan/31/moby-family-values-only-child-mum]<ref
name=TG160521/>
In 2019, in his book _Then It Fell Apart_, he claimed to have had a brief
relationship with actress Natalie Portman in the late 1990s. In response,
Portman denied the story and called Moby's account "disturbing" (she was 18 at
the time, while he was 33), with Portman further describing their interactions
as "a much older man being creepy with me".[115] He later apologized to
Portman, saying: "I accept that given the dynamic of our almost 14 year age
difference I absolutely should've acted more responsibly and
respectfully."[116]
Moby practices meditation and has explored different types, including
transcendental, Mettā, and Vipassanā.[117]
*** Veganism and animal rights
In 1984, Moby was inspired to become a vegetarian by a cat named Tucker that
he had found at a dump in Darien, Connecticut. "My mom and I, with the help
of George the dachshund, took care of Tucker and he grew up to be the
happiest, healthiest cat I'd ever known". In November 1987, while playing
with Tucker, "I decided that just as I would never do anything to harm Tucker,
or any of our rescued animals, I also would never do anything to harm any
animal, anywhere", and became a vegan.<ref
name=PBN>[url=https://www.plantbasednews.org/post/moby-kitten-turned-him-vegan-30-years-ago]
He is a strong supporter of animal rights, and described it as his "day job"
other than musical projects.<ref name=TG160521/>[118]
In March 2016, Moby supported the social media campaign #TurnYourNoseUp to end
factory farming in association with the nonprofit organization Farms Not
Factories.[119]
In 2019, Moby had "Vegan for life" tattooed on his neck by his friend, tattoo
artist Kat Von D.[120] That November, he had "Animal rights" tattooed on his
arms to commemorate the 32nd anniversary of being a vegan.[121] He also had
"VX" tattooed next to his right eye, the "V" standing for vegan and the "X"
for straight edge, referencing his sobriety.[122]
In February 2023 he released _Punk Rock Vegan Movie_, his documentary about
the relationship between the worlds of punk rock and animal rights. He says
every time he visits San Francisco, he stops at Rainbow Grocery given his
stance on "ethical eating."[123]
In May 2024 he announced collaboration on a new film project with director
Mark Webber.[124]
*** Drug use
From 1987 to 1995, Moby described his life as a "very clean" one and abstained
from drugs, alcohol, and "for the most part", sex.<ref name=TI05/> After
taking LSD once at nineteen, he started to suffer from panic attacks which he
continued to experience, but he learned to deal with them more
effectively.<ref
name=PT04>[url=https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/200409/the-sounds-moby]
Moby recalls that shortly after his mother died from lung cancer in 1997, he
had "an epiphany" and began to experiment with alcohol, drugs, and sex. This
continued for four years after the commercial success of _Play_.<ref
name=TI05/><ref name=NYT02/><ref
name=TG00>[url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/259647767/] He became a
self-confessed "old-timey alcoholic".<ref name=TG160521/> During his _18_ tour
in 2002, he found himself being argumentative and alienating close friends.
At the end of the year, he wished to make amends and live a healthier
lifestyle and promised a girlfriend that he would quit alcohol for one month;
he lasted two weeks.<ref name=TI05/> Moby continued to drink to excess and
would ask audiences at concerts to give him drugs. Matters culminated shortly
after he turned 43 when he attempted suicide; he had his last drink on October
18, 2008, and has since attended Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.[125]<ref
name=Q11>[url=https://thequietus.com/interviews/moby-interview-destroyed/][126]
In 2016, he said of his sobriety: "Since I stopped and reoriented myself
towards things that have meaning, everything has gotten a million times
better".<ref name=TG16/>
*** Spirituality and faith
Moby has adopted different faiths throughout his life. He identified himself
as an atheist when he was growing up, followed by agnostic, then "a good eight
or ten years of being quite a serious Christian", during which time he taught
Bible studies.<ref name=Q11/> Around 1985, he read the teachings of Christ,
including the New Testament and the Gospels and "was instantly struck by the
idea that Christ was somehow divine. When I say I love Christ and love the
teachings of Christ, I mean that in the most simple and naïve and subjective
way. I'm not saying I'm right, and I certainly wouldn't criticize anyone
else's beliefs."[127][128][129]
In the liner notes of _Animal Rights_ (1996), Moby wrote: "I wouldn't
necessarily consider myself a Christian in the conventional sense of the word,
where I go to church or believe in cultural Christianity, but I really do love
Christ and recognize him in whatever capacity as I can understand it as God.
