Toro Y Moi is the musical creation of 22 year old Columbia, South Carolina resident Chaz Bundick.
Carpark will release two very different Toro Y Moi full lengths in 2010. The two songs on this single are representative of those two albums. The single A side “Blessa” could just as easily be called “Blissa”. Melodic ambient samples swirl around Chaz’s cleverly arranged pop song structures. Hazy summer sounds with a New Jack shine, as if Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis produced the Cocteau Twins. The B side “109” showcases another side of Toro Y Moi. This one is an almost perfectly crafted lo fi pop gem; 60s style pop meets 21st century lo fi. Kinda like Ariel Pink jamming with Motown’s finest.
Bio:
Toro Y Moi is 23 year old Columbia, South Carolina native and resident Chaz Bundick. After earning a BFA in Graphic Design at The University of South Carolina, Chaz decided to push his music further now that he has more time on his hands. His mom came from the Phillipines to the United States, where she met her future husband (who’s African American) in college. They lived in New York City taking in all the wonderful cultural influences the city’s rising underground scene had to offer at the time (late 70s/early 80s). Deciding to slow down and be closer to family, they moved to Columbia, South Carolina where they had their first child…
Chaz Bundick’s methods are constantly changing and evolving. Heavily influenced by his parent’s vinyl and tape collection, he also possesses great admiration for contemporary influences like Animal Collective, Sonic Youth, J Dilla, and Daft Punk. Like most prepubescent teens, he had his punk band and once that died out, the “side project” soon became the main focus.
Toro y Moi started in 2001 as a bedroom project but quickly grew into the live performance realm. The songs are born from a plethora of different genres, from freak-folk to R&B to French House- which is heavily influential on Chaz’s newest dance alias, Les Sins.
Before any full length album has been released, Toro Y Moi has already received praise from music websites like Pitchfork and Gorilla Vs. Bear as well as upcoming print features in the NME and Dazed and Confused.
TORO Y MOI
All dates with Ear Pwr
July 31st- Philadelphia, PA Danger Danger Gallery
August 1st- Brooklyn, NY TBA
August 3rd- New York, NY Cake Shop
August 6th- Boston, MA TBA
August 8th- Waterloo, ONT Commotion House
August 10th- Chicago, IL Ronny’s
August 12th- Lawrence, KS Jackpot
August 13th- Kansas City, MO Pistol Social Club
August 18th- Austin, TX Emo’s
August 19th- Dallas, TX TBA
August 20th- Houston, TX Notsuoh
August 22nd- Miami, FL Poplife
August 24th- Columbia, SC The Giant Peach
August 25th- Charleston, SC 255 Ashley
August 26th- Knoxville, TN Pilot Light
August 27th- Asheville, NC Bobo Gallery
August 28th- Atlanta, GA 529
August 30th- Chapel Hill, NC The Nightlight
August 31st- Washington, DC Black Cat
Toro Y Moi
Blessa 7″ Single
(Carpark)
Street Date: Oct. 6, 2009
TORO Y MOI LINKS:
Band Page – toroymoi.blogspot.com
MySpace – www.myspace.com/toroymoi
Press Materials – http://www.carparkrecords.com/toroymoipresspage.html