Moby

Moby
source
Name	Moby
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Richard Melville Hall
Birth date	1965-09-11
Birth place	New York City, U.S.
Genres	Electronic, ambient, downtempo, techno, house
Occupations	Musician, DJ, producer, singer, songwriter, author, animal rights activist
Years active	1980s–present
Labels	Instinct, V2, Mute, Little Idiot
Associated acts	Grandmaster Flash, Vernon Reid, Iggy Pop, Patti Smith, David Bowie, The Rolling Stones

Moby Richard Melville Hall (born September 11, 1965) is an American electronic musician, producer, DJ, singer, songwriter, author, and animal rights activist. He rose to international prominence in the 1990s with a string of dance and ambient releases that blended elements of techno, house, and pop, and later reached mainstream audiences through a bestselling album that incorporated samples, guest vocalists, and orchestral arrangements. He has also authored books, scored films, curated art projects, and campaigned for animal welfare.

Early life and education

Born in New York City, Hall grew up in a family with ties to the shipping magnate Herman Melville; his middle name references the novelist Herman Melville. He spent parts of his childhood on Long Island and in Darien, Connecticut, and attended schools influenced by regional institutions such as Yale University–adjacent cultural networks and the arts scenes of New York City and Los Angeles. During adolescence he developed interests in punk rock and early hip hop, citing exposure to figures like Sid Vicious, Johnny Rotten, and crews surrounding Grandmaster Flash and Afrika Bambaataa. He later attended the University of Connecticut briefly before leaving to pursue a career in music and the underground club scenes associated with venues in New York City and London.

Musical career

Hall began releasing music in the late 1980s on independent labels such as Instinct Records and collaborated with DJs and producers from the acid house and techno movements, working in scenes connected to Detroit techno and Chicago house. He produced early singles and EPs that circulated in clubs frequented by DJs known from labels like Warp Records and R&S Records, and he remixed tracks for artists including The Rolling Stones and Depeche Mode. His breakthrough came in the 1990s with albums that combined club tracks, ambient compositions, and sample-based pieces; contemporaries and collaborators in that era included Aphex Twin, Underworld, The Chemical Brothers, and Orbital.

A major commercial peak occurred with an album that featured the widely sampled song built around a gospel vocal sample from the Vestal Goodman–era recordings and included guest contributions from artists associated with Downtown music and alternative rock scenes such as Patti Smith and Iggy Pop. This record topped charts in the United Kingdom and United States and earned nominations from institutions including the Brit Awards and the Grammy Awards. He continued to release studio albums, DJ mixes, and soundtracks, collaborating with producers and remixers linked to labels like Mute Records and working on film scores for directors connected to festivals such as Sundance Film Festival and Cannes Film Festival.

Other artistic and professional endeavors

Beyond recording, Hall has written memoirs and essays published by imprints connected to HarperCollins and Little, Brown and Company, and he has exhibited visual art and curated projects in galleries associated with the contemporary art circuits of Chelsea, Manhattan and London. He composed scores for films and television series, contributing to projects screened at events like Toronto International Film Festival and released through studios tied to Warner Bros. and Paramount Pictures. Hall has also engaged in entrepreneurial ventures including founding an independent label and collaborating with organizations involved in film distribution and music publishing such as Sony Music affiliates. His advocacy work includes campaigns run with non-governmental organizations and charities allied with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and other animal welfare groups.

Personal life

Hall lives between residences in the United States and abroad, maintaining homes in regions influenced by scenes in Los Angeles and New York City. He has practiced veganism since his late teens and has been active in animal rights campaigns alongside public figures from music and film such as Paul McCartney and Joaquin Phoenix. His family background includes relatives linked to publishing and maritime history through the legacy of Herman Melville, and his personal relationships and collaborations have connected him with artists and performers from the punk, electronic, and indie rock communities including David Bowie–era associates and musicians from the CBGB milieu.

Legacy and influence

Hall's work has been cited by artists across electronic, pop, and alternative genres, with influence noted in the output of DJs and producers associated with EDM festivals, club labels like Defected Records, and experimental electronic acts such as Boards of Canada and Massive Attack. Critics and historians have discussed his role in popularizing ambient and downtempo music alongside figures like Brian Eno and in bridging underground dance culture with mainstream pop, impacting radio programmers at stations such as BBC Radio 1 and commercial formats in the United States. His activism and public writing have contributed to debates within animal welfare circles and cultural discussions hosted by venues like TED and institutions such as The New York Public Library.

Category:American electronic musicians Category:1965 births Category:Living people