Former Pixies Bassist Paz Lenchantin Stages Mini Perfect Circle Reunion on New Single ‘Hang Tough'
'I had to make this record on my own,' Lenchantin says in a statement, 'not to prove anything, but just to have faith that music can nurture me back. And it did.'
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Lenchantin created much of the music on Triste herself, but she did recruit two of her former Perfect Circle bandmates — drummer Josh Freese and guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen — to join her in the studio. She was also accompanied by Spanish-speaking musicians she met after posting a notice on Instagram.
The album began to take shape last year in Petatlán, Mexico, when Lenchantin wrote a series of songs about a young woman falling in love with Jesus. 'Lenchantin isn't necessarily religious,' reads an official album bio, 'she saw the story as a metaphor for salvation: the human drive to search for a god, or god-like figure, and to devote yourself to something that cannot love you back…This guiding metaphor shaped the album's dream-like logic, with each lyric refracting a fragment of Lenchantin's own life into broader analogy.'
'What was special to me in making this album was that I learned who I am, this far into my journey in music, simply by allowing myself the freedom of my own choice,' Lenchantin said. 'It became like witnessing a fallen tree in my own forest, without the need to yell 'timber.''
The music is a vast departure from her work with the Pixies. She joined the alt-rock icons in 2014 after the group parted ways with bassist Kim Shattuck. 'Charles [Thompson, a.k.a. Black Francis] is the greatest artist I've ever worked with,' she told Rolling Stone in 2022 as part of our Unknown Legends interview series. 'I used to be like, 'This is missing in this band, and this is missing in this band…' But working with Charles, Joey [Santiago], and David [Lovering] really glued me together and completed me in every way I was looking for. It really is the peak of the mountain.'
In 2024, after recording three albums with them and touring the world many times over, the Pixies announced that they were parting ways with her. 'My departure is a bit of a surprise to me as it is to many,' Lenchantin told Rolling Stone when the news broke, 'but it looks like they have a solid plan figured out, which in turn has pushed me to move onwards onto new projects that I am excited about.'
Not long afterward, a 'major artist' asked Lenchantin if she'd join her band as a bass player. 'I froze,' she says in the album bio, stating that her past experiences in high-profile groups left her 'traumatized.' 'And how far can that get you?' she asks, noting that she turned down the gig in favor of creating Triste. 'Otherwise,' she said, 'you're just going around in a circle.'
The Triste track list:
1 – Novela2 – Lows & Highs3 – Woman Of Nazareth4 – Hang Tough5 – Wish I Was There6 – Si No!7 – In The Garden With The Devil8 – Adam9 – Lucia10 – Sin Dios11 – Save It For Hell12 – Triste
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Los Angeles Times
2 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
If Pedro Almodóvar made a film in Ecuador, this animated show would be it
With the 1980s came an influx of Western women ascending in white-collar professions — and their increase in power demanded some formidable work wear to match. As ruthless as she is seductive, Spanish businesswoman Marioneta Negocios (voiced by Pepa Pallarés) is among them. We meet her when she lands in Quito, Ecuador, to wreak havoc in Gonzalo Cordova's stop-motion animated show, 'Women Wearing Shoulder Pads,' Adult Swim's first-ever Spanish-language program, which premiered Sunday. In the South American country, cuys (guinea pigs) are part of the local diet, but the conniving Marioneta wishes to change the local mindset so that the creatures are seen as pets. Her plan angers Doña Quispe (Laura Torres), who makes a living selling cuys to be eaten, leading to a melodramatic feud. True to her name, Marioneta is a puppet whose look is immediately recognizable as that of Carmen Maura's character Pepa in Pedro Almodóvar's 1988 'Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown.' The show is profoundly indebted to Almodóvar's universe. Cordova, 39, lived in Ecuador and Panama until he was 6 years old, when his family moved to South Florida. He discovered American culture through copious hours of TV, with 'The Simpsons' and comedian Conan O'Brien becoming key influences on his sensibilities. 