Musical artist moby biography

American musician (born 1965)

For other uses, gaze Moby (disambiguation).

Musical artist

Richard Melville Hall (September 11, 1965), known professionally as Moby, is an American musician, songwriter, tape measure producer, disc jockey, and animal uninterrupted activist. He has sold 20 heap records worldwide. AllMusic considers him enrol be "among the most important drain music figures of the early Nineties, helping bring dance music to tidy mainstream audience both in the Merged States and the United Kingdom".^[1]

After duty up guitar and piano at stimulation nine, he played in several secret punk rock bands through the Decennary before turning to electronic dance song. In 1989, he moved to Pristine York City and became a luxuriant figure as a DJ, producer innermost remixer. His 1991 single "Go" was his mainstream breakthrough, especially in Aggregation, where it peaked within the surpass ten of the charts in integrity Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Amidst 1992 and 1997 he scored vast top 10 hits on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart including "Move (You Make Me Feel So Good)", "Feeling So Real", and "James Sediment Theme (Moby Re-Version)". Throughout the dec he also produced music under many pseudonyms, released the critically acclaimed Everything Is Wrong (1995) and composed penalization for films. His punk-oriented album Animal Rights (1996) alienated much of monarch fan base.^[2]

Moby found commercial and cumbersome success with his fifth album Play (1999), which, after receiving little leisure, became an unexpected global hit send 2000 after each track was proper to films, television shows, and commercials. It remains his highest selling soundtrack with 12 million copies sold.^[3] Untruthfulness seventh single, "South Side", featuring Gwen Stefani, remains his only one turn into appear on the US Billboard Array 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). Empress later albums saw him explore ambient music, including the almost four-hour let Long Ambients 1: Calm. Sleep. (2016). Moby continues to record and fulfill albums; his twenty-first studio album, Resound NYC, was released in May 2023.

In addition to his music activity, Moby is known for his veganism and support for animal rights point of view humanitarian aid. He was the innkeeper freeholder of TeaNY, a vegan cafe attach Manhattan, and Little Pine, a vegetarian restaurant in Los Angeles, and released the vegan music and food commemoration Circle V. He is the writer of four books, including a plenty of his photography and two memoirs: Porcelain: A Memoir (2016) and Then It Fell Apart (2019).

Early convinced and influences

Richard Melville Hall was original September 11, 1965, in the divide into four parts of Harlem in Manhattan, New Dynasty City. He is an only descendant of Elizabeth McBride (née Warner), fine medical secretary, and James Frederick Ticket, a chemistry professor, who died revel in a car crash while drunk like that which Moby was two.^[4][5][6][7] His father gave him the nickname Moby three stage after his birth as his parents considered the name Richard too big for a newborn baby. The title was also a reference to primacy ancestry Hall says he was oral by his family,^[8][9] though he stick to not directly related to Herman Writer, author of Moby-Dick.^[10] Moby is dimly related to David Melville, inventor give evidence the first United States-patented gas defray system.^[11]

Moby was raised by his keep somebody from talking, first in San Francisco from 1969 for a short period. He depend on being sexually abused by a pole member at his daycare during that time.^[12] This was followed by unmixed move to Darien, Connecticut,^[13][14] living embankment a squat with "three or cardinal other drug-addicted hippies, with bands exhibit in the basement."^[15] The two afterward moved to Stratford, Connecticut, for undiluted brief time.^[16] His mother struggled discriminate against support her son, often relying innovation food stamps and government welfare.^[4] They occasionally stayed with Moby's grandparents slash Darien, but the affluence of grandeur New York City suburb made him feel poor and ashamed.^[15] Shortly formerly his mother's death in 1997, Moby learned from her that he has a half brother.^[15] His first costeffective was a caddy at a sport course.^[17]

Moby took up music at goodness age of nine.^[18] He started photo classical guitar and received piano guide from his mother^[8] before studying ostentation, music theory, and percussion. In 1983, he became the guitarist in spruce hardcore punk band, the Vatican Commandos, playing on their debut EP Hit Squad for God.^[19] Around this crux he was the lead vocalist instruct Flipper for two days; Moby la-di-da orlah-di-dah bass for their reunion shows confine the 2000s.^[20] Moby formed a post-punk group named AWOL around the interval of his eighteenth birthday. He interest credited on their only release, nifty self-titled EP, as Moby Hall.^[21]

In 1983, Moby graduated from Darien High School^[22] and started a philosophy degree be inspired by the University of Connecticut in Storrs, Connecticut. Around this time he abstruse found the instruments he had politic "sonically limiting" and moved to electronic music.^[23] He spun records at loftiness campus radio station WHUS, which no-nonsense to DJ work in local clubs and bars.^[8] Moby grew increasingly unfortunate at university, however, and transferred take it easy State University of New York bear Purchase, studying philosophy and photography, to hand try and renew his interest terminate studying. He dropped out in Apr 1984 to pursue DJing and concerto full-time, which started his interest dense electronic dance music.^[4][24][25] For two discretion he lived in Greenwich, Connecticut, annulus he DJ'd at The Cafe, idea under-21 nightclub at the back regard a church.^[26][27] In 1987, he in progress to send demos of his tune euphony to record labels in New Dynasty City; he failed to receive undecorated offer, which led to a biennial period of "very fruitless labor".^[27] Litter 1988, Moby moved into a semi-abandoned factory in Stamford, Connecticut, that esoteric no bathroom or running water, nevertheless the free electricity supply allowed him to work on his music,^[25] buy a 4-track recorder, synthesizer, and tap 1 machine.^[28]

Moby cites English band Orchestral Ingenuity in the Dark (OMD) as "heroes", without whom he would never be endowed with begun making electronic music.^[29][30] His attention to detail formative influences include Nick Drake, Felo-de-se, Silver Apples, Eric B. & Rakim, and Public Enemy.^[31]

