The Paranoyds / Tchotchke

The Paranoyds have the kind of connection people only dream of: as non-biological sisters who’ve known each other longer than they haven’t and speak a language that no one else can understand.

With a bond that began in preschool, Laila Hashemi (keys/vocals) and Lexi Funston (guitar/vocals) were always inseparable. When they met Staz Lindes (bass/vocals) in ninth grade, it felt like they had known her all along—after all, they were a “package deal.” In high school, they began making music together in a friend’s laundry room and their relationship blossomed from there. When it came time to add a drummer in 2015, David Ruiz fit in like he had been there all along. That special bond has solidified their relationship both as bandmates who are able to connect seamlessly to one another’s energy on stage—and as best friends. And it’s the one thing that has remained a constant throughout the past two years.

Like so many others, the pandemic brought about unexpected change for the Paranoyds—both good and bad. Before the pandemic, the Los Angeles-based group was invited to perform at a Third Man Records showcase at SXSW. The opportunity ultimately led to the group signing to the label in 2021.

The band’s forthcoming release (and first on Third Man), Talk Talk Talk, is rooted in the life-altering transformation they experienced since 2020. Their singular sound and ability to surprise listeners is something that has driven the album. Considering each of the band’s four members are drawn to everything—groovier R&B, lo-fi punk, fun, fuzz-pop, and jazz—they’re able to create a bold collage throughout their music.

Tchotchke (pronounced chach-key) is Anastasia Sanchez (drums/vocals), Eva Chambers (bass/vocals), and Emily Tooraen (guitar/vocals). Sanchez and Chambers were the founding members of Los Angeles’ teen indie-darlings Pinky Pinky, who recorded for the Innovative Leisure label. Now in their early twenties, the NYC-based trio ushers in a new era with a new band name, new line-up, and, of course, new music.