Toro y Moi – An Experiment of Change

A multi-talented Toro y Moi gave Music Feeds an insight into his new album and upcoming tour of Australia. From halfway across the world, we were very grateful for his time and patience, as it was a very rough phone line.

His new album Anything in Return has created a pop sound, which is a little different for the South Carolina-born musician. “I guess, because I have an appreciation for all kinds of music, I try out different kinds of music with my songwriting. I feel like if I made the same style of music all the time, I would get bored. That is why I change around so much. The new album has a sort of influence from “Michael Jackson, Kanye West, Timbaland, and stuff like that.”

Anything in Return came about in quite a creative way: “The goal for this record was to experiment. I create records to make good music and can make things sound weird if I want it to be, but for this record I didn’t want it to.”

This record was also self-produced; however, this is not unusual for Toro y Moi. “I produce all my records and I really wanted it to sound as great as possible. I tried to make the drums sound big, just to try it out and see if I enjoy producing in the studio.”

The first single So Many Details has proved to be a hit, and it has set up fans wanting to hear a lot more of Anything in Return. He explains “That was a quality BPM song, so in a way it stood out…but on the other hand it was a bit different, so I thought it was a good single.”

Toro y Moi returns to Australia for Golden Plains Lucky Seven. In what is a stellar lineup with Cat Power, George Clinton Parliament Funk, and The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, he is quite surprised. “Wow! I didn’t know all those guys were playing. I’ve seen George Clinton play before, but I’d like to see him play again. The same goes for Cat Power: it would be really awesome to see her. Other than that, I like to try and see everyone. It sounds like a really good bill!

Fans can expect “A lot of new material…and hopefully they dance. I personally prefer more intimate shows just because they are not rushed and it is easier to focus on the crowd. Not everyone there is into you at festivals… It can be somewhat daunting. The point of playing at festivals is introducing people to your music.”

Out on the road, Toro y Moi generally likes to draw and read a lot, although he states, “My favourite thing to do is make music”, so there is no rest for this great American musician.

Anything in Return is out January 22.

Toro y Moi Australian Tour

Thursday, March 7 – The Standard, Sydney

Saturday, March 9 – The Corner, Melbourne

Sunday, March 10 – Golden Plains Lucky Seven, Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre

Must Read