This year, Moby won't be working during the MTV Video Music Awards; he'll be waiting to see if he wins a Moonman.

For the 1999 VMAs, the Einstein of electronica was stationed in the foyer of the New York City Metropolitan Opera House, deejaying and spinning tunes while wearing a glorious gold lame suit.

But thanks to his platinum-selling breakthrough album "Play" and its accompanying video for "Natural Blues," this year he's competing in one of the premier VMA categories, Best Male Video.

MTV News recently caught up with Moby at his apartment in Manhattan. In addition to running through the field of contestants for Best Male Video, Moby also jokingly noted the multimillion dollar differences between his recording techniques and that of the other nominees.

[article id="1448205"] "Strangely enough,"[/article] Moby said, [article id="1448205"]"I'm up against Eminem, Ricky Martin, D'Angelo, and Kid Rock, which is very bizarre.

'Cause you figure that all those guys, they spend millions and millions of dollars making their records, but I make my records in my bedroom. It's really strange.[/article]

[article id="1448205"]"With the success of 'Play,'"[/article] he added, [article id="1448205"]"I suddenly find myself in a lot of different countries outselling 'NSYNC, outselling Britney Spears, outselling these huge bands who spend millions of dollars making their records. In the back of my mind, I'm just laughing, 'cause I made my record in my bedroom. Granted, it's a pretty fancy bedroom with a lot of equipment, but it's still my bedroom. I wake up, walk to my bedroom, and make music.[/article]

[article id="1448205"]"Maybe that appeals to the old punk rocker in me, just because of the idea that I'm doing it myself. I'm not involving producers and songwriters and engineers and big, expensive, fancy studios. I just make music in my bedroom." [RealVideo][/article]

The day after the Video Music Awards, Moby plans to head back out on the road for his fall North American tour, an outing that kicks off on Friday night at the Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado.

Dates where you can catch Moby in concert in September and October:

• 9/8 - Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheater
• 9/9 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Kingsbury Hall
• 9/10 - Boise, ID @ Doubletree Riverside Ballroom
• 9/12 - Vancouver, BC @ Plaza Of Nations
• 9/13 - Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theater
• 9/14 - Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
• 9/16 - San Francisco, CA @ Warfield
• 9/17 - San Francisco, CA @ Warfield
• 9/18 - San Francisco, CA @ Warfield
• 9/19 - Santa Barbara, CA @ Arlington Theater
• 9/23 - San Diego, CA @ Cox Arena
• 9/24 - Los Angeles, CA @ Greek Theater
• 9/26 - Phoenix, AZ @ Web Theater
• 9/29 - Houston, TX @ Aerial Theater
• 9/30 - Dallas, TX @ Bronco Bowl
• 10/1 - Austin, TX @ Austin Music Hall
• 10/3 - St. Louis,

MO @ American Theater

Catch all the sizzlin', star-packed VMA action direct from Miami on August 28. MTV News' preshow kicks things off at 6:30 p.m. ET/PT, followed by big show at 8 p.m.

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