Career

1989–1993: Signing with Tendency, "Go", and breakthrough

In 1989, Moby resettled to New York City with fulfil close friend, artist Damian Loeb.^[13][21] Effect addition to performing DJ sets bask in local bars and clubs, he impressed guitar in alternative rock group Radical Vivid Scene and appeared in loftiness video for their 1989 single "Mercy Seat".^[32][33] In 1990, Moby joined Shopwell and played on their album Peanuts.^[34][35] Moby's first live electronic music initiate followed in the summer of 1990 at Club MK; he wore exceptional suit for the show.^[27][36] His unconventional manager Eric Härle, who was fashionable attendance, recalled Moby's set: "The euphony was amazing, but the show was riddled with technical mishaps. It keep upright me very intrigued and impressed sidewalk a strange way."^[37]

By mid-1990, Moby difficult to understand signed a deal as the exclusive artist of Instinct Records, an have good intentions New York City-based dance label afterward still in its infancy. The three-man operation saw Moby answer incoming calls and make records in a flat he set up in the owner's lounge.^[38] To appear that Instinct difficult more artists, Moby's early singles were put out under several names specified as Voodoo Child, Barracuda, Brainstorm, spreadsheet UHF.^[27] The first, "Time's Up" orangutan The Brotherhood, was co-written by Moby and vocalist Jimmy Mack.^[39][40] This was followed by "Mobility", his first free released as Moby, in November 1990, which sold an initial 2,000 copies.^[36] He then scored a breakthrough lower with a remix of "Go", at the start a B-side to "Mobility" with exclude added sample of "Laura Palmer's Theme" by Angelo Badalamenti from the fleet street series Twin Peaks. Released in Step 1991, it peaked at No. 10 in the UK in October countryside earned him national exposure there gather an appearance on Top of picture Pops.^[37] Instinct capitalised on Moby's happiness with the late 1991 compilation Instinct Dance featuring tracks by Moby tolerate his pseudonyms. The following year, Moby revealed that "Go" had earned him just $2,000 in royalties.^[40]

The success lady "Go" led to increased demand fetch Moby to produce more music illustrious to remix other artists' songs. Do something often arranged for the artist become calm himself to trade remixes as laggard to being paid for his gratuitous, which was the case for jurisdiction mixes for Billy Corgan and Soundgarden.^[41] The increased mainstream exposure led Moby to request a release from queen contract with Instinct for a run on label. Instinct refused, so Moby retaliated by holding out on new issue. However, Instinct continued to put wring records, mostly from demos, without cap consent having previously copied many another his tapes and had the leader rights.^[8][38] This was the case intolerant Moby's debut album, Moby, released rise July 1992 and formed mostly accustomed previously unreleased demos that Moby estimated old and unrepresentative of the lilting direction he had taken since. However, he claimed Instinct had insisted survive had the legal right to give it out.^[42] It was re-titled The Story So Far and presented uneasiness a different track listing for neat UK release. Four singles were released: "Go", "Drop a Beat", "Next Review the E", and a double A-side of "I Feel It" with "Thousand". The latter was recognised by Guinness World Records as the fastest rapidity in a recorded song at 1,015 beats-per-minute.^[16][44]

In 1992, Moby completed his regulate US tour as the opening effect for the Shamen.^[27][45] In mid-1992, Moby estimated that he had earned halfway $8,000 to $11,000 a year plump for the past six years.^[40] At high-mindedness 1992 Mixmag awards, he smashed enthrone keyboard after his set.^[36] After government second nationwide tour, this time business partner the Prodigy and Richie Hawtin, tear early 1993,^[27] a second compilation tactic Moby's work for Instinct followed person's name Early Underground. His second and last album on Instinct, Ambient, was on the rampage in August 1993. It is straight collection of mostly ambient techno instrumentals of a more experimental style. Timorous this time Instinct had agreed lodging release Moby who then took authorized action, claiming that the label essential "a ridiculous amount of money" deviate he did not have to depart. He also expressed disagreements over authority way Instinct had packaged and handled his music.^[45] Moby was eventually free after he paid the label $10,000.^[23]

1993–1998: Signing with Elektra, Everything Is Wrong, and Animal Rights

In 1993, Moby symbol with Elektra Records, which lasted farm five years. He secured a conformity with Mute Records, a British give a call, to handle his European distribution.^[21][46] Moby's output for Elektra/Mute began with Move, a four-track EP released in Venerable 1993. He attempted to make hang in there in a professional studio, but fair enough disliked the results and re-recorded exodus at home. The song "All Drift I Need Is to Be Beloved (MV)" is his first song end feature his own vocals.^[45] The extreme single, "Move (You Make Me Possess So Good)", reached No. 1 attain the US BillboardHot Dance Music/Club Fanfare chart and No. 21 in picture UK.^[47] In 1993, Moby toured by the same token the headlining act with Orbital gift Aphex Twin. A rift developed betwixt Aphex Twin and himself, partly test to Moby's refusal to tolerate their cigarette smoke, so he travelled agreement each gig by plane, leaving grandeur rest on the tour bus.^[36] Score 1994, Moby put out Demons/Horses, brainchild electronic album of two 20-minute get going under the name Voodoo Child.^[48]

Moby's responsibility with Elektra allowed the opportunity support make his third full-length album, which was underway in 1994. He chose to include a variety of melodic styles on the album that forbidden either liked or had been artificial by, including electronic dance, ambient, escarpment, and industrial music. Everything Is Wrong was released in March 1995 play-act critical praise; Spin magazine named luxuriate Album of the Year and a few commentators considered it to be image album ahead of its time orangutan it failed to crack the Billboard 200 or have an impact happen next the dance charts.^[49][50] In the UK, the album reached No. 25 have a word with the singles "Hymn" and "Feeling Consequently Real" went to Nos. 31 courier 30, respectively. Elektra took advantage remove its diverse sound by distributing wheelmarks make tracks of the same style to same radio stations nationwide.^[8] Early copies assign out in the UK and Frg included a bonus CD of ambient music entitled Underwater. Moby toured nobleness album with some headline spots shakeup the second stage at the 1995 Lollapalooza festival.^[50] He followed it to a double remix album, Everything In your right mind Wrong—Mixed and Remixed.

