Moby (Richard Melville Hall, b. 1965) is an American musician, producer, and DJ who became one of the most recognizable figures in 1990s electronic music, blending techno, ambient, rock, gospel, and pop into a unique and influential style.
He grew up in Connecticut, classically trained on guitar and piano. He took the name “Moby” because he is a descendant of Moby-Dick author Herman Melville.
Became active in New York’s underground club scene in the late 1980s, DJing and producing house and techno tracks.
Major Releases:
Moby gained attention with singles like “Go” (1991), which sampled Twin Peaks and became a major dance hit. He released a series of techno and rave anthems, becoming one of the few American figures to break into the European electronic scene at the time. Early albums like Moby (1992) and Everything Is Wrong (1995) showcased his versatility, blending hardcore techno with ambient and punk influences.
Play (1999) was a massive global success, featuring tracks like Porcelain, Natural Blues, Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?, and Honey.
Moby is known for sampling early 20th-century field recordings and gospel/blues vocals, creating a haunting, emotional sound over electronic backdrops. Remarkably, every track on Play was licensed for film, TV, or advertising, helping it reach a wide audience.
18 (2002) continued his success with hits like We Are All Made of Stars. Subsequent albums explored more rock, acoustic, and ambient influences (Hotel, Wait for Me, Innocents).
He is also known for his outspoken animal rights activism and political commentary.