Freelance (Toro y Moi single)

Last updated
"Freelance"
FreelanceToroyMoi.jpg
Song by Toro y Moi
from the album Outer Peace
ReleasedOctober 23, 2018 (2018-10-23)
Genre Indie, electronic
Label Carpark
Toro y Moi chronology
"Omaha"
(2018)
"Freelance"
(2018)
"Ordinary Pleasure"
(2018)

"Freelance" is a 2018 song recorded by American singer-songwriter Chaz Bear under the stage name Toro y Moi. The song was released on October 23, 2018, [1] under Carpark Records. [2] The song was the lead single of Toro y Moi's sixth studio album, Outer Peace . [1] [3] Toro y Moi is the recording project of musician Chaz Bear. The song was recorded in the San Francisco Bay Area and was inspired by Bear's time spent living in Portland, Oregon. [4] [5]

Contents

In a press release, Bear stated that "Freelance" is "a response to how disposable culture has become and how it affects creativity." [6]

Critical response

Pitchfork, reviewing the track and the meaning of its lyrics, said that "disillusionment has never sounded so danceable." [7] Wired said that "Freelance" is "built like a disco software stack," later clarifying that the statement is "a very good thing." [8] Vice complimented the track, stating that the track gave a "very late-90s, post-disco revival" vibe; [6] Vice later interviewed Bear about the single. [9]

Music video

The music video for "Freelance" features Bear sitting on a yoga ball, as well as a pink-orange gradient background, both of which are featured on the album cover of Outer Peace. [10] [11]

Lyrics

Some of the lyrics in "Freelance" were taken from "Hotcha Girls," a 2002 single by Ugly Casanova. [12]

In the chorus of "Freelance," Bear interpolates part of "Leaf House," a song by Animal Collective. [9]

Charts

Chart (2019)Peak

position

New Alternative 404 [13]

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References

  1. 1 2 "Toro Y Moi Nods To Fellow Creatives With Playful "Freelance" | GRAMMY.com". grammy.com. Retrieved 2024-12-24.
  2. Toro y Moi – Freelance , retrieved 2024-12-24
  3. "Toro Y Moi brings a slap-bass-heavy "Freelance" to Seth Meyers". The FADER. Retrieved 2024-12-24.
  4. Stringer, David (2018-10-23). "Toro Y Moi Shares New Single "Freelance"". Scene SC. Retrieved 2024-12-24.
  5. "Toro y Moi: Freelance". COOL HUNTING®. 2018-10-23. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  6. 1 2 Ross, Alex Robert (2018-10-23). "Toro Y Moi's New Single "Freelance" Is a Squelchy Disco-Pop Jam". VICE. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  7. Torres, Eric. "Toro y Moi: "Freelance"". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  8. Parham, Jason. "Liner Notes: Toro y Moi's 'Freelance' Is Built Like a Disco Software Stack". Wired. ISSN   1059-1028 . Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  9. 1 2 VICE News (2019-01-21). Toro Y Moi Breaks Down "Freelance" From His New Album "Outer Peace" . Retrieved 2025-01-12 via YouTube.
  10. Toro y Moi (2018-10-23). Toro y Moi - "Freelance" (Official Music Video) . Retrieved 2025-01-12 via YouTube.
  11. "Outer Peace by Toro y Moi". Genius. Retrieved 2025-01-12.
  12. "Toro Y Moi's 'Freelance' - Discover the Sample Source". WhoSampled. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  13. Leach, Josiah. "Freelance | Toro y Moi". Impact 89FM | WDBM-FM. Retrieved 2025-01-09.