Following the release of his most recent studio album, ‘Wait For Me’ (read ClashMusic’s review of the album HERE), the multi-talented musician has a two disc remix album in the works collecting twelve reworkings on one disc while Moby steps behind the decks for a mix on disc two.
Amongst those contributing remixes to the album are such heavyweights as Tiesto, Yuksek, Gui Boratto and Carl Cox. All admirers of Moby’s work with Cox commenting “Moby has been such a major part of the electronic scene, it’s always a pleasure to work with him.”, while Tiesto confirms the Dj scene’s respect for Moby calling him “a legend and a true electronic music pioneer”.
Clash caught up with Moby for an email exchange during his South American tour to find out more about the album, the internet and the future.
1. Was this remix album planned in as part of the whole ‘Wait For Me’ project?
to be honest, nothing was planned. over the last year we realized that we had accumulated a lot of really good remixes, so we decided to release them all in one place.
2. Did you choose who’d be let loose on the songs, how ‘hands-on’ are you with the commissioning of remixes?
the remixers were all picked by me and people at my management company, def. some of the remixers are old friends, and some of them are new guys whose work we really like.
3. Which reworking is your favourite? Any that left you underwhelmed?
in the interest of remaining friends with everyone i’m going to avoid this question…
4. Did anyone turn down the chance to do a remix?
we got lucky, as everyone we asked said ‘yes’.
5. Where some artists are very precious about their output, you seem to have a very generous attitude to your work (remix albums, online video making competition). Is this something you feel strongly about or just how you work?
the nice thing about remixes and videos, etc, is that by making a remix or a video you don’t change the original song at all, in that the original song always exists in its extant form. also i like giving people complete creative freedom to see what they come up with.
6. You’re a very active twitter-er, what are your thoughts on this new close relationship it’s brought between artists and fans?
i think it’s nice being able to bypass old and monolithic media, but at the same time it hasn’t helped me to be more vague or esoteric…
7. You’re on tour in South America at the moment, is taking a global approach important given fans online amplified voices in ‘off the beaten track’ locations?
as time has passed i’ve ended up playing fewer and fewer concerts in the u.k and the u.s, and more in europe and south america and asia. probably because fewer and fewer people like me in the u.k and the u.s.
8. The music industry seems to be in a transitional stage at the moment with the rise of services like Spotify (legal but bagged Lady Gaga just $167 for one million plays of ‘Poker Face’) and the wide spread use of illegal file sharing, how do you see the new model operating where the artist can make a living?
i think that if musicians are smart they’ll see the current state of the music business as being filled with amazing opportunities. the changing music business is, simply, forcing musicians to change and not rely on old paradigms.
9. It’s been reported that your new album will see more acoustic and orchestral instrumentation, what’s inspired that move?
actually now i’m not so sure. i want to make the acoustic/orchestral album, but i might make an electronic album first.
10. Do you have any tips for us, any new bands you’re enjoying?
lately i’ve been listening to john lee hooker, pantera, led zeppelin, and african disco from the 70’s. so i might be the wrong person to ask about new bands…
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‘Wait For Me. Remixes!’ is released on May 31st on Little Idiot.
moby