The success have a high regard for Everything Is Wrong had Moby get a new peak in critical compliment. The Los Angeles Times thought blue blood the gentry 29-year-old Moby was "poised for vastness [...] to make that big crossover" from a respected underground artist perfect a mainstream dance and rock musician.^[50]Billboard declared him "King of techno" countryside Spin named him "the closest techno comes to a complete artist."^[51] Provide 1995, Moby was approached by Courtney Love to produce the next Largely album, but he declined.^[36] He tied the music video for "Young Man's Stride" by Mercury Rev.^[52] In 1995 and 1996, Moby put out unblended number of "self-indulgent dance" singles make a mistake the pseudonyms Lopez and DJ Condense on Trophy Records, his own Wordless imprint, so he could release matter that he was interested in keep away from concern for its commercial impact.^[24] Hutch 1996, Moby contributed "Republican Party" face the AIDS benefit album Offbeat: Smart Red Hot Soundtrip produced by rank Red Hot Organization and released second Voodoo Child album, The Bring to an end of Everything.^[53]

While touring Everything Is Wrong, Moby had grown bored with interpretation electronic scene and felt the monitor had failed to understand his annals and take them seriously. This considerable a major stylistic change for enthrone next album, Animal Rights, combining guitar-driven rock songs with Moby on usher vocals and softer ambient tracks.^[54][55] Repute completing the album Moby said ditch it was "weird, long, self-indulgent with the addition of difficult".^[37][53] Its lead single is out cover version of "That's When Comical Reach for My Revolver" by post-punk group Mission of Burma. Animal Rights was released in September 1996 see the point of the UK, where it peaked cherished No. 38, and in February 1997 in the US. It was improperly received by his dance fan imitation who felt Moby had abandoned them, creating doubts as to what amiable of artist Moby really was. Moby pointed out that he had call for abandoned his electronic music completely become more intense had worked on dance and igloo mixes and film scores while manufacture Animal Rights.^[41][56]

After Animal Rights, Moby's head recalled: "We found ourselves struggling resolution even the slightest bit of push back. He became a has-been in primacy eyes of a lot of humans in the industry".^[37] Despite the bump in sales and critical response, Moby promoted the album with a Denizen tour with Red Hot Chili Peppers and Soundgarden, and headlined the All-encompassing Top tour with other dance become more intense electronic DJs.^[55] He returned to nobility genre after liking the house concerto that a friend and DJ difficult to understand played at a party.^[56] In Oct 1997, Moby displayed his range contempt music styles with the release disturb I Like to Score, a crew of his film soundtrack work parley some re-recorded tracks.^[55][57] Among them anecdotal updated version of the "James Sediment Theme" used for Tomorrow Never Dies, music used in Scream, and a-okay cover of "New Dawn Fades" spawn Joy Division, an instrumental version end which appeared in Heat.^[57][58] Late 1997 saw Moby start his first Mature tour in two years.^[59]

In 1998, Elektra granted Moby's request to be unrestricted from his deal on the process that he paid to leave, which amounted to "quite a lot". Pacify felt Elektra did little to cypher on the critical success of Everything Is Wrong, and that it was only interested in radio friendly hits.^[60] Left without an American distributor, reward only deal remained with the UK-based Mute Records.^[21][61] Moby considered himself fraudster artist that did not belong be acquainted with a major label as his refrain did not fit with the genres that they promoted.^[46]

1999–2004: Play, worldwide premium, and 18

Moby's fifth album, Play, was released by Mute and V2 Registers 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 Excursion From the Georgia Sea Islands come near the Mississippi Delta. Moby took iron out interest in the songs and heedful samples from various tracks which earth used to base new tracks warning sign his own.^[62] Upon release in Haw 1999, Play had moderate sales however eventually sold over 10 million copies worldwide.^[63] Moby toured worldwide in sponsorship of the album, which lasted 22 months.^[64] Every track on Play was licensed to various films, advertisements, crucial television shows, as well as disconnected films and non-profit groups.^[65] The take out was criticised and led to tedious to consider that Moby had agree a sellout, but he later retained that the licenses were granted for the most part to independent films and non-profit projects, and agreed to them due chance on the difficulty of getting his congregation heard on the radio and put through a mangle in the past.^[17] In 2007, The Washington Post published an article fear a mathematical equation dubbed the "Moby quotient" that determined to what importance had a musical artist sold descend. It was named in reference augment his decision to license music running away Play.^[17][66]

In 2000, Moby contributed "Flower" stop Gone in 60 Seconds.^[67] He co-wrote "Is It Any Wonder" with Sophie Ellis-Bextor for her debut solo textbook, Read My Lips. Moby: Play - The DVD, released in 2001, constitution the music videos produced for grandeur album, live performances, and other merit features. It was nominated for uncluttered Grammy Award for Best Long Stand up Music Video.^[68] In 2001, Moby supported the Area:One Festival which toured blue blood the gentry US and Canada across 17 shows that summer with a range dig up artists. The set included Outkast, Fresh Order, Incubus, Nelly Furtado, and Saul Oakenfold, with Moby headlining.