'It's just such a joy to have this TV show that mixes together all these childhood memories of Ecuador, but also TV and movies, smashing them together into one thing,' he says during a recent video interview from his home in Pasadena. The genesis of 'Women Wearing Shoulder Pads' occurred at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cordova had been working on a Mexican American project, but he ached to create a story that specifically reflected his Ecuadorean background. Having worked as a story editor and producer on the animated series 'Tuca & Bertie,' Cordova had a relationship with Adult Swim, Cartoon Network's programming block aimed at mature audiences. He pitched them his idiosyncratic idea inspired by Almodóvar's '80s films, Ecuadorean culture and his love of the Bob Baker Marionette Theater, an L.A. institution. At first, Cordova did not tell Adult Swim that he intended for the show to be in Spanish. He tried to ease them into the idea. 'I did not mention that in the pitch,' he admits. 'They showed some interest and when I was writing the script, I started telling them, 'This really should be in Spanish.' But I always knew that was the correct way to do it.' Executives were surprisingly receptive and allowed him to move forward with the pilot, with the caveat that they could change course. 'I'm not going to lie and say that it was just smooth sailing,' Cordova explains. 'But Adult Swim really listened to me and was very supportive. It has taken a big risk.' The funniest version of this TV show had to exist in Spanish, he thought. His conviction derived from his experience writing jokes and testing them in front of an audience. 'I did stand-up comedy for eight years in New York, and if you don't believe in the thing you're doing and don't fully commit, it's not going to work,' he says. 'The audience feels it. And to me, doing it in Spanish was just part of the commitment to the bit that I'm doing.' The HBO Max show 'Los Espookys,' which set the precedent that a U.S. production could premiere in Spanish, deeply emboldened Cordova in his creative impulse. 'That show gave me a little bit more of chutzpah in asking for this,' he adds. For Cordova, 'Los Espookys,' created by Julio Torres, Ana Fabrega and Fred Armisen, conveyed 'a Latin American sensibility and sense of humor,' which he describes as 'a little offbeat and a little quirky.' That tone is also what he sought for his show. First, Cordova wrote 'Women Wearing Shoulder Pads' in English over two months with an all-Latino writers' room, where each person had different levels of Spanish proficiency. Writing in English, their dominant tongue, allowed them to 'shoot from the hip,' as he puts it. 'The show really relies on absurdism, which heavily relies on instinct,' he explains. To ensure that the jokes were not getting lost in translation, Cordova worked closely with Mexico-based Mireya Mendoza, the translator and voice director on the show. Once they had made way in the Spanish translation, the production brought on Ecuadorean consultant Pancho Viñachi to help make the dialogue and world in general feel more authentic. 'Pancho started giving us these very specific, not only slang, but also Quechua words and things that would make it feel very specifically Ecuadorean,' Cordova says. 'I took that very seriously too. We spent maybe as long translating it as we did initially writing it.' That 'Women Wearing Shoulder Pads' is decidedly a queer show with no speaking male characters came from Cordova's desire to further exaggerate the fact that in melodramas or classic 'women's pictures' the male parts are secondary to their female counterparts. 'Once you go, 'No male characters,' your show's going to be queer,' he says smiling. 'You wrote yourself into a corner because you can't do a parody of these kinds of work without sex in it and without romance or passion. I was like, 'The next step is to also make this very queer.'' As for the decision to use stop-motion, Cordova credits Adult Swim for steering him in that direction. 'Initially, when I pitched the show I wanted to do an Almodóvar film with marionettes and Adult Swim very wisely said, 'This is going to create more complications for you,'' he recalls. 'They suggested stop-motion and connected me to Cinema Fantasma.' Based in Mexico City, Cinema Fantasma is a studio that specializes in stop-motion animation founded by Arturo and Roy Ambriz. The filmmaker brothers are also behind Mexico's first-ever stop-motion animated feature, 'I Am Frankelda.' Cordova visited the studios throughout the production, gaining a deeper appreciation for the painstaking technique in which every element has to be physically crafted. For Cordova, creating 'Women Wearing Shoulder Pads' entailed mining his memories of Ecuador in the late '80s, including growing up hearing over-the-top, partially fictionalized family stories. Those recollections also helped shape the look of the puppets. 