Moby mixes it up

For an artist who began his career experimenting with hip-hop and house music in the late 80’s, Moby has now played over 3000 shows worldwide and is still renowned as one of the greatest electronic dance acts of all time. Moby’s first single has sold a record 20,000,000 copies and the New York born musician has since released a total 10 albums with his latest ‘Destroyed’ coming in 2011. Moby has also turned his hand to producing, working with a host of other incredible artists including the Beastie Boys, Britney Spears and Michael Jackson.

Moby has wowed Australian crowds for over 20 years but in 2012 he’ll be returning with an exciting twist. In a recent interview, Moby expressed his enthusiasm for his debut Australian DJ tour. After being nominated by ‘Mixmag’ as one of the greatest dance acts of all time, Moby has decided to really light things up by switching his band for a full blown light show.

With dozens of awards and a string of Grammy nominations, Moby still holds much respect in the music world. We can be sure to expect stimulating things from him on his upcoming Summadayze tour, which kicks off in Adelaide on New Years Eve. We caught up with Moby for a quick chat to find out what we can expect in his upcoming tour.



So are we right in thinking that this is the first time that your going to be DJing in Australia?
It is actually, the first time I came to Australia was 20 years ago and I’ve probably done 8 or 9 concert tours of Australia but after 20 years this is the first time I’ve ever DJ’d in Australia.

So travelling light for a change?
Yeah, instead of bringing an 8 piece band and an 8 piece crew I’m just showing up with a bunch of records and hopefully that’s ok, I mean I always am a little weary of DJing, my fear is that people are going to show up expecting a full band show and instead there’s just a middle aged bald guy standing on stage playing records, hopefully that’s not how it works out.

I think people are looking forward to it because it’s the different side to Moby that everyone hasn’t experienced, what have you got planned for the Australian DJ set?
Yeah, well um, it depends where I’m DJing you know, like I have some friends who run really strange underground clubs in New York, and when I play small underground clubs ill tend to play more experimental house music, but these sort of events, because you know their big outdoor raves, basically I just play hands in the air, over the top bombastic techno tracks (laughs)



So you have already DJ'd at a lot of festivals over the last summer / few months?
Yeah, I mean, normally when I tour I play live but I’ve been getting back into DJing honestly for the simply reason that its really fun, I mean there is of course the fact that ill stand on stage and play records made by other people and I’m willing to take credit for them (laughs), which ethically might be a little bit questionable I’m not sure.

Also I know you’re a keen photographer, so are you going to try to get some pictures of Australian icons when your down here?
Well as a photographer um, I feel like there’s certain things like the Sydney Opera House, that have been photographed so many times, that, you know, its been photographed so well so many times that I’m happy to give it a miss, and um, you know as a photographer I guess I try and take pictures of the things that most photographers wouldn’t pay attention to.

Yeah so do you take your camera with you all the time, is it kind of by your side when you go on tour?
I try to, I mean I’ve been photographer since I was 10 years old and you know I grew up working in dark rooms and being a photo assistant so I’ve actually been taking pictures as long as I’ve been making music, and ah, yeah its something that I really love, um and ill never say that I’m a good photographer but I certainly enjoy it.



Obviously you’re going to be spending New Year in Australia, so do you have any new years resolutions made?
I have a whole bunch of new years resolutions, I guess my 3 right now would be…resolution number 1 would be to worry less, resolution 2 would be to actually have a girlfriend and have a real relationship and resolution 3, the last one would be to ah get some dogs

So a dog lover as well as a photographer?
I am a dog lover but because I’ve toured so much in my past I haven’t been able to have them but now I’m hoping to tour quite a lot less and ah so that’s where finding a girlfriend and getting a couple of dogs enters the picture.

Settling down, it sounds like
Yeah (laughs)

Is there any Australian custom your going to partake in when your arrive in Australia, you know a 'throw a little shrimp on the barby' type thing?
My favourite Australian custom is the Australian tendency to not take yourself too seriously, (laughs) and so I hope that when I’m in Australia the Australian tendency to sort of like not take yourself too seriously rubs off on me.

I’m sure it will, especially in summer time, its going be ah..everyone gets loose, so and everyone is looking forward to having you out here especially to hear you DJ so yeah its going to be exciting.
Oh thank you very much