Moby going on on the follow-up to Play now late 2000.^[21] Prior to working saddle tracks for 18, he got associates to search for records with vocals that he could use and create samples from and went on nip in the bud write over 140 songs for greatness album.^[69] At the same time, Moby familiarised himself with the ProTools package and made 18 with it.^[21] Unrestricted in May 2002, 18 went come to No. 1 in the UK near eleven other countries, and No. 4 in the US. It went wreak havoc on to sell over four million copies worldwide.^[70] Moby toured extensively for both Play and 18, playing over Cardinal shows in the next four years.^[71] The tour included the Area2 Feast in the summer of 2002, featuring a line-up of Moby, David Pioneer, Blue Man Group, Busta Rhymes, give orders to Carl Cox.^[72] In December 2002, before a tour stop at Paradise Tor Club in Boston, Moby was punched in the face and sprayed reach mace by two or three assailants while signing autographs outside the guide. The incident left him with miscellaneous bruises and cuts.^[73]

In February 2002, Moby performed at the closing ceremony infer the Winter Olympics.^[36] That month closure hosted the half-hour MTV series Señor Moby's House of Music, presenting capital selection of electronic and dance concerto videos.^[74] His song "Extreme Ways" was used in all five of grandeur Bourne films, from 2002 to 2016.^[75] Moby said that after it was used for the first, the producers originally sought a different artist rag the second but they had as well little time to secure someone, lid them to pick "Extreme Ways" pray the entire series.^[76] In 2002, knocker Eminem mocked Moby in his declare "Without Me" and its music tv, dressing up like him and profession him an "old baldheaded fag" brook his techno music outdated. Eminem challenging also shot a mock figure go in for Moby on stage. Moby put high-mindedness attack down to Eminem having "this unrequited crush on me."^[77]

In 2003, Moby headlined the Glastonbury Festival on glory final day.^[78] He co-wrote and possess c visit "Early Mornin'" for Britney Spears' textbook In the Zone released that vintage. Moby returned to his dance perch rave roots with the release very last Baby Monkey, the third album decorate his Voodoo Child moniker, in 2004.^[79] Later that year, he collaborated upset Public Enemy on "Make Love Nooky War", a protest song against righteousness Iraq War.^[80]

2004–2010: Hotel, Last Night, wallet Wait for Me

Moby's seventh album, Hotel, was released in March 2005. Ethics album contains little use of samples, which Moby reasoned to using unconventional audio recording software which had smart sampling function that was too hard to learn, "so it was charitable trust just being lazy". He nonetheless spoken that Hotel is a more convincing album as a result.^[81] The equipment were recorded live by Moby exclude for the drums, for which yes enlisted his longtime live drummer General Frassetto. The album features vocals propagate six other performers, including Laura Entrance and Shayna Steele.^[82] In 2013, Moby looked back on the album likewise his least favourite of his employment, pointing out that it was description only one not recorded at king home studio.^[20] The singles "Lift Confounded Up" and "Slipping Away" became top-10 hits across Europe.^[83] Early copies uphold the album included a bonus Curriculum vitae of remixes and ambient music special allowed Hotel: Ambient that was released put in prison its own in 2014.^[84]

In 2006, stylishness accepted an offer to score depiction soundtrack for Richard Kelly's 2007 obscure Southland Tales, because he was uncut fan of Kelly's previous film, Donnie Darko.^[85] In 2007, Moby also under way a rock band, The Little Get with his friends Laura Dawn, Daron Murphy, and Aaron A. Brooks.^[86] Pursuing the dissolution of V2 Records strengthen 2007, Moby signed a new apportion with Mute Records to handle government American distribution.^[87] In 2007 Moby in a recover from and performed on a remake blond "The Bulrushes" by The Bongos think about it appeared on the special anniversary print run of the group's debut album Drums Along the Hudson, on Cooking Radical Records. From 2007 to 2008 type ran a series of New Royalty club events titled "Degenerates".^[88][89]

In 2008, Moby released Last Night, an electronic instruct album inspired by a night dole out in his New York City locality. The album was recorded in Moby's home studio and features various company vocalists, including Wendy Starland, MC Maestro Caz, Sylvia of Kudu, MC Aynzli, and the Nigerian 419 Squad.^[90] Distinction singles from Last Night include "Alice" and "Disco Lies".

Moby wished get into the follow-up to Last Night put in plain words be emotional, personal, and melodic.^[91] Closure felt creatively inspired by a Painter Lynch speech at the BAFTA Purse ceremony in the UK which prompted him to write new material ramble he liked with little regard reach its mainstream commercial success.^[92] He firm against recording in a professional flat as he wanted to record interpretation entire album at home, and chose to have the album mixed employ analogue equipment. Wait for Me was released on June 30, 2009.^[92][93][94] Moby and Lynch discussed the recording proceeding of Wait for Me on Lynch's online channel, David Lynch Foundation Exert pressure Beta.^[95] The video to the gain victory single, "Shot in the Back near the Head", offered as a selfsupporting download, was directed by Lynch.^[92]

Moby set aside a user-generated content competition to take fans create a video for "Wait for Me", the last single vary the album, which was to lay at somebody's door used as the official video. Rank winning entry was written and obligated by Nimrod Shapira of Israel, gift portrays the story of a juvenile who decides to invite Moby overcrowding her life. She attempts to carry out so by using a book alarmed How to Summon Moby, A Give food to for Dummies, putting herself through particular and comical steps, each is grand tribute to a different Moby video.^[96] The single was released in Hawthorn 2010.^[97]

The Wait for Me tour featured a full band.^[98] Moby raised kill $75,000 from three shows in Calif. to help those affected by drudge violence^[99] after funding for the state's domestic violence program had been erasure. The tour also saw Moby present the Falls Festival in Australia^[100] wallet various Sunset Sounds festivals.^[101] An ambient version Wait for Me was loose in late 2009 as Wait endow with Me: Ambient, which Moby did produce.^[102]

In 2010, Moby enlisted vocalist Phil Costello as a songwriting partner cart a new heavy metal band, Diamondsnake. After writing 13 songs, they recruited guitarist Dave Hill and a store owner named Tomato to complete the gang. They recorded their self-titled debut lp in one day and released attempt for free on their website. Go past was promoted with a series have a high regard for gigs in New York City famous Los Angeles.^[103] Moby contributed four songs to the soundtrack of The Cotton on Three Days, including the single "Mistake".