'We used a lot of film references. That's why some of the characters just looked like they come straight out of a Pedro Almodóvar's film,' he says. 'But I also sent Cinema Fantasma a large Google Drive folder with tons of family photos. And we started finding like, 'Doña Quispe is going to look like this relative mixed with this drawing from 'Love and Rockets.'' The prominence of cuys in the show also stemmed from remembering how seeing them at restaurants or in cages would shock him when he returned to Ecuador as a teen after living in the U.S. for many years. Now he looks at the practice with a more mature perspective. 'I understand that this is a food and it's no different than being served duck in a restaurant,' he says. 'The show tries to make that point, but also preserves my childhood perspective on it through other characters.' The line between the creative and the personal blurred even further because many of the costumes were based on designs that Cordova's mother created when she was studying fashion in Panama and thought would never see the light of day. Though she was delighted by this homage, her thoughts on the show surprised him. 'My mom's reaction has been interesting because she was like, 'This is just a good drama.' The comedy elements are not on the forefront for her,' Cordova says with a laugh. 'For her it's like, 'I want to know what happens next,' which I didn't really expect.' By putting Ecuador in the forefront of his mind and of this hilarious work of collage, Cordova made a singular tribute to his loved ones. 'There are so many weird little moments in the show when my family was watching and they were like, 'Oh, that's your tía's name, that's your sister's nickname.'' Cordova recalls fondly. 'It's almost like how in superhero movies they'll put Easter eggs, these are Easter eggs for my family only.' But there's another opinion Cordova is eager to hear, that of Almodóvar himself. His hope is that, if the Spanish master somehow comes across the show, he feels his admiration. 'I hope that if he does watch it, that he knows it is just very lovingly inspired by his work and that it's not a theft,' Cordova says. 'I make it very obvious who I'm taking from. I may have borrowed from him quite a bit, so I hope he sees that it's done out of a deep respect.'
USA Today
3 hours ago
- USA Today
Michael Franti dropped by management amid 'troubling' allegations
Musician Michael Franti has reportedly been dropped by his management company, amid a string of cancellations connected to claims of misconduct. Activist Artists Management dropped Franti, according to Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, as the pop-reggae artist attempts to weather a scandal seemingly brought on by a series of social media posts from singer-songwriter Victoria Canal. Activist Artists Management did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Earlier this week, Soulshine at Sea 3, an aquatic music festival headlined by Franti, was canceled after an exodus of slated artists. The cruise was intended to sail in November from Miami to Mexico—until artists like Dispatch, Maggie Rose, Hirie, and Liz Vice pulled their performances. "We've decided we will no longer be performing at Soulshine at Sea. We have been made aware of deeply concerning public allegations involving another artist on the lineup and have chosen to withdraw from the event," Dispatch said in an Aug. 16 post on Facebook. "We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding." Hirie and Vice also referenced "concerning" and "troubling allegations" in their respective social media posts. In a post to Soulshine at Sea's website Aug. 17, event promoter Sixthman referenced "recent events" when confirming the cancellation and promised to unveil a replacement cruise soon. Franti took to social media shortly after to acknowledge he had "a romantic relationship outside my marriage" with an unnamed artist, an admission seemingly connected to the cancellation. While neither Franti nor any of the Soulshine performers named the artist, their posts directly followed allegations made on Instagram earlier this month by Canal, who said she had been groomed by a "very powerful, decades older man." The abuse, the Spanish singer-songwriter alleged, began when she was 19, after she was "plucked" from the internet during her college years, and promised professional opportunities. Canal, 27, went on to allege that this man now enjoys a family-man image and active career, but "has a history of incredibly damaging behavior" behind the scenes and is protected by "a team of enablers." "This experience, which lasted a little over a year, has had a years-lasting effect on my intimate life," she wrote. "The truth is, I just couldn't carry on hiding this part of me. Hiding from the young women who follow