Midway through this shoot with skater-photographer Andrey Tarasov, Staz Lindes suddenly clocks their surroundings: the infamous former home of Misfits icon Glenn Danzig. A site of LA punk lore, it tracks that Staz was instinctively drawn to the place – its eerie spirit speaking directly to her rock’n’roll core and LA instincts. From modelling for Hedi Slimane alongside her brother Misha (check out his excellent band SadGirl), to fronting cult LA band The Paranoyds, and now stepping out with a debut record – popcorn ceiling – from her latest project, 2m8o, Staz has an effervescent, free spirit that means she’s always onto something, and always worth watching. Here, Tarasov documents her across Los Feliz and Highland Park, capturing a photographic portrait before sitting down to chat about everything from John Waters to tuna melts.

Andrey Tarasov: How did you get into music, and at what age?
Staz Lindes: I come from a musical family where music always played and was associated with expression and identity. Instruments were strongly encouraged; I started cello at ten and then bass guitar when I was eleven or twelve, and guitar followed shortly after.

AT: Did you always want to be in a band? 
SL: Yes, I started making fake bands in elementary school.

AT: Describe your fashion sense/style?
SL: Colourful, maximalist, nostalgic, and cheery

AT: How does your fashion intertwine with your music?
SL: Musicians are individualists and they’ve always inspired me. To be an artist you have to know yourself, and express yourself confidently. It’s magic to stand out from the rest. It’s magnetic.

“It’s magic to stand out from the rest. It’s magnetic.”

AT: How did the Paranoyds start? 
SL: I met Lexi and Laila in high school, and we started practising in a laundry room when we were around nineteen or twenty. They went off to college and I moved to NYC, but we shared demos between each other all the time. We finally got it going once we were all back in LA about ten years ago.

AT: I see you’re making music outside of the Paranoyds…
SL: I’m currently making music with Cissi TV, and a new 2m8o record!

“Anyone close to me knows I’m a John Waters freak.”

AT: Who or what do you find inspiring?
SL: Plants are a huge inspiration to me, their seasons and changes. I love watching old movies for style reference, and musicians with strong personalities and big style. Like Bo Diddley, Little Richard, Shannon Shaw, Debbie Harry, Richard Hell, Ronnie Spector, Dee Dee Ramone. And anyone close to me knows I’m a John Waters freak.

AT: How do you stay mentally clear and focused between touring, shows and making new music?
SL: Breath work, water, healthy food, lots of sleep. Touching earth, whether it’s through gardening or ceramics. Alone time or time with other artistic friends. If you pass a rosemary or lavender bush, you gotta smell that thing.

“I love ceramics and dumpster diving for treasures…”

AT: What do you do when you’re not on tour?
SL: Always scheming the next moves. Planning shoots, songs, albums, walking around my neighbourhood, touching plants.

AT: Anything you’d like to tell the world?
SL: Message to the world: Have fun. Don’t be so serious.

AT: What are some fun facts about you?
SL: I love ceramics and dumpster diving for treasures, like going to really crazy swap meets or estate sales and yardsales or driving around and getting stuff off the street. I’m obsessed with plants and indigenous wisdoms and craft. I love respecting and learning from things that have been around for thousands of years before us, trees, plants, birds, bugs, etc. I love tuna melts and walking around barefoot.

Revisit The Paranoyds’ HERO Session here.