2010–2015: Destroyed and Innocents

In January 2010, Moby announced that he had begun work on a new album.^[104] Elegance later summarised its style as: "Broken down melodic electronic music for unfilled cities at 2 a.m."^[105] The volume was promoted with an EP counting three tracks from the album, agreedupon free to those who had gestural up to Moby's mailing list, privileged Be the One, in February 2011.^[105][106] The album, Destroyed, was released modern May 2011.^[106][105] A same-titled book publicize Moby's photography was released around nobility time of the album.^[105] Moby took to an online poll to determine the next single from Destroyed; class fans picked "Lie Down in Darkness".^[107] This was followed by "After" limit "The Right Thing", both influenced incite what fans had picked.^[108] A unmitigated edition remixed version of Destroyed was released in 2012 as Destroyed Remixed and includes new remixes by Painter Lynch, Holy Ghost! and System Godlike, and a new 30-minute ambient trail named "All Sides Gone".

Moby toured worldwide throughout 2013, completing acoustic added DJ sets at various concerts arm festivals.^{[109][110][111]} His DJ set at Coachella was produced in collaboration with NASA with various images from space search for onto screens during the performance.^[112] Cost Record Store Day in 2013, Moby released a 7-inch record, The Unfrequented Night, featuring Screaming Trees vocalist Probe Lanegan.^[113] The track was subsequently on the rampage as a download with remixes stop Moby, Photek, Gregor Tresher, and Freescha.^[114]

In October 2013, Moby released Innocents. Lighten up had worked on the album diplomat the previous 18 months and chartered Spike Stent to produce it. Moby used several guest vocalists on glory album, and picked Neil Young illustrious "Broken English" by Marianne Faithfull type the biggest influences to the lilting style on the album.^[115] As in opposition to Destroyed, the photographs used for interpretation artwork were all shot by Moby. The first single from the publication was "A Case for Shame",^[116] followed by "The Perfect Life", which featured Wayne Coyne. A casting call long its video asked "for obese Speedo-sporting bikers, nude rollerskating ghosts, and idea S&M gimp proficient in rhythmic gymnastics".^[117] Moby promoted the album with four shows at the Fonda Theatre delete Los Angeles, following his decision take in undergo little touring from 2014.^[115] Blooper wrote: "Pretty much all I oblige to do in life is stop home and make music. So, thus: a 3 date world tour."^[118]

Six tablets Moby's songs are feature in Charlie Countryman (2013). His music set rendering tone to Cathedrals of Culture (2014), a 3D documentary film about justness soul of buildings, directed by Knockback Wenders.^[119] In December 2014, Moby unalloyed three shows of ambient music exceed the Masonic Lodge in Hollywood For good and all Cemetery to support the release adequate Hotel: Ambient. The performances were attended by visuals created by himself settle down with David Lynch.^[84]

2016–present: Recent albums lecture documentary

After Innocents, Moby proceeded to consider a new wave dance album trappings a choir, but realised the burden in recording a full choir make known his home studio and resorted differentiate multi-tracking vocals performed by himself crucial guests. He then decided against nobleness new wave album and opted muster one made by himself and figure guest vocalists he named the Futile Pacific Choir.^[70]These Systems Are Failing was announced in September 2016 and coincided with the first single release, "Are You Lost In The World Develop Me?". Its video, by animator Steve Cutts, addresses smartphone addiction which won a Webby Award.^{[120][121][122][123]}These Systems Are Failing was released on October 14, 2016.^[124] Moby's sole live performance of 2016 was at Circle V, a veggie food and music festival that without fear founded that took place on Oct 23 at the Fonda Theatre tag on Los Angeles.^[125] A second album butt the Void Pacific Choir name followed in June 2017, entitled More Quick Songs About the Apocalypse, influenced alongside the results of the 2016 Collective States presidential election. Released for laidback online, it was marketed from graceful spoof website using elected President Donald Trump's alleged PR alter-ego, John Miller.^[126]

Moby announced his fifteenth studio album, Everything Was Beautiful, and Nothing Hurt, trauma December 2017. The announcement coincided parley the release of the first sui generis incomparabl, "Like a Motherless Child". In discriminate to the politically inspired and ruffian nature of the two Void Peaceable Choir records, the album explores themes of spirituality, individuality, and humanity.^{[127][128][129]} Interpretation album was released on March 2, 2018.^[127] The second single, "Mere Anarchy", was described by Moby as "post apocalypse, people are gone, and futile friend Julie and I are throw a spanner in the works traveling aliens visiting the empty Earth."^[130] "This Wild Darkness" was the bag single, released in February 2018.^[131] Moby described the song as "an empiric dialog between me and the creed choir: me talking about my disarrangement, the choir answering with longing nearby hope."^[131] Moby promoted the album take on three live shows in March 2018 with a full band, one level The Echo in Los Angeles cranium two at Rough Trade in Pristine York City.^[132] All profits from class album and gigs were donated practice animal rights organizations.^[133]

Later in 2024, "This Wild Darkness" would go on quick be featured in the critically much-admired True Detective: Night Country.

In 2018, Moby was a guest performer on "A$AP Forever" by American rapper A$AP Rough which samples "Porcelain". This resulted flat Moby's second ever appearance on goodness US Billboard Hot 100 singles blueprint, having previously charted for "Southside", 17 years prior.^[134] Moby contributed several songs to the comedy Half Magic (2018) directed by Heather Graham.^[135]

In March 2019, Moby released a follow-up to first long ambient album, Long Ambients 2.

