Paz Lenchantin melds with Pixies
When the Pixies recruited bassist Paz Lenchantin to replace Kim Deal in 2013, fans were understandably wary. Many considered Deal (who resumed her gig with the Breeders) the soul of the group, and her original substitute, Kim Shattuck of the Muffs, only lasted three months. Four years later, Lenchantin, who has played with Zwan and A Perfect Circle, is a permanent member of the Pixies and a major contributor to the band’s second post-reunion album, “Head Carrier.” She spoke from her home in Los Angeles about becoming one with singer Charles “Black Francis” Thompson, guitarist Joey Santiago and drummer David Lovering.
Q: Kim Deal is one of the most iconic women in rock. How intimidating was it stepping into her shoes?
A: Well, I guess there’s different ways people see a similar thing. I was asked to learn some songs for touring. It was casual in a sense. I wanted to do a great job, so I kind of learned every song in their catalog. I didn’t really think too much about all the other things. So yes, there’s a person who was in the Pixies before me who was an iconic figure in rock music. I am honored to continue her role and move forward with the band.
Q: You have been traveling nonstop with the Pixies for four years now — I think that’s longer than the band lasted during its original run. Did you know what you were getting into? A: I mean, I’ve been out on the road most of my life. It’s part of what I do, so I’m happy to be working, and especially happy to be in this great band. Q: I assume you didn’t watch the Pixies tour documentary “loudQUIETloud” before you signed up for the gig. A: No, I didn’t watch that. I don’t know what the band was like in the past. But it feels like a family. We laugh a lot. We’re inspired a lot. We talk on the phone a lot. All those things you do as a human being. In my world, bands equal family. It’s where you spend half your time in a year. It’s important that we all get along because it makes it much more fun of a journey.
Q: What do you do in your down time with the other members? A: It all just depends. Every combination is different. When I first started touring with Pixies, I didn’t know that Charles was a yogi. So every day we would go and find a Bikram class before the show. We would do a nine-minute class, then a 90-minute show. When we’re in Europe, we go to museums, we go watch films. It could be easy to just sit in a room, and that’s OK, too.
Q: How have you changed the band? A: I don’t know. I do feel that there’s inspiration floating. We’re all inspired. We’re already working on another record, and I feel really good about this one. There was a transitional moment with the Pixies, but it’s all in order now.