Few artists navigate the intersection of genre and identity as fluidly as Chaz Bear, known widely as Toro y Moi. A pioneer of the chillwave genre in the early 2010s, his sound has evolved steadily into something far more freewheeling — spanning psychedelic pop, funk, indie, folk, house and avant-garde R&B.
His most recent album, “Hole Erth,” continues this creative trajectory, bringing back the grungy fuzzed out guitars of his youth (See: The Heist & The Accomplice) and weaving them into elements of modern emo-rap, pop-punk and trap. Chaz Bear recently joined producer Jacob Smulian on “City Lights” before his show at the Tabernacle on Feb. 21 to chat about his musical direction and most recent project.
“Hole Erth” is a departure from Bear’s last few works, the most recent of which were the soft country-style “Sandhills” EP of 2023 and the psychedelic rock album “Mahal.”
Read this story now for free
To continue reading, sign up for our newsletter and get unlimited access to WABE.org
You can select your preferences for news and local content. We will never share your email address. Learn how your newsletter sign-up will support WABE and Public Media