One of my problems with the church and conventional Christianity is it seems
like their focus doesn't have much to do with the teachings of Christ, but
rather with their own social agenda". In 2014, Moby pointed out that if he
needed to label himself, it would be as a "Taoist–Christian–agnostic quantum
mechanic."[130] In 2019, Moby said that he is not a Christian, "but my life is
geared towards God [...] I have no idea who or what God might be."<ref
name=KQED19/>
*** Charity
Moby is an advocate for a variety of causes, working with MoveOn.org, The
Humane Society of the United States, and Farm Sanctuary, among others. He
created MoveOn Voter Fund's Bush in 30 Seconds contest along with singer and
MoveOn Cultural Director Laura Dawn and MoveOn Executive Director Eli Pariser.
The music video for the song "Disco Lies" from _Last Night_ has heavy
anti-meat industrial themes. He also actively engages in nonpartisan activism
and serves on the Board of Directors of Amend.org, a nonprofit organization
that implements injury-prevention programs in Africa.[131]
Moby is a member of the board of directors of the Institute for Music and
Neurologic Function (IMNF), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to
advancing scientific inquiry into music and the brain and to developing
clinical treatments to benefit people of all ages.[132] He has also performed
on various benefit concerts to help increase awareness for music therapy and
raise funds for the institute. In 2004, he was honored with the IMNF's Music
Has Power Award for his advocacy of music therapy and for his dedication and
support to its recording studio program.[133]
He is an advocate of net neutrality and testified before a United States House
of Representatives committee debating the issue in 2006.[134][135]
In 2007, Moby launched MobyGratis.com, a website of unlicensed music for
filmmakers and film students to use in any independent, non-commercial, or
non-profit film, video, or short. If a film is commercially successful, all
revenue from commercial licence fees granted via Moby Gratis is donated to
Humane Society of the United States.<ref name=suicidegirls /><ref
name=Q11/>[136]
In 2008, he participated in _Songs for Tibet_, an album to support Tibet and
the Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso. In a 2021 interview, he discussed the
experience and called the Dalai Lama "a wonderful inspired and inspiring
man".[137]
In April 2009, Moby spoke about his personal experiences of Transcendental
Meditation at the benefit concert Change Begins Within of the David Lynch
Foundation in New York City.[138] In April 2015, Moby performed "Go" at the
evening of a David Lynch tribute event, hosted at the Theatre at Ace Hotel in
Los Angeles, which highlighted the work of the David Lynch Foundation and
raised funds to teach Transcendental Meditation to local youth.[139]
In April 2018, Moby auctioned more than 100 pieces of musical equipment via
Reverb.com to raise funds for the nonprofit organization Physicians Committee
for Responsible Medicine, thinking it was better to sell it for a good cause
rather than keep it in storage.[140] Moby held a second sale for the
organization in June 2018 consisting of his personal record collection,
including records that he used for DJ sets in his early career and his
personal copies of his albums.[141] A third was held in October 2018 that
included the sale of almost 200 analog drum machines, 100 instruments, and his
entire vinyl collection.[142]
In 2018, Moby participated in Al Gore's 24-hour broadcast on climate change
and other environmental issues.[143]
Moby is an advocate for Best Friends; he was part of the No-Kill Los Angeles
(NKLA) launch celebration and directed a lyric video for his song "Almost
Home" that features dogs and cats from the Best Friends Pet Adoption and
Spay/Neuter Center in Mission Hills, California.[144]
*** Photography
Moby developed an interest in photography at age ten when his uncle, a
photographer for _The New York Times_, gave him a Nikon F camera. He cites
Edward Steichen as a major early influence.<ref
name=TPJ14>[url=https://thephotographicjournal.com/interviews/moby/] At 17 he
set up a darkroom in his basement and pursued photography while at university.