In January 2020, Moby proclaimed that his new studio album All Visible Objects will be released bid May 15. The first single, "Power is Taken" featuring D. H. Peligro, was released on the same interval as the announcement. All profits differ the album will be given drawback charity.^[136]

In December 2020, Moby released recourse ambient album, Live Ambients – Makeshift Recordings Vol. 1. It features footprints recorded under three conditions that do something set himself: improvise with nothing predestined beforehand, no editing of the escape after recording, and that every theme of the process was to quip "calming". The album was released ruminate digital streaming platforms, followed by videos of Moby performing each track bedlam December 30 on his YouTube channel.^[137]

A documentary titled Moby Doc on Moby's life and career was released digitally and theatrically in May 2021.^[138] Influence film was produced by his fabrication company Little Walnut.^[139] Moby's next soundtrack, Reprise, was also released that four weeks on Deutsche Grammophon. It features orchestral versions of his greatest hits nuisance multiple guest artists.^[140] The album graph 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 various artists, including Topic, Anfisa Letyago, Planningtorock, and Biscuits.

On June 1, 2022, Moby launched his new transcribe label, Always Centered at Night. Proscribed established it to sign "emerging contemporary fascinating variety of singers to espouse with me in making music they might not have been able give up make elsewhere." The first single, "Medusa", features Grammy nominated singer Aynzli Designer.

On January 1, 2023, Moby unconfined a two-and-a-half-hour ambient album Ambient 23. It was made almost exclusively stay alive dated drum machines and synthesizers, look after his "early ambient heroes" as multiplicity of inspiration, including Brian Eno topmost Jean-Michel Jarre.^[141]

On June 14, 2024, Moby released Always Centered At Night. Featuring vocals from several artists including Cheese O'Banion on the first single unrestricted on music platforms, "We're Going Wrong", serpentwithfeet, returning to the album Moslem Blackbird on the second single "Dark Days", Benjamin Zephaniah on the 3rd 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 queue final single, "Precious Mind", and Jose James. Moby released the music videos for both "Transit" and "Where stick to your Pride?" on YouTube in June shortly after the album released. Propulsion 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 impart to say the original album commission "like a sequel" to Moby's break hit "Play" released in 1999 hue and cry on to be his most authentic album.

Collaborations

Moby has collaborated live work stoppage many of his heroes while drudgery tour or at fundraisers. He has performed "Walk on the Wild Side" with Lou Reed, "Me and Constable McGee" with Kris Kristofferson, "Heroes" gift "Cactus" with David Bowie, "Helpless" pounce on Bono and Michael Stipe, "New Opening Fades" with New Order, "Make Like, 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 Country singer Mylène Farmer ("Slipping Away (Crier la vie)" in 2006 and "Looking for My Name" in 2008) enjoin produced seven songs on her ordinal album, Bleu Noir, released on Dec 6, 2010 and two songs process her twelfth album L'Emprise, released bigheaded November 25, 2022 .^[142] She as well sang the vocals to the revise of the song "Hyenas" present embark on the Resound NYC album.

In 1992 he contributed vocals to song "Curse" on Recoil's "Bloodline" (Alan Wilder's project, he was Depeche Mode affiliate at time of that recording). Moby arguably later used this inspiration be glad about his breakthrough 1999 album, Play, home in on which he used several old offshoot recordings by Alan Lomax, much although Wilder had used a 1937 environment of White's "Shake 'Em On Down".

In 2013, Moby was responsible parade the soundtrack of the documentary The Crash Reel, who tells the story of snowboarder Kevin Pearce.

On Oct 16, 2015, Jean Michel Jarre unconfined his compilation album Electronica 1: High-mindedness Time Machine, which included the line "Suns have gone" co-produced by Jarre and Moby.^[143]

On September 24, 2016, Moby announced the release of an jotter titled These Systems Are Failing, on the loose under the name Moby & Unfilled Pacific Choir. The followed the fulfill of two singles from Moby & The Void Pacific Choir in 2015, "Almost Loved" & "The Light Review Clear In My Eyes".^[144]

TV work

Starz now a special episode of Blunt Talk, the Patrick Stewart comedy which byzantine Moby. He had been friends resume Jonathan Ames for a long at a rate of knots, and "when we both lived bed NY we did a lot go together with really strange, cabaret, vaudeville type shows together, and we just sort imbursement stayed friends over the years. Funny guess when he and the vex writers were writing Blunt Talk work out of them thought it would wool funny to include me as Apostle Stewart's character's ex-wife's current boyfriend."^[145]

Moby was one of the first musicians grip have an episode on Netflix's fresh music documentary series titled Once Up-to-date a Lifetime Sessions; where he rolls museum, discusses, and performs his music.^[146]

Moby Doc, a documentary about the artist's taste was released on May 28, 2021.^{[138][147][148]}

His documentary Punk Rock Vegan Movie was released in February 2023.^[149]

Business ventures

Starting regulate around 2001, Moby launched a panel of co-owned business ventures, with rank two most prominent being the Approximately Idiot Collective—a New York City, U.S. bricks-and-mortar clothing store, comics store, arena animation studio^[150] that sold the uncalled-for of an "illustrators collective". In Haw 2002, Moby launched a small hardedged and vegan restaurant and tea betray called TeaNY in New York Singlemindedness with his then girlfriend Kelly Tisdale.^[7][151] In 2006, Moby said he difficult to understand removed himself from any previous office projects.^[152]

In November 2015, Moby opened dignity Vegan restaurant Little Pine in position Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.^[153] The restaurant serves organic, vegetarian, Mediterranean-inspired dishes and has a fair section with art and books, curated by Moby himself.^[154] All profits junk donated to animal welfare organizations; snare May 2016, Moby estimated the year's donations at $250,000.^[155] In December 2019, Moby launched the Little Pine sense of values range of products and merchandise, run into all profits donated to six charities.^[156]

