Moby releases a brand new orchestral version of his hit single Natural Blues, featuring Gregory Porter and Amythyst Kiah. Natural Blues, is the third song to be unveiled from Moby’s eagerly awaited forthcoming new album, Reprise, out May 28th on Deutsche Grammophon.
Natural Blues originally appeared on Moby’s global breakthrough smash Play, released in 1999. Faithful to its earlier incarnation but remarkably contemporary, the new version soars with a renewed energy. The soulful vocals of both Gregory Porter and Amythyst Kiah married with the Budapest Art Orchestra make for a powerful and moving combination. The music video features footage from Moby’s forthcoming documentary Moby Doc, made in collaboration with director Rob Bralver. The video captures Moby in the high desert mountainside, along with other environmental elements including space travel, while images of Porter and Kiah singing are interspersed throughout the clip. Porter recently filmed his performance for the video under COVID-safe conditions at Moby’s home, marking the first occasion the two artists had been face to face since the start of the pandemic.
Moby explains, “I’ve had songs that are very despairing, and some that are celebratory, but more often than not I guess my music lives in a bittersweet in-between. Gregory Porter and Amythyst Kiah’s performances bring a new sense of yearning to the song that encompasses both light and dark tones. Their thoughtful interpretations bring out deep nuances to the track only they could uniquely offer.”
Gregory Porter comments, “When I first heard Moby’s ‘Natural Blues’ I had an immediate connection with the song. It sounded very modern, but at the same time, it felt a thousand years old. The different influences that flow through this music are brought to the fore again in this new version – amplifying the soul, spirit and voice of another time. It’s a pleasure to lend my voice to this classic tune, reimagined and renewed.”
Amythyst Kiah adds, “I was honored to be asked to sing on this incredible remix of ‘Natural Blues’. I remember hearing the song as a child, but it wasn’t until I studied old-time music in college that I realized that I had been listening to the voice of Vera Hall, sampled from the Lomax collection. I’ve been playing ‘Natural Blues’ for years now and it’s the example I give when talking to people about the importance of field recordings and the places they transport us, musically. To come full circle in this way is more than I ever could have hoped for. Hearing my voice with Gregory Porter’s is just stunning and I’m so happy to share this song with such an incredible vocalist.”
Tracks previously released from Reprise include Porcelain featuring Jim James (My Morning Jacket) and The Lonely Night featuring legendary artists Kris Kristofferson and Mark Lanegan.
