The chill, "freak folk" inspired artist Toro y Moi teams up with Fender for their Player Plus Sessions. He talks about growing up, how he found music, and performs in this spotlight feature. Hear how he shifted his focus from sports to music and getting his first Jazzmaster guitar.
Toro y Moi gravitated towards roots music because of the music scene in South Carolina, but also the bands he joined as a young artist really shaped his current sound. His current record, Mahal was made for listeners to fall into the groove and listen to the textures. Check out his insights on creating the album and hear where his music is headed next.
Cover Photo Credit: Toro y Moi Instagram
Time to get ready for summer with this new Warby Parker limited edition sunglass collection featuring Toro y Moi. With an upbeat, expressive, and catchy sound, Toro y Moi channels those traits through his personal style with the Mahal Sunglasses. Inspired by his newest album—also named “Mahal”—these frames are laid-back yet vibrant, eclectic yet approachable.
The frames come in nostalgic objects in two retro color palettes colors, papaya and clear for an effortless look. One up your summer outfits with these new shades starting at $95 and try them at Warby Parker stores.
Also check out the launch this Friday, May 27th in Berkeley, CA and hang out with Toro y Moi to celebrate this collection. For every pair of glasses or sunglasses purchased, a pair of glasses is distributed to someone in need.
Cover Photo Credit: Toro y Moi Instagram
The album, Mahal from Chez Bear aka Toro y Moi is the latest project where fans get to know him better at a personal level. So what can fans expect from Mahal? Chez brings it back to the retro sounds of the 1960s and ’70s psychedelic rock influences, alongside touches of ’90s indie rock.
The South Carolina native turned Bay Area resident has been dropping hints of what to expect in this new album. He's released four singles leading up to the album release which includes, "Déjà Vu," "The Loop," "Goes By Fast," and more. The 2-sided album has a total of 13 tracks with deep Filipino representation on its cover with a multi-colored Jeepney settled right in front of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.
Toro y Moi tells The Chronicle that he never really shared his Filipino side and took this project as an opportunity to connect with his heritage. “I’ve never shared my Filipino side... Where I am in my life, I haven’t given myself the opportunities to rep this before. I wanted to do it right, but I wanted to do it in a fresh way.”
To help spread the word about the April 29th album drop, Toro hosted a Jeepney Soundsystem Pop Up in Oakland fans could drop in and have a listen to the music. Down in the Los Angeles area, he hosted a screening for the Goes By Fast: A Mahal Film with Eric André that takes fans in the BTS of making the album and filming around the Bay Area.
The listening party on April 27th let fans take in the album from start to finish before its debut. A highlight was the release of a full record video.
Chez and the crew will be taking Mahal on the road with the Toro y Moi Live Tour along with appearances at other summer and fall music festivals. For full details on where you can catch him live, check out ToroyMoi.com
Cover Photo Credit: Toro y Moi Instagram
Toro y Moi’s Mahal album rollout is starting to heat up. With the album set to drop on April 29th, the chillwave artist has been prepping fans with music videos. Now, he has a new treat for fans in the form of a short film.
Chaz Bear took to his Instagram to announce GOES BY SO FAST: A MAHAL FILM, a collaboration co-starring comedian/actor Eric André. The film will world premiere on April 22nd at Braindeadstudios in Los Angeles. Fans interested in attending the event can purchase tickets here.
Stay tuned for more news on Toro y Moi and his Mahal album!
Cover Photo Courtesy of Toro y Moi Instagram
Toro y Moi’s Mahal album is dropping later this month on April 29. “Déjà Vu” is Chaz Bear’s 4th single off of his album, and much like the project’s earlier singles, it looks like the chillwave artist is gearing up to take listeners on a full-length psychedelic funk sound trip.
The music video begins with a white stretch limousine that serves as the vehicle to literally and figuratively take the singer on a trip that brings the lyrics in the song to life and pays tribute to his upbringing in the south of the United States.
While speaking to radio personality Zane Lowe about the rabbit-hole-themed visuals, the artist explained: This one’s definitely a sort of a slice of American pie, sort of like a collage of Americana imagery, and it’s an ode to the Southern lifestyle. And I just really wanted to show some country boy. I never really showed my country boy.”
Watch the music video for Toro y Moi’s Déjà Vu below and stay tuned for more news regarding his upcoming album Mahal.
Cover Photo Courtesy of Toro y Moi Instagram
Happy Hump Day! Need a pick me up to get through the rest of the week? Toro y Moi is taking care of that for us with his new track, "The Loop." The mellow melody of the song is definitely giving us chill summer vibes that we're ready to walk into. "The Loop" is a single off his upcoming album, Mahal that drops on 4/29.
Cruise around the City by the Bay with Toro y Moi and his crew in mini Derby-like go karts. He takes us to catch the views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Bay Bridge then his crew pulls up to show-off the skate culture in the city. Ride along with Toro y Moi and the crew in a Jeepney for a good time.
Cover Photo Credit: Toro y Moi Twitter
After signing with Dead Oceans, artist Toro y Moi is ready to drop a new album on April 29th. The album, MAHAL is the seventh studio album and spans genre and sound. Ready to take listeners on an auditory experience, hear Toro y Moi's past journey and a glimpse into the future.
With Toro y Moi helping bring out the chillwave movement, MAHAL, which means love, is another aspect of his sound. It's another side of the artist we'll get to hear. The new project lyrically explores generational concerns where his previous track, "Freelance" left off. His bio talks about using music to explore how we connect with technology, media, each other, and the cost of it all.
"I wanted to make a record that featured more musicians on it than any other record of mine. To have them live on that record feels grounded, bringing a communal perspective to the table." - Toro y Moi
An eye-catcher is the album cover where he's sitting with a Jeepney with a backdrop of the Golden Gate Bridge. The visual of the Jeepney adds to the auditory experience as listeners picture themselves listening to the music while riding the Jeepney. The aim of the imagery is to bringing the music out into the community.
Two new tracks that released before the album debut, "Postman" and "Magazine" takes a deep dive into the changing digital world and how we consume media. The visualizer for "Postman" was produced by Fil-Canadian production company, Kid.Studio who previously worked on Disclosure's "Watch Your Step." Glenn Michael and Christo Anesti of Kid.Studio have also worked with The Weeknd, Majid Jordan, 6LACK, and Big Sean to name a few.
MAHAL isn't just about putting out new music, it's also about sharing a connection with people. Toro y Moi is sharing his Fil-Am experience while bringing along his friends and fellow Filipinos like Kid.Studio. Pre-order the album on toroymoi.com.
If you want to see Toro y Moi live, he also just announced new tour dates for 2022. He'll be taking his music around U.S. cities in the Toro y Moi Live tour. Tickets drop 2/4 at midnight and shows with group, Khruangbin also drop that same friday at 10am local time. We got the dates and ticket info for you below!
Cover Photo Credit: Toro y Moi Twitter
