UofSC alum Chaz Bundick nominated for Grammy Award
2009 graduate performs under the name Toro y Moi
Posted on: January 26, 2021; Updated on: January 26, 2021
By CJ Lake, cjlake@sc.edu
Chaz Bear (born Chazwick Bundick), a graduate of the College of Arts and Sciences, has received his first Grammy nomination for a 2020 single by his musical project Toro y Moi.
The big picture
- The nomination is for Best Dance Recording for “The Difference" — a song on which Toro y Moi collaborated with Australian DJ and electronic artist Flume.
- Award winners will be announced March 14.
Background
- Bundick graduated from the College of Arts and Sciences with a degree in graphic design in 2009 and now lives in the San Francisco Bay area.
- He is a native of Columbia, South Carolina.
Chillwave innovator
- Because of its “underwater, laid-back sounds,” writes allmusic.com, Toro y Moi’s 2009 single “Blessa” helped lead to the name “chillwave” as a musical genre.
- Toro y Moi’s subsequent music “has evolved into something livelier and harder to pin down.”
Fun facts
- While at South Carolina, Bear was a DJ for WUSC, the university's student-run, noncommercial radio station.
- The city of Berkeley, California, officially declared June 27 "Chaz Bundick Day" in 2017.
- In addition to his solo success with Toro y Moi, Chaz Bear is also featured on tracks with Tyler the Creator, SZA, Travis Scott and A$AP Rocky, among others.
Dive deeper
- Listen to Toro y Moi break down his popular song “Girl Like You” for Genius.com.
- Follow Toro y Moi / Chaz Bear on Instagram or Twitter.
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