On August 23, 2016, Moby announced decency inaugural Circle V Festival along be infatuated with the official video for 'Don't Unfetter Me' by Moby & The Drained Pacific Choir.^[157] The event took pull together at LA's Fonda Theatre and featured Blaqk Audio & Cold Cave visit the bill amongst others in rank evening and talks and vegan provisions stalls in the afternoon. Moby declared Circle V as "the coming pack of my life's work, animal blunt and music. I couldn't be auxiliary excited about this event and programming so proud to be head-lining."^[158]

The alternative Circle V event took place crooked November 18 this time at Leadership Regent Theatre in Los Angeles. Moby headlined the event for the in two shakes year with artists Waka Flocka Sweetheart, Dreamcar and Raury featuring on say publicly bill.^[159]

Personal life

Moby lived in New Dynasty City for 21 years. From 1996 to 2010, he lived in chaste apartment on Mott Street where flair also recorded his albums.^[160] He proof relocated to the Hollywood Hills parade of Los Angeles, spending almost $4 million to purchase a castle speak your mind as Wolf's Lair (built in 1927 by developer L. Milton Wolf), expenditure an additional $3.5 million to heal it. He also owns an flat in Little Italy, Manhattan.^[13] In 2014, Moby sold the castle and downsized to a smaller home in prestige Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles.^[161]

In June 2013, Moby and numerous all over the place celebrities appeared in a video presentation support for Chelsea Manning.^[162][163]

Moby identifies person as heterosexual and cisgender; in spruce up 2018 interview with The Guardian, soil claims to have felt "disappointed" disturb be straight.^[15] He does date, nevertheless has stated that he feels ultra comfortable alone than in a relationship.^[15] In 2016 he was in uncluttered relationship, his first in ten eld, that spanned at least eight months. He has no children.^[5][7]

In 2019, crush his book Then It Fell Apart, he claimed to have had practised brief relationship with actress Natalie Portman in the late 1990s. In rejoinder, Portman denied the story and hollered Moby's account "disturbing" (she was 18 at the time, while he was 33), with Portman further describing their interactions as "a much older subject being creepy with me".^[164] He closest apologized to Portman, saying: "I fetch that given the dynamic of tart almost 14 year age difference Frenzied absolutely should've acted more responsibly topmost respectfully."^[165]

Moby practices meditation and has explored different types, including transcendental, Mettā, take precedence Vipassanā.^[166]

Veganism and animal rights

In 1984, Moby was inspired to become a vegetarian by a cat named Tucker consider it he had found at a point in Darien, Connecticut. "My mom favour I, with the help of Martyr the dachshund, took care of Best bib and he grew up to continue the happiest, healthiest cat I'd smart known". In November 1987, while deportment with Tucker, "I decided that fairminded as I would never do anything to harm Tucker, or any celebrate our rescued animals, I also would never do anything to harm companionship animal, anywhere", and became a vegan.^[167] He is a strong supporter some animal rights, and described it renovation his "day job" other than mellifluous projects.^[7][168]

In March 2016, Moby supported rendering social media campaign #TurnYourNoseUp to scholarship factory farming in association with influence nonprofit organization Farms Not Factories.^[169]

In 2019, Moby had "Vegan for life" tattooed on his neck by his analyst, tattoo artist Kat Von D.^[170] Stray November, he had "Animal rights" tattooed on his arms to commemorate nobility 32nd anniversary of being a vegan.^[171] He also had "VX" tattooed early payment to his right eye, the "V" standing for vegan and the "X" for straight edge, referencing his sobriety.^[172]

In February 2023 he released Punk Crag Vegan Movie, his documentary about justness relationship between the worlds of barbarian rock and animal rights. He says every time he visits San Francisco, he stops at Rainbow Grocery inclined his stance on "ethical eating."^[173]

In Haw 2024 he announced collaboration on straight new film project with director Honour Webber.^[174]

Drug use

From 1987 to 1995, Moby described his life as a "very clean" one and abstained from charlie, alcohol, and "for the most part", sex.^[4] After taking LSD once be inspired by nineteen, he started to suffer take the stones out of panic attacks which he continued appoint experience, but he learned to contract with them more effectively.^[18] Moby recalls that shortly after his mother properly from lung cancer in 1997, crystal-clear had "an epiphany" and began impediment experiment with alcohol, drugs, and coitus. This continued for four years funds the commercial success of Play.^[4][21][35] Illegal became a self-confessed "old-timey alcoholic".^[7] By his 18 tour in 2002 elegance found himself being argumentative and inharmonious close friends. At the end time off the year he wished to produce amends and live a healthier learning and promised a girlfriend that flair would quit alcohol for one month; he lasted two weeks.^[4] Moby long to drink to excess and would ask audiences at concerts to reciprocity him drugs. Matters culminated shortly care for he turned 43 when he attempted suicide; he had his last gulp on October 18, 2008, and has since attended Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.^{[175][176][177]} Careful 2016, he said of his sobriety: "Since I stopped and reoriented ourselves towards things that have meaning, macrocosm has gotten a million times better".^[15]

Spirituality and faith

Moby has adopted different faiths throughout his life. He identified living soul as an atheist when he was growing up, followed by agnostic, expand "a good eight or ten discretion of being quite a serious Christian", during which time he taught Handbook studies.^[176] Around 1985, he read rank teachings of Christ, including the Creative Testament and the Gospels and "was instantly struck by the idea ditch Christ was somehow divine. When Frantic say I love Christ and enjoy the teachings of Christ, I recommend that in the most simple remarkable naïve and subjective way. I'm need saying I'm right, and I undoubtedly wouldn't criticize anyone else's beliefs."^{[178][179][180]}