me has felt so painful, and I finally feel so ready to speak on it openly." Reps for Franti have not responded to USA TODAY's request for comment, including questions on a nonconsensual relationship with Canal. Canal went on to promise the release of a new song that would address the trauma and explained that she was omitting the name of her alleged accuser for fear of financial and professional harm. When reached for comment, a rep for Canal said: "It feels very liberating for Victoria to speak on her experience as she continues to heal. She hopes sharing can help young women entering the world of music to keep their eyes open and protect themselves." Following Canal's posts, Tank and the Bangas, a group slated to tour alongside Franti for the remainder of the summer, also canceled their joint shows, writing on Instagram: "While we are not aware of any specific details related to the matter, in light of the recent post made by the artist, we have made the difficult decision to not participate, until we have a better understanding of the facts." Franti, in his own lengthy statement posted to Instagram, wrote that while he had had an extramarital affair seven years prior with a fellow musician on his tour, it was entirely "consensual." He did not name Canal. The pair collaborated on 2019's "The Flower" and Canal served as the opener on Franti's tour that same year. "I'm aware of the recent posts this artist made about our relationship, and while I support her need to express herself publicly, the relationship was completely consensual, based on mutual feelings and attraction. I vehemently dispute any version of the story that says otherwise," Franti wrote. "I will, however, take full accountability for not better recognizing the power imbalance as she was younger than me, and I was the headliner on tour." If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, RAINN's National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support to survivors and their loved ones in English and Spanish at: (4673) and and en Español
Forbes
5 hours ago
- Forbes
‘Culpa Nuestra' Trilogy Finale Gets October Global Premiere Date
The grand finale of Noah and Nick's passionate saga now has a release date. Prime Video announced today that its Spanish Original film Culpa Nuestra (Our Fault), the highly anticipated conclusion to Mercedes Ron's Culpables YA trilogy, will have its global premiere in October. The streamer also unveiled the final film's official poster, featuring the film's stars. Fans of the record-breaking whirlwind romance, set in a world of wealth, fast cars, street racing, secrets, and personal trauma, will welcome finding out what the future holds for the young lovers. Nicole Wallace (Skam España, Parot) and Gabriel Guevara (Mañana es Hoy, Hit) return as Noah and Nick for the final time. The trilogy's first two installments — Culpa Mía and Culpa Tuya — were a massive success. The first film debuted in June 2023. The second was released in December 2024, becoming the most-watched international original film on Prime Video at launch, cementing the franchise as a global phenomenon. So much so that Ron's story also spawned a hit English-language version: My Fault: London, which debuted in January 2025, also on Prime Video. In this final chapter, the wedding of their friends Jenna (Eva Ruiz) and Lion (Víctor Varona) sets the stage for Noah and Nick's long-awaited reunion after their painful breakup. Nick's inability to forgive Noah creates what appears to be an insurmountable barrier between them. He's now focused on his future as heir to his grandfather's business empire, while she's just beginning to build her professional life. Noah and Nick are both determined to resist rekindling a flame that still burns, but when their paths inevitably cross again, the question becomes whether their love can triumph over resentment. The returning ensemble cast includes Marta Hazas (Días Mejores, Pequeñas Coincidencias), Iván Sánchez (Bosé, Hospital Central), Victor Varona (Cielo Grande, Dani Who?), Eva Ruiz, Goya Toledo (Amores Perros, Veneno), Gabriela Andrada (Los Protegidos ADN, Los Herederos de la Tierra), Álex Béjar (Élite, Al Fondo Hay Sitio), Javier Morgade (Desaparecidos, Delfines de Plata), and Felipe Londoño (Entrevías, Perfil Falso). New to the cast is Fran Morcillo (La Casa de Papel), who joins as Simon. Culpa Nuestra is directed by Domingo González, who helmed the entire trilogy. He also co-wrote the screenplay with Sofía Cuenca (Culpa Tuya). The film is produced by Pokeepsie Films (Banijay Iberia), the Spanish production company behind acclaimed projects like 30 Monedas and El Bar, with Álex de la Iglesia and Carolina Bang serving as producers. Culpa Nuestra will be available worldwide October 16, 2025.