Moby kept his photography private until 2010, when he put some of his work on
public display at the Clic Gallery and the Brooklyn Museum in New York
City.<ref name=TPJ14/> In May 2011, Moby released a photography book called
"Destroyed" containing pictures that were taken during the _Wait for Me_ tour
in 2010. It was released in conjunction with his same-titled album, and
pictures from it were also put on display.<ref
name=BB11>[url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/472007/moby-preps-release-of-destroyed-albumphoto-book][145]
From October to December 2014, Moby showcased his Innocents collection of
large-scale photographs at the Fremin Gallery, featuring a post-apocalyptic
theme and a cast of fictitious cult members wearing masks.[146]
*** Books
In March 2010, Moby and animal activist Miyun Park released _Gristle: From
Factory Farms to Food Safety (Thinking Twice About the Meat We Eat)_, a
collection of ten essays by various people in the food industry that they
edited to detail "unbiased, factual information about the consequences of
animal production" and factory farming.[147]
In 2014, Moby began writing an autobiography covering his life and career from
his move to New York City in the late 1980s to the recording of _Play_ in
1999.[148] He enjoyed the experience, and wrote approximately 300,000 words
before cutting it by half to reach a rough edit of the book. _Porcelain: A
Memoir_ was released on May 17, 2016, by Penguin Press. Moby put out the
compilation album _Music from Porcelain_ to coincide the book's release,
featuring his own tracks and a mixtape of tracks by other artists.<ref
name=BB18>[url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/dance/7349858/moby-porcelain-memoir-compilation-album-exclusive-dance]
His second memoir, _Then It Fell Apart_, was released on May 2, 2019, and
covers his life and career from 1999 to 2009.[149]
In September 2021, Moby published _The Little Pine Cookbook_, featuring vegan
recipes developed from his time owning his restaurant.[150]
*** Politics
Moby endorsed Kamala Harris for the 2024 US Presidential election.[151]
** Discography
[Moby discography] STUDIO ALBUMS [div col]
- _Moby_ (1992)
- _Ambient_ (1993)
- _Everything Is Wrong_ (1995)
- _Animal Rights_ (1996)
- _Play_ (1999)
- _18_ (2002)
- _Hotel_ (2005)
- _Last Night_ (2008)
- _Wait for Me_ (2009)
- _Destroyed_ (2011)
- _Innocents_ (2013)
- _Long Ambients 1: Calm. Sleep._ (2016)
- _These Systems Are Failing_ (2016)
- _More Fast Songs About the Apocalypse_ (2017)
- _Everything Was Beautiful, and Nothing Hurt_ (2018)
- _Long Ambients 2_ (2019)
- _All Visible Objects_ (2020)
- _Live Ambients – Improvised Recordings Vol. 1_ (2020)
- _Reprise_ (2021)
- _Ambient 23_ (2023)
- _Resound NYC_ (2023)
- _Always Centered at Night_ (2024) [152]
[div col end]
** Awards
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- ! scope="col" | Award !
scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Nominee(s) ! scope="col" | Category !
scope="col" | Result ! scope="col" class="unsortable"| [Ref.] |-
!scope="row"|BDS Certified Spin Awards | 2003 | "South Side" | 300,000 Spins |
[won] |- !scope="row" |BMI Film & TV Awards | 2002 | Himself | Certificate of
Achievement | [won] | [153] |- !scope="row"|BMI Pop Awards | 2002 | "South
Side" | Award-Winning Song | [won] | [154] |- !scope="row"| Berlin Music Video
Awards | 2021 | "My Only Love" | Animation | [nominated] | [155] |-
!scope="row" rowspan=4 | Billboard Music Awards | rowspan=2|2002 | _18_ | Top
Electronic Album | [won] | rowspan=2|[156] |- | rowspan=2|Himself |
rowspan=2|Top Electronic Artist | [won] |- | rowspan=2|2005 | [nom] |- |
_Hotel_ | Top Electronic Album | [nom] |- ! scope="row" rowspan=2|Billboard
Music Video Awards | rowspan=2|2000 | rowspan="2"|"Bodyrock" | Maximum Vision
Award | [nom] | [157] |- | Dance Clip of the Year | [won] |- !scope="row"
rowspan=2|Brit Awards | 2000 | rowspan=2|Himself | rowspan=2|International
Male Solo Artist | [nom] | [158] |- | 2003 | [nom] | [159] |-