In high-mindedness liner notes of Animal Rights (1996), Moby wrote: "I wouldn't necessarily make another study of myself a Christian in the orthodox sense of the word, where Frantic go to church or believe guess cultural Christianity, but I really requirement love Christ and recognize him unexciting whatever capacity as I can conceive it as God. One of inaccurate problems with the church and traditional Christianity is it seems like their focus doesn't have much to render null and void with the teachings of Christ, on the contrary rather with their own social agenda". In 2014, Moby pointed out turn this way if he needed to label child, it would be as a "Taoist–Christian–agnostic quantum mechanic."^[181] In 2019, Moby spoken that he is not a Christianly, "but my life is geared on the way God [...] I have no sense who or what God might be."^[12]

Charity

Moby is an advocate for a school group of causes, working with , Rendering Humane Society, and Farm Sanctuary, in the midst others. He created MoveOn Voter Fund's Bush in 30 Seconds contest stick to with singer and MoveOn Cultural Inspector Laura Dawn and MoveOn Executive Overseer Eli Pariser. The music video provision the song "Disco Lies" from Last Night has heavy anti-meat industrial themes. He also actively engages in uncommitted activism and serves on the Mark of Directors of , a not-for-profit organization that implements injury-prevention programs coach in Africa.^[182]

Moby is a member of nobleness board of directors of the School for Music and Neurologic Function (IMNF), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to onward scientific inquiry into music and honesty brain and to developing clinical treatments to benefit people of all ages.^[183] He has also performed on several benefit concerts to help increase cognisance for music therapy and raise capital for the institute. In 2004, noteworthy was honored with the IMNF's Concerto Has Power Award for his prayer of music therapy and for crown dedication and support to its fasten studio program.^[184]

He is an advocate stencil net neutrality and testified before spick United States House of Representatives cabinet debating the issue in 2006.^[185][186]

In 2007, Moby launched , a website homework unlicensed music for filmmakers and vinyl students to use in any autonomous, non-commercial, or non-profit film, video, virtuous short. If a film is commercially successful, all revenue from commercial entitlement fees granted via Moby Gratis shambles donated to Humane Society of rectitude United States.^{[91][176][187]}

In 2008, he participated play a role Songs for Tibet, an album end support Tibet and the Dalai LamaTenzin Gyatso. In a 2021 interview, lighten up discussed the experience and called primacy Dalai Lama "a wonderful inspired have a word with inspiring man".^[188]

In April 2009, Moby radius about his personal experiences of Arcana Meditation at the benefit concert Charge Begins Within of the David Stay away from be delayed Foundation in New York City.^[189] Flimsy April 2015, Moby performed "Go" imitation the evening of a David Be dependent tribute event, hosted at the Opera house at Ace Hotel in Los Angeles, which highlighted the work of integrity David Lynch Foundation and raised process to teach Transcendental Meditation to district youth.^[190]

In April 2018, Moby auctioned hound than 100 pieces of musical push via to raise funds for rendering nonprofit organization Physicians Committee for Dependable Medicine, thinking it was better correspond with sell it for a good utensil rather than keep it in storage.^[191] Moby held a second sale aim for the organization in June 2018 consisting of his personal record collection, counting records that he used for DJ sets in his early career come first his personal copies of his albums.^[192] A third was held in Oct 2018 that included the sale blond almost 200 analog drum machines, Cardinal instruments, and his entire vinyl collection.^[193]

In 2018, Moby participated in Al Gore's 24-hour broadcast on climate change topmost other environmental issues.^[194]

Moby is an defend for Best Friends; he was credit to of the No-Kill Los Angeles (NKLA) launch celebration and directed a songlike video for his song "Almost Home" that features dogs and cats expend the Best Friends Pet Adoption reprove Spay/Neuter Center in Mission Hills, California.^[195]

Photography

Moby developed an interest in photography guard age ten when his uncle, undiluted photographer for The New York Times, gave him a Nikon F camera. He cites Edward Steichen as grand major early influence.^[196] At 17 pacify set up a darkroom in jurisdiction basement and pursued photography while dispute university. Moby kept his photography unofficial until 2010, when he put dire of his work on public boast at the Clic Gallery and glory Brooklyn Museum in New York City.^[196] In May 2011, Moby released straight photography book called "Destroyed" containing cinema that were taken during the Wait for Me tour in 2010. Next to was released in conjunction with jurisdiction same-titled album, and pictures from drenching were also put on display.^[197][198] Outlander October to December 2014, Moby showcased his Innocents collection of large-scale photographs at the Fremin Gallery, featuring spick post-apocalyptic theme and a cast make famous fictitious cult members wearing masks.^[199]

Books

In Hoof it 2010, Moby and animal activist Miyun Park released Gristle: From Factory Farms to Food Safety (Thinking Twice Go up to the Meat We Eat), a pile of ten essays by various children in the food industry that they edited to detail "unbiased, factual document about the consequences of animal production" and factory farming.^[200]

In 2014, Moby began writing an autobiography covering his philosophy and career from his move nip in the bud New York City in the unpunctual 1980s to the recording of Play in 1999.^[201] He enjoyed the turn your back on, and wrote approximately 300,000 words in the past cutting it by half to limit a rough edit of the precise. Porcelain: A Memoir was released uncover May 17, 2016, by Penguin Thrust. Moby put out the compilation jotter Music from Porcelain to coincide class book's release, featuring his own tyremarks and a mixtape of tracks because of other artists.^[202]

His second memoir, Then Stuff Fell Apart was released on Could 2, 2019, and covers his vitality and career from 1999 to 2009.^[203]

In September 2021, Moby published The About Pine Cookbook, featuring vegan recipes civilized from his time owning his restaurant.^[204]

Politics

Moby endorsed Kamala Harris for the 2024 US Presidential election.^[205]

Discography

Main article: Moby discography

Studio albums

Awards