People contextualise music on their own terms, often using labels to categorise what’s happening within the world of certain artists. While Toro Y Moi has done well to avoid pigeonholing, it’s not something that has consciously been rejected. “It’s funny when that happens, but it’s hard to do that these days because everyone is influenced by a lot of stuff at the same time,” Chaz reasons. “I know people will try to be those labels on artists, but it’s getting harder – who’s to say that artist won’t explore something different.”
With vastly different approaches for the first two albums, the third LP, released earlier in 2013, found a practical middle ground between organic and electronic. “Anything In Return is definitely more of a mix between live type stuff and programmed sequence stuff. Everything on Causers Of This was samples and/or sequenced. Then Underneath The Pine was all live. Anything In Return was a mix of both. I wasn’t trying to avoid anything, I was just experimenting, trying different stuff,” he explains. “It’s still an experiment. I don’t think that the next album will be electronic because the last one was. It’s hard to say at this point.”
With a diverse range of studio production processes, translating material to the stage was initially a tough task. “We were kind of stuck for a second between records, and it was kind of hard to do when we were just doing stuff from the first record live. Then it wasn’t until the second record was finished that we started feeling good about the launch shows. It’s definitely a collaborative effort for the live show; it’s not a backing band type situation. We’re all in it together.”
One of the more peculiar tracks on Anything In Return is the straight-faced pop track Baby, melodically and thematically not too far removed from what you’d expect from a teen sensation.
“It’s kind of a tongue in cheek song, it was almost like I was writing it for Justin Bieber or something,” Chaz states. “Everything I sing about is really honest. People know from the first couple of records what songs to expect from Toro Y Moi. When it’s sitting there beside other songs that aren’t like that, it’s a fun little breather.”
Like so many successful acts of the past few years (too many to list, but I offer Tame Impala as an example to Chaz), Toro Y Moi is a solo project at its core, branching out to a full band in the live setting.
“It’s been the case for a long time, but now because of the internet it’s pointed out that it’s one person playing all the music. I feel like it’s definitely a popular trend. When I heard Tame Impala I thought, ‘How did all these guys come together and think of the same exact genre at the same time, playing it all together?’ Then I found out it was one guy and it all made sense. These days it’s common. It’s uncommon to find a band that meshes that well for every member.”
Well respected by fellow musicians, Chaz doesn’t feel compelled to enter any collaborative projects in the near future, instead remaining busy juggling on his musical outlets. “I’m not looking to work with anyone in particular, just focusing on my projects right now. Nothing is lined up, I haven’t really thought of doing that. But it’s an option I’m open to.”
As for the fourth Toro Y Moi LP, the primordial stages are yet to take shape. “We’re taking a break right now, we finished [touring] a few weeks ago. Just trying to get some ideas together, but I don’t really have anything going yet for the next album.”
BY LACHLAN KANONIUK
