Toro Y Moi: Best of Both Worlds

Imagine if the late J Dilla was still with us today and had a secret love affair with Animal Collective. After some intimate moments in a home studio, nine months later a lovechild of airy, atmospheric vocals paired with deep urban beats would be delivered. This hypothetical yet ideal off-spring would go by the name of Chaz Bundick—better known as Toro Y Moi.

What may seem like a case of opposites-attract, Bundick successfully brings together the best of these two forms in his electronic-based Causers of This, set to debut Feb. 23, through Carpark Records. The DIY album Bundick created in his bedroom has already garnered attention through tracks like “Blessa” and “Talamak” and a cover of Michael Jackson’s “Human Nature,” which have been floating around the Internet since summer, 2009. Even Kanye West gave his ego a break to give Bundick props, encouraging fans on his blog to “check this shit out!”

“I’d like to work with him,” Bundick says, referring to West. “I really admire him when it comes to being adventurous…especially for black people. He makes it OK to step over into other cultures.”

It’s not simply his aesthetic to cross genres; Bundick knows firsthand about coming from two different worlds. The 23-year-old from Columbia, South Carolina is multiculturalism incarnate, existing as the son of an African-American father and Filipino mother. He has a natural ability to express this duality, which has enabled him to create a whole new form. Bundick still maintains his presence as lead singer of indie-rock outfit The Heist and the Accomplice, in which he’s been integral since the age of 15, all while experimenting with samplers and synthesizers as Toro Y Moi. The competing forces, both familial and musical, helped create a unique, off-the-cuff sound.

But whatever you do, don’t call his music “chillwave,” a label coined by the blogosphere for Bundick’s style of slow-mo dance beats. He stresses that he’s simply a pop artist. “Whatever floats your boat, I would just call it pop music,” says Bundick. “The Causers of This album it’s not super washed out (not like the band Washed Out) but a lot of layers, it’s experimental pop music, I would say.”

After graduating from college in the spring of 2009 with a degree in graphic design, Bundick is ready to unleash an ambitious feat for an emerging solo artist. Soon following Causers of This will be a second Toro Y Moi album set for release later in 2010. “I asked Carpark if we could do it in the same year, but I don’t know if I’ll do that again,” he admitted. “It’s already getting to me; it’s a lot of pressure when you have a year to finish.”

Nonetheless, Bundick has already begun working on said album, which he confesses to be more guitar-driven. As far as production goes, he isn’t sure he’s ready to follow in suit of Kanye West—with a big production studio filled with mixers and samplers galore, and maybe even an entourage. For now, the confines of his bedroom will do just fine, playing his favorite instrument: the computer.

“There’s talk of me going into the studio and working with a producer and I’m definitely open to the idea,” he says. “I’ve never worked with a producer but I’ve been to a studio with Heist—it’s just a hard atmosphere to work in. Home recording is pretty much what I’d like to stick to, but we’ll see.”


 

Official: toroymoi.blogspot.com

Myspace: www.myspace.com/toroymoi