Toro y Moi (moniker of Chaz Bundick) is a South Carolina native and one of the pioneers of the chillwave movement – that dreamy, psychedelic indie sound of the early 2010s that preceded the existence of “Lo-Fi Beats To Study To” playlists. Now based in Oakland, California, he is one of the rare artists whose music meant a lot to me when I was fourteen, and who continues to make consistently good stuff. After nearly a decade of watching his beat-making evolve, I finally got to see him play live – I was not disappointed.

The empty stage was set up with a simple and almost poetic intentionality – keyboardist, bass player, and drummer flanked Chaz’s mic stand and mixer while a set of white panels framed all four musicians into their own painting on the stage. When the band came on, it erupted into vibrant hues and I realized with delight that it was an emulation of the 

Toro y Moi (and company) were in their groove that night. The lighting was amazing, the band was having a good time, and they wove seamlessly between songs. Their stage presence was so fun and effortless, it was as if I was watching friends play for me. They performed all the bops from 

, and I got to watch “New House,” my favorite track, from the photo pit. It was exhilarating to hear that it sounded just as good live as it does on the album version. I could sing along to every word and still feel that the song’s stale sense of yearning coursed through me, as he played it right before my eyes in sound and color and dance.

 was notably excluded from the setlist, he didn’t forget to give his older songs love. I was pleasantly reminded of old favorites like “Girl Like You,” “Omaha,” and “Buffalo” – songs that have since left my regular rotation yet still hold tender spots in my heart’s music library.

During a pause in the set, someone towards the front of the crowd yelled “happy birthday!” and the audience started singing. Chaz laughed and replied in an autotune-filtered voice, “It’s actually tomorrow. But thank you! We can celebrate together. I love you guys.” He gave a shout-out to the Scorpios in the audience moments before the band’s next song bubbled to life.

The whole performance exuded an almost magnetic energy. Everybody in the house was watching intently; the crowd jumped and swayed with each moment as if in a trance. Watching from the center balcony, they became an ocean of heads periodically illuminated with spotlights as part of the show. Chaz, with his chunky heeled boots, flared jeans, and dance moves of a person who made music for the love of music itself, was hard not to be enamored by. Filling the venue with dreamy, funky grooves threaded back into reality with frank lyrics like “Uber messed up everything,” I left the venue that night feeling like I’d just had 

. I’d attended the show on a frigid Wednesday night, alone and with myriad tasks awaiting me at home, but I felt only charged up and renewed by the experience.

Toro y Moi was in his groove @ House of Blues

It would be nice to be given a little more surprise from one of the most refreshing sounds in music today.

Sven Gamsky is Still Woozy – and so is his debut EP 

, which he put out on May 3rd. Featuring more of the bouncy, intoxicating beats he’s known for, vague and romantic lyrics and a layered multitude of sounds that play off of each other in weird, wonderful harmony, 

 is a continuation of the gooey psychedelic bedroom pop Still Woozy has crafted.

The cover art, like all of his releases, features an illustration by Sven’s longtime partner Amiya Kahn-Tietz, that echoes the vibrant surrealism his music takes on.

‘Lava’ opens up the 5-track EP with a lovey tune dedicated to Amiya. A play on the word “love,” ‘Lava’ is a cookie-cutter love ballad cut from Sven’s own brand of absurdity. “You know I love it when you hit the air / Then run around yelling / That’s when I’m melting.”

‘Ipanema,’ the EP’s second track, rolls in with a meandering groove, paying homage to the iconic ‘60s bossa nova wave that has enchanted music lovers for decades since. Its deceptively playful tone is subtly contradicted by the opening lines “Love me like I’m six feet underneath the ground / It’s so cold and nice, there’s nobody around.” It also features guest appearances from Mexican-American indie great Omar Apollo (who offers a Spanish verse) as well as Oakland rapper Elujay.

On ‘Habit,’ Gamsky alternates between agile almost-raps and melody as he expresses flirtation towards a potential lover. Veiling his slinky poetry with periodic twinkles of cascading synths, he wraps up the track with a stripped-down plea: “I could be yours if you wanted / Please, please tell me.”

‘Foolsong’ floats along like a daydream, taking on the EP’s softest sound as Gamsky explores his vulnerabilities in a relationship that ultimately makes the not-knowing of life less mystifying. ‘Foolsong’ is a patch of sunshine whose warmth you can feel as soon as you step into it.

On ‘Maybe She,’ Sven closes things off by giving in to the unknown. With an upbeat yet introspective attitude towards his confusion with a lover, he finishes: “I could wait forever, you know that / Whenever you can, let me know where you’re at.”

Like dreams, many elements of Still Woozy’s songs would seem bizarre taken out of context, but he pulls them together in a way that leaves you in awe in its wake. He manages to spin beauty and wonder out of nonsense, emerging with a sound like no other and the uncanny ability to reveal shards of honest wisdom among the reverie. And maybe most importantly, 

 is fun to play loud — “beach party music” and “bubblegummy” are ways my friends described it to me. Sven somehow manages to channel the sweetest, most wonderful parts of life through his sonic canvases.

But, regardless of what a delightful summer soundtrack it offers, at thirteen minutes and five tracks long (three of which were released previously as singles), it would be nice to be given a little more surprise from one of the most refreshing sounds in music today. Such a short addition to his discography puts it at dangerous risk of being overplayed until you can’t stand it anymore. Although 

is a good start, let’s hope Still Woozy has more magic up his sleeve.

Devon Regan