Born in New York City, Moby, 56, became a global star with his 1999 album, Play; his records have now sold more than 20m copies. His latest, Reprise, is a collection of orchestral recordings of his classic hits; Gregory Porter covers his song Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad? on his new album Still Rising. Moby lives in Los Angeles. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? Being argumentative. What is the trait you most deplore in others? People who are engaged in horrible behaviour and are arrogant about it, whether it’s anti-maskers, the pro-gun people or anti-science people. What was your most embarrassing moment? In the early 90s, I went on a date and at the time I had been going to the gym. She said, jokingly, “Oh let me punch your stomach.” So I flexed my stomach and, in that moment, made a loud fart. Describe yourself in three words Awkward, enthusiastic and driven. What do you most dislike about your appearance? My big beautiful full head of hair. Who is your celebrity crush? Sylvia Plath. What did you want to be when you were growing up? As someone who was obsessed with Star Trek and Space: 1999, I wanted to be a scientist on a spaceship. What was the last lie that you told? “I am sorry I can’t come to your event because I’m busy.” Often that means I’m listening to old records and watching 30 Rock reruns. What is the worst thing anyone’s said to you? Twenty years ago, I was having a break-up conversation and the coup de grâce she administered was that she had never liked my pancakes. What or who is the greatest love of your life? One of my best friends has a tiny dog named Bagel, and if it came down to my life or Bagel’s, I would happily give up my life for Bagel. Which living person do you most despise, and why? The Fox News host Tucker Carlson: he’s a smug liar. When’s the last time you changed your mind about something significant? Realising that people who make a huge effort to express how much they publicly hate me should be dealt with compassionately. How often do you have sex? Never: I have been accidentally celibate for six years. What is the closest you’ve come to death? My last birthday before I got sober, I was very drunk and self-pitying. I was crossing a freeway in New York and thought about rolling over to see if a truck would run over me. What has been your closest brush with the law? In 2006, I was hosting an animal rights fundraiser in Washington DC with Alec Baldwin. After they closed the bar, I stole a screwdriver, broke in and stole alcohol. I wasn’t caught. What keeps you awake at night? Climate change. Would you rather have more sex, money or fame? I’ve had enough of all three. How would you like to be remembered? As someone who tried to help animals. What is the most important lesson life has taught you? Ultimately, we die and are returned to this universe, so why are we so worried about likes on Instagram, grey hair and flabby stomachs? We should have a little more lightness of being.