Toro y Moi on Creating His New Album and the Inspiration Behind the Musicality
MAHAL is a musical experience that explores a variety of genres, making it a cultural patchwork for everyday.
Last week, Toro y Moi, a.k.a Chaz Bear, finally released his seventh album, MAHAL. In this musical expedition, the performance, inspiration and intent of the album are all about being down to earth; it relates to where the artist comes from and revolves around the concept of home.
The Filipino and African-American singer draws inspiration from his Filipino roots and growing up in the South, channelling the musicality of blues, jazz and southern rock to demonstrate his love for where he came from while paying tribute to his Filipino self with his album cover art and title.
Though the warm feeling that this album exudes makes it perfect to let it play freely as we go about our daily lives in the comforting space of our home, the lyrics call upon us to take a look at our relationship with media in our digital world.
Why is the record called MAHAL?
It started originally with me just wanting to have a vehicle to help promote the record in general. I knew I wanted to do something pandemic-proved in a sense to where we could just do something outside with fans and drive the record to a copy show, or record shop and promote it and DJ some tunes out of the jeep or whatever the vehicle was. So that was the plan.
The fact that we found the Jeepney was luck. It started making sense. I knew that vehicle was undeniably Filipino and I wanted to give it some context. So traditionally you name the jeep. And so I named the jeep “Mahal”. And since we decided to put the jeep on the cover we ended up naming the record “Mahal”.
Which sound were you trying to create on MAHAL?
I knew I wanted to make something that was again representative of who I am. And I don't mean that in the sense that like: Yeah, I should make this Filipino. But I am talking more about my American Southern roots. Channelling blues and country and Southern rock in this record was a big step for me. I feel like the south isn't always represented accurately. And so that was something I was debating with myself a lot: How do I show my love for where I came from, without exotifying it or like extorting it?
What were your musical influences?
Yeah, there is this one French band I keep bringing up with people. It's called "Zeugma". They are this really interesting psych-rock band that has this interesting Americana influence. It's kind of country, kind of Serge-Gainsbourg-esque, but with a little twang. It's good stuff. That's what I wanted to channel.
I wanted something European, and something American. If you look at the song "Clarity" with Sofie Royer, that's very Jane Birkin – her performance. And that's exactly what I wanted for the record. Things like that. Just like channelling the most obscure corners of the world and bringing them together.
And vocally?
The vocal presentation isn't in your face. It isn't like super "performative singer". It's more like Bill Evans singing some Jazz. It's closer to my talking voice. I am at a place where I don't wanna be performative. I don't want to perform necessarily. I am down to sing, but I want to sing in my range. And I want to sing and accept my maturing process.
I am getting older and my voice isn't exactly the same, but I don't want to try to strain it and make it sound like I am young. This is my voice now. Sure, I can go up to these higher registers and notes, but that's not the emotion I want to convey with this record.
Where should you listen to this record?
I was thinking about this a lot in this record. And that's what ultimately led to this record. Because we're in the pandemic and I want people to listen to this in their homes, I designed it and made it to be for the home. And when I say design, I mean mixed and EQ'd; the frequencies you're getting from it aren't meant for the club, they aren't meant for the car necessarily. They work fine in those settings.
I was visualizing this being a Vinyl-record. Not just something to be streamed, which is fine. But I was envisioning the homemaker putting this record on while they're doing dishes or cooking, or cleaning. It's a record for the home. It's a warm record, it's a warm sound. So I really wanted it to comfort you and feel like it's a piece of furniture in your home.
