Electronic music pioneer Moby sat down with KCRW music director Jason Bentley June 16 for one of dance-music convention EDMbiz’s keynote conversations, talking his 25-plus years in the industry, his thoughts on dance music and rave culture and why opening a restaurant—something he did last year—is one of the "dumbest things" someone could do. “It’s up there with getting a facial tattoo.”
At the end of the discussion, Moby was presented with EDMbiz’s Leading the Way Award, which Bentley called “an award for folks making the world a better place.”
From reminiscing on his early days in New York City clubs to sharing insights on writing (his memoir Porcelain was released last month), the self-described “middle-aged bald guy” really let Bentley, a longtime friend of his, shine the magnifying glass on him—which produced some hilarious, as well as poignant, results. Some quote gems:
Moby and KCRW Music Director Jason Bentley at EDMbiz June 16.
On Las Vegas:
“Las Vegas always freaks me out. I don’t want to malign Las Vegas, but it’s the wrongest place in the world.”
“It’s the place where you can pretend that actions don’t have consequences.”
“Everything about Las Vegas feels like the strangest synthetic rainforest drug I’ve ever taken.”
On dance music in the ’80s:
"Nightclubs were like a refuge … I’ve never seen people celebrate more honestly than nightlife in New York in the late ’80s.”
On what EDM is:
“That type of music that Dutch people make that does great at festivals … even though I don't like it very much and I would never listen to it at home."
On the personal impact of dance music:
“That’s why we’re here. 150,000 people are going out to the desert tomorrow for emotional transcendent expression.”
“I like thoughtful electronic music, but I like any music that connects with me.”
On good house music:
“It sounds like everything you could ever experience in one moment.”
On being a pioneer in the dance-music industry:
“Everything was new. The equipment … the drugs. … We were inventing something new. A [new] sonic palette.”
On his longevity and success in the dance-music industry:
“I don’t know how to do anything else, so I just keep showing up.”
“I don’t know if I did anything terribly special, I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.”
“If you find yourself abusing anything, try to stop. … Practice self-care.”
“Love what you do. If you’re making music you don’t care about, there’s a good chance no one else will care about it, either.”
On branding yourself as an artist:
"It frustrates me that so many people are willing to throw music under the bus for personal gain."
On his nonprofit Vegan restaurant Little Pine in LA:
"The fact that I can’t make money from it is the only reason I want to do it."
