Moby

Richard Melville Hall aka Moby is an American electronic music composer and singer. He was born on September 11, 1965 in Harlem, New York. His father, James Hall, was a chemistry professor, while his mother, Elizabeth McBride Warner, was a secretary. It was she who coined the stage name Moby, in honor of his great-uncle Herman Melville, author of the famous novel “Moby Dick”.

As a teenager, he played in the hardcore punk band The Vatican Commandos and sang with the group Flipper. He recorded his first record, “Time’s Up”, in 1990. His stage performances helped build his reputation. In 1991 came his fourth single, “Go”, a techno anthem whose bassline was inspired by the TV series “Twin Peaks” by David Lynch.

Moby then slips into relative anonymity, releasing numerous electronic music singles under his own name or under various pseudonyms such as Voodoo Child, Barracuda, UHF, DJ Cake, Lopez and Brainstorm/Mindstorm. Despite its merits, his album "Ambient" (1993) goes largely unnoticed. The following album, his first for Elektra Records, is titled "Everything Is Wrong". It's followed by "Animal Rights" in 1996, preceded by the controversial single "That's When I Reach For My Revolver". The return to punk rock throws fans who had been expecting an ambient record.

Moby then returns to electronic music with "I Like To Score", a collection of compositions, some of which are later used in films, such as the track "God Moving Over The Face Of The Water", which accompanies the closing scene of Michael Mann's "Heat".

In 1999 Moby leaves Elektra Records and signs with V2 Records. In June, "Play" is released, a fusion of hip-hop, electronica and pre-1945 folk music, which becomes a global smash in 2000, selling over 9 million copies.

In 2002 comes "18", which falls short of expectations and fails to repeat the success of "Play". After three years spent writing music in his room, Moby releases "HOTEL", an album on which electronica makes more room for pop and new wave sounds. In 2006 the greatest hits collection "Go: The Very Best Of Moby" comes out, while 2008 brings "Last Night", released in late March in England and on April 1st in the United States.

2009 brings "Wait For Me", followed two years later by "Destroyed", written during nights spent in hotel rooms while on tour. In 2013 the new album "Innocents" is made with an all-star supporting cast: Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips, Mark Lanegan, Damien Jurado, Cold Specks, Inyang Bassey and Skylar Grey. In 2016, under the name Moby & the Void Pacific Choir, the album "These Systems Are Failing" is released.

In 2024 Moby releases a new album, "always centered at night". The record, arriving four years after his previous collection of new material "All Visible Objects", features 13 different artists across its 13 tracks, chosen among his favorite singers, including the late Benjamin Zephaniah, Serpentwithfeet, Lady Blackbird and Sudanese singer-songwriter Gaidaa. The album was preceded by the single "dark days", featuring soul-jazz singer-songwriter Lady Blackbird.

Alongside the album, Moby has announced his first live dates in over ten years, as part of a tour celebrating the 25th anniversary of his masterpiece "Play": 100% of the tour's profits will go to European animal rights organizations. Moby has been vegan since he was 22, and calls animal rights activism the purpose of his life.