!scope="row"|Classic Pop Readers' Awards | 2020 | _Then It Fell Apart_ | Book
of the Year | [nom] | [160] |- !scope="row"|Clio Awards | 2019 | "ASAP
Forever" (with ASAP Rocky) | Best Visual Effects | [won] | [161] |-
!scope="row" rowspan=2| D&AD Awards | 2000 | "Bodyrock" | Direction |
[place=Bronze] | [162] |- | 2019 | "ASAP Forever" (with ASAP Rocky) | Best
Editing | [nom] | [163] |- !scope="row" rowspan=5|DanceStar Awards |
rowspan=2|2000 | Himself | DanceStar of the Year | [won] | rowspan=2|[164] |-
| _Play_ | Best Album | [won] |- | 2003 | rowspan=2|Himself | Best US Act |
[won] | [165] |- | rowspan=2|2004 | Outstanding Contribution to Dance Music |
[won] | rowspan=2|[166] |- | _18 B Sides + DVD_ | Best Music DVD | [won] |-
!scope="row"|ECHO Awards | 2006 | rowspan=2|Himself | Best International Male
| [nom] |- !scope="row" rowspan=2|GAFFA-Prisen Awards | rowspan=2|2019 | Best
International Artist | [nom] |- | _Everything Was Beautiful, and Nothing Hurt_
| Best International Album | [nom] |- !scope="row" rowspan=6|Grammy Awards |
rowspan=2 | 2000 | _Play_ | Best Alternative Music Performance | [nom] |
rowspan=6|[167] |- | "Bodyrock" | Best Rock Instrumental Performance | [nom]
|- | 2001 | "Natural Blues" | Best Dance Recording | [nom] |- | 2000 | _Play:
The DVD_ | Best Music Video, Long Form | [nom] |- | 2003 | "18" | Best Pop
Instrumental Performance | [nom] |- | 2009 | _Last Night_ | Best
Electronic/Dance Album | [nom] |- !scope="row" rowspan=2|Hungarian Music
Awards | 2003 | _18_ | Best Foreign Dance Album | [nom] | [168] |- | 2011 |
Himself | Electronic Music Production of the Year | [nom] | rowspan=1|[169] |-
!scope="row" rowspan="3" |IFPI Platinum Europe Awards | 2001 |
rowspan=2|_Play_ | rowspan="3" | Album Title | [won] | rowspan=2|[170] |- |
2002 | [won] |- | 2003 | rowspan="1"|_18_ | [won] | [171] |- !scope="row"
rowspan=3|Lunas del Auditorio | 2004 | rowspan=6|Himself | Espectaculo
Alternativo | [nom] | [172] |- | 2006 | rowspan=2|Musica Electronica | [won] |
[173] |- | 2010 | [nom] | [174] |- !scope="row"|MTV Asia Awards | 2003 | Best
Male | [nom] | [175]<br />[176] |- ! scope="row" rowspan=8|MTV Europe Music
Awards | 1995 | rowspan=2|Best Dance | [nom] | [177] |- | rowspan=3 | 2000 |
[nom] | rowspan=3|[178] |- | "Natural Blues" | Best Video | [won] |- | _Play_
| Best Album | [nom] |- | rowspan=2 | 2002 | rowspan=5|Himself | Web Awards |
[won] | rowspan=2|[179] |- | rowspan=2|Best Dance | [nom] |- | 2003 | [nom] |
[180] |- | 2005 | Best Male | [nom] | [181] |- !scope="row"|MTV Russian Music
Awards |2005 | Best International Act | [nom] | [182] |- !scope="row"
rowspan=3|MTV Video Music Awards | 2000 | "Natural Blues" | rowspan=2|Best
Male Video | [nom] | [183] |- | 2001 | "South Side" | [won] | <ref
name="rockonthenet" /> |- | 2002 | rowspan=2|"We Are All Made of Stars" | Best
Cinematography | [won] | <ref name="rockonthenet" /> |- !scope="row"| MTV VMAJ
| 2003 | Best Dance Video | [nom] |- !scope="row" rowspan=9|MVPA Awards | 2000
| "Run On" | Electronic Video of the Year | [nom] | [184] |- | rowspan=4|2001
| rowspan=3|"South Side" | Pop Video of the Year | [nom] | rowspan=4|[185] |-
| Best Colorist/Telecine | [nom] |- | Best Hair in a Video | [nom] |- |
"Porcelain" | Alternative Video of the Year | [nom] |- | rowspan="2" | 2003 |
rowspan="2" | "In This World" | Best Directional Debut | [won] |
rowspan=2|[186] |- | rowspan=2|Best Electronic Video | [won] |- | rowspan="2"
| 2007 | rowspan="2" | "New York, New York" | [nom] | [187] |- | Best
Choreography | [nom] | [188] |- ! scope="row" rowspan=4|Music Television
Awards | rowspan=3|2000 | rowspan=2|Himself | Best Male | [nom] |
rowspan=3|[189] |- | Best Dance | [nom] |- | "Natural Blues" | Best Video |
[nom] |- | 2008 | rowspan=2|Himself | Best Dance | [nom] | [190] |-
!scope="row" rowspan=3 | My VH1 Music Awards | rowspan=3|2001 | Best Male |
[nom] | [191] |- | rowspan="2" | "South Side" | Best Collaboration | [nom] |
rowspan=2|<ref name="PRNewswire" /> |- | Favorite Video | [nom] |- !
