Chaz Bundick: Chillwave Godfather Ready to Move to New Sounds

Three albums deep into a critically acclaimed career as Toro y Moi, Chaz Bundick is getting bored. “I’m sort of getting tired of doing R&B and funk,” Bundick says of the genres that have fueled his success. “So I’m trying to see, exactly, where it can go from there.”

An hour before he and the live-band members of Toro y Moi instigated a dance party at Washington’s Sasquatch! Music Festival on Memorial Day, Bundick explained that the popularity of the musical movement he helped inspire – the synthesized electro-R&B and funk that was once known as chillwave – has encouraged him to explore different musical avenues.

“I don’t like to do what’s popular,” he said. “If electronic music is popular, I don’t want to do that kind of music. I mean, I’m constantly making electronic music, but I’m not going to release it.”

As he begins to plot a follow-up to January’s Anything in Return, Bundick says he’s been channeling his inner teenager. He’s picked up skateboarding again. He’s listening to Stone Temple Pilots again. And he’s tempted to make a rock record.

“I feel like it’s time for guitars to make a comeback,” he told Rolling Stone. Here, Bundick talks about his next move, his first job and the living, breathing Postal Service.

Do you have any hobbies? Do you golf?
I want to start golfing. I used to play tennis. I want to get better at tennis. I like to draw a lot. I want to get into woodmaking.

Why do you want to get into woodmaking?
I like to make furniture.

Have you made any of you own furniture?
I’ve done a couple tables in my house and, like, my desk. There’s nothing big. It’s just simple design stuff. My interest in design lead to my interest in furniture design, even interior design, all types of design. I feel l like that’s something I would want to do later on.

Looking forward, youre not just thinking music, music, music?
No, ’cause I really want music to sort of stay a hobby. I don’t want to get jaded doing music. I need to make sure I have something to go back to when I get bored and tired of music. ‘Cause that happens all the time to musicians.

Read More: rollingstone.com 

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