GHG talks to LA's cherished "The Paranoyds" before taking the stage in Dallas, Texas tonight!
As soon as we heard The Paranoyds were coming to our side of ‘Merica, we knew we had to get in contact. Think Sleater-Kinney meets a punkish girl-powered version of the Arctic Monkeys.
Recommendation: Listen to “Trade Our Sins” after a New York Night out.
“[This] buzzy four-piece is creating the LA DIY scene's most richly layered punk sounds of the moment." - i-D
"Think a 60s girl group that flipped off Phil Spector and embraced horror soundtrack synths." - Noisey
“one of L.A.'s most established DIY bands” - V Magazine
I N T E R V I E W
What do you hope people take away from listening to your music?
We hope that people enjoy listening to it and feel inspired to meet up with their friends and create!
What is the best advice you've ever received?
Be nice.
What artist/ band are you obsessed with right now?
Buck Owens, Big L, Pure X, Lizzo
Your band seems to be so close-knit, dating all the way back to preschool for some, what is something you all enjoy doing together outside of performing?
Going to shows together, being outside and in nature, BBQs!
The band keeps a low profile on social media on purpose, do you feel this keeps you from connecting with your fans on a deeper level?
We use social media to connect with people when applicable, but folks come up to us at shows and talk to us in real life and it’s the best way to connect in our opinion. We just made a TikTok account and we’re excited for people to connect with the real Noyds.
What's one food you can't live without?
Shared morning pancakes.
Do you have any pre-show rituals?
The shits.
What does a day in the life of The Paranoyds look like?
We’re currently on tour. We like to wake up early and go on a walk, get breakfast, then hit the road. Right now we’re listening to Andre Agassi’s autobiography on Audible. We like to explore the area and yak it up with locals before and after we play
What is your favorite song to perform at the moment and why?
A new, unreleased song called “Laundry”. It really gets the juices flowing.
What advice do you have for anyone wanting to pursue a career in music?
Don’t be a butthead. Don’t do drugs. Don’t litter.
If you weren't in a kick-ass band right now, what do you think you'd each be doing instead?
We all also work in production and creative fields, so probably that.
What is the ultimate goal for The Paranoyds?
World domination, but in a cute way.
B I O
Your phone, your TV, your computer - who (or what) is watching you? It’s an oft-asked question in the digital age, and one that The Paranoyds echoed when it comes to the origins of their name. Part of a generation immersed in documentation, oversharing, and ease of surveillance, The Paranoyds know better than anyone, it’s scary out there. But the band’s fearless pursuit of a good time won’t stop them from crafting the kind of gritty, Southern California garage rock that refuses to hide.
The core of the Los Angeles four-piece began with Laila Hashemi (keyboardist-vocals) and Lexi Funston (guitars/vocals) whose friendship carried from preschool days to the halls of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District. Ditching the playground for the practice space in high school, they caught up with Staz Lindes (bass/vocals) and welcomed David Ruiz (drums, vocals) in 2015. The Paranoyds’ mission to craft songs with the gritty spunk and dark playfulness of a cult-classic splatter film is shared equally. The band notes that “Lexi and Staz are the predominant writers but the songs get all their true personality once David and Laila have something to say about it.” Their self-described “sister vocal act” shares the snarling, over-it-but-totally-into-it vocals throughout their songs, moving from dirty surf-pop guitar jams to power-packed garage rock.
The Paranoyds’ debut release on Suicide Squeeze offers a taste of what The Paranoyds have been crafting. The band began work with Mark Rains at Station House Studios to follow up 2018’s Maldito EP that previously captured the bands’ energetic and exciting sounds. “Hungry Sam” is a binge-worthy feast of chugging guitars and belly-rounded drums that stands as a live show favorite for the band. Funston sums up the regret and dread of dealing with excess, leading the band in a chorus of “I was hungry”, and her manic laugh is the bursting point which sends the band on a downward spiral. Hashemi’s kooky, playful keys sound like the soundtrack of a final lap in a classic video game, powered by Ruiz’s rumbling drums and a wipeout bass walk from Lindes. B-side “Trade Our Sins” is a cautionary slowdance fit for the end of the night or the end of the world. Desire’s doomsday has arrived, and as Lindes warns “the train is coming” over a simple waltz of guitars and keys, we hear of two lovers in a now-or-never moment to share in sin’s delights before it’s too late. All seems well though, as the song closes with a cheeky whistle punctuated by ecstatic moans and a final, satisfied sigh. While the band describes this b-side as a one-off from their core sound, it offers an enchanting, seductively playful gem for those wishing to know a sultry, downtempo side of the band.
Perhaps as rejection of the digital construct in which self-promotion thrives,The Paranoyds have kept a low profile on social media, keeping in the punk traditions of eschewing societal norms. They do what precocious punk bands do best - hit the road and make the world listen. They know the world is watching, from their outings as direct support for DIIV, Albert Hammond Jr., Sunflower Bean, and BRONCHO. Inevitably, more eyes will be on The Paranoyds, and they have the power to let their snarky, punk driven paranoia drive them to the sweet spot of insanity.
Suicide Squeeze Records is excited to celebrate the signing of The Paranoyds with “Hungry Sam” b/w “Trade Our Sins” out July 12, 2019. The 7” is a one-time pressing of 750, 650 on Orange Crush color vinyl, and 100 on Neon Yellow color vinyl.