scope="row" rowspan=4|NME Awards | rowspan=2|2000 | rowspan=5|Himself | Best
Solo Artist | [nom] | rowspan=2|[192] |- | rowspan=2|Best Dance Act | [nom] |-
| rowspan=2|2001 | [nom] | rowspan=2|[193] |- | Best Live Act | [won] |-
!scope="row" rowspan=3|NRJ Music Awards | rowspan=2|2001 | International Male
Artist of the Year | [won] | [194] |- | _Play_ | International Album of the
Year | [nom] | <ref name="latimes" /> |- | 2007 | Himself (with Mylene Farmer)
| Francophone Duo/Group of the Year | [nom] | [195] |- !scope="row"
rowspan=1|Online Music Awards | 1999 | rowspan=3|Himself | Best Electronic
Fansite | [nom] | [196] |- !scope="row" rowspan=2|Q Awards | 2000 | Best Live
Act | [nom] |- | 2002 | Best Producer | [won] | [197] |- !scope="row"|TMF
Awards | 2000 | _Play_ | Best Album International | [won] |- ! scope="row"
rowspan=2|Teen Choice Awards | 2001 | "South Side" | Choice Dance Track |
[nom] | [198] |- | 2002 | rowspan=2|Himself | Choice Male Artist | [nom] |
[199] |- !scope="row"|Top of the Pops Awards | 2002 | Best Dance Act | [nom] |
[200] |- !scope="row" rowspan="3"|UK Music Video Awards | rowspan=2|2018 |
rowspan="2"| "ASAP Forever" (with ASAP Rocky) | Best Urban Video -
International | [nom] | rowspan=2|[201] |- | Best Colour Grading in a Video |
[nom] |- | 2020 | rowspan=1|"My Only Love" | rowspan=1|Best Animation | [nom]
| [202] |- !scope="row"|VH1/Vogue Fashion Awards | rowspan=4|2000 | "Natural
Blues" | Visionary Video | [Won] | [203] |- ! scope="row" rowspan=3|Viva Comet
Awards | "Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?" | Best International Video | [won] |
rowspan=3|[204] |- | rowspan=3|Himself | Best Live Act | [nom] |- | Viva Zwei
Audience Award | [nom] |- !scope="row"| Veggie Awards | 2015 | Person of the
Year | [won] | [205] |- !scope="row"|Webby Awards | 2017 | "Are You Lost in
the World Like Me?" | Animation | [won] | [206] |- !scope="row"
rowspan=14|Žebřík Music Awards | rowspan=4|1999 | Himself | Best International
DJ | [nom] | rowspan=13|[207] |- | _Play_ | Best International Album | [nom]
|- | "Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?" | Best International Song | [nom] |- |
"Bodyrock" | Best International Video | [nom] |- | rowspan=4|2000 |
"Porcelain" | Best International Song | [nom] |- | rowspan=5|Himself | Best
International Instrumentalist | [nom] |- | Best International Personality |
[nom] |- | rowspan=3|Best International DJ | [nom] |- | 2001 | [nom] |- |
rowspan=3|2002 | [nom] |- | _18_ | Best International Album | [nom] |- | "In
This World" | Best International Song | [nom] |- | 2003 | Himself | Best
International DJ | [nom] |- | 2005 | _Hotel_ | Best International Album |
[nom] | [208] [end]
** See also
- List of animal rights advocates
** References
[Reflist]
** Sources
- [title=Moby: Replay – His Life and Times]
** External links
[commons=Category:Moby]
- [Official website]
- [https://mobygratis.com/] – an online service to freely license Moby's music
- [1031]
- [0005240]
- [https://www.nme.com/news/music/moby-118-1392316/]
[state=uncollapsed]
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