View all newsletters
Sign up to our newsletters

Support 110 years of independent journalism.

  1. Culture
  2. Q&A
12 June 2019updated 23 Jun 2021 9:57am

Moby Q&A: “My earliest memory is crying into a kazoo“

By New Statesman

Richard Melville Hall was born in New York City in 1965 and raised in San Francisco. He began performing as Moby when he moved back to New York City in 1989, releasing his breakthrough dance single “Go” in 1991. He is known for the albums “Everything is Wrong” and “Play”. An outspoken vegan, He claims he is the great-great-great-nephew of Herman Melville, hence the name “Moby”.

What’s your earliest memory?

My earliest memory is crying into a kazoo when I was three years old. I was upset that my mom had cut me off from my favourite cereal (Kaboom), so I cried into my kazoo, while she laughed until she cried.

Who are your heroes?

My childhood hero was my grandfather. He was a smart, stable businessman who’d been in the marines, and he always seemed like a war hero senator to me. My adult hero is any person not crippled by narcissistic personality disorder, who humbly does what’s right.

What was the last book that changed your thinking?

The collected poems of Kabir, the 15th-century Indian mystic. I’m not a Sufi, but I love the gentle, humble, and even playful divinity in his poetry.

Which political figure do you look up to?

My old friend Cory Booker. We’ve known each other for a few decades, and I’m thrilled that a conscientious, vegan, principled senator is running for the presidency.

What would be your Mastermind specialist subject?

30 Rock trivia! It’s my favourite TV show. I’ve seen every episode too many times to count.

In which time and place, other than your own, would you like to live?

That time in the future after we realise that destroying the only home we have is profoundly stupid, and we no longer use petroleum products for energy and animals for food.

Who would paint your portrait?

George W Bush. Truly terrible president, truly endearing painter.

What’s your theme tune?

“Who are you and why am I here?” by Void.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

An old alcoholic once said to me: “Do more of what works, less of what doesn’t.” I try very hard to follow his advice.

What’s currently bugging you?

Our species.

What single thing would make your life better?

A world where people stop destroying the only home we have.

When were you happiest?

Yesterday, playing in the sun with a friend’s new puppy.

In another life, what job might you have chosen?

A benign dictator.

Are we all doomed?

The big question. The short answer is: probably. The longer answer is: most likely. We’ve lived for a long time as if our actions don’t have lasting or cumulative consequences – but they do, as we’re all starting to see. And, tragically, we’ll probably realise the extent to which we’ve screwed things up just as we’re all about to go extinct. 

The second volume of Moby’s autobiography, “Then It Fell Apart”, is published by Faber & Faber

Content from our partners
The promise of prevention
How Labour hopes to make the UK a leader in green energy
Is now the time to rethink health and care for older people? With Age UK

This article appears in the 12 Jun 2019 issue of the New Statesman, The closing of the conservative mind

Select and enter your email address Your weekly guide to the best writing on ideas, politics, books and culture every Saturday. The best way to sign up for The Saturday Read is via saturdayread.substack.com The New Statesman's quick and essential guide to the news and politics of the day. The best way to sign up for Morning Call is via morningcall.substack.com Our Thursday ideas newsletter, delving into philosophy, criticism, and intellectual history. The best way to sign up for The Salvo is via thesalvo.substack.com Stay up to date with NS events, subscription offers & updates. Weekly analysis of the shift to a new economy from the New Statesman's Spotlight on Policy team. The best way to sign up for The Green Transition is via spotlightonpolicy.substack.com
  • Administration / Office
  • Arts and Culture
  • Board Member
  • Business / Corporate Services
  • Client / Customer Services
  • Communications
  • Construction, Works, Engineering
  • Education, Curriculum and Teaching
  • Environment, Conservation and NRM
  • Facility / Grounds Management and Maintenance
  • Finance Management
  • Health - Medical and Nursing Management
  • HR, Training and Organisational Development
  • Information and Communications Technology
  • Information Services, Statistics, Records, Archives
  • Infrastructure Management - Transport, Utilities
  • Legal Officers and Practitioners
  • Librarians and Library Management
  • Management
  • Marketing
  • OH&S, Risk Management
  • Operations Management
  • Planning, Policy, Strategy
  • Printing, Design, Publishing, Web
  • Projects, Programs and Advisors
  • Property, Assets and Fleet Management
  • Public Relations and Media
  • Purchasing and Procurement
  • Quality Management
  • Science and Technical Research and Development
  • Security and Law Enforcement
  • Service Delivery
  • Sport and Recreation
  • Travel, Accommodation, Tourism
  • Wellbeing, Community / Social Services
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
THANK YOU