Top: The Padded Crop Cardigan in Black Ivory Heather Grey; Pants: The Scooter Skimp in Power Ballad

The model and musician on making music, finding inspiration and her favorite corners of LA.

For Staz Lindes, music and style have always gone hand in hand. The model and musician grew up in Los Angeles surrounded by music, started playing instruments as a kid and made up imaginary bands in elementary school. Eventually, she started a real one. As a member of LA garage rock band The Paranoyds, Lindes has opened for Jack White and has written and performed a live score to Night of the Living Dead — all while building a modeling career and developing a personal style that’s colorful, nostalgic and entirely her own. Her list of influences is just as eclectic: Motown girl groups, No Doubt, Elliott Smith, Lou Reed, old movies, neon bugs and flowers and a good dose of Debbie Harry. Here, Lindes talks to MOTHER about what made her want to pick up an instrument, the best places to hear music in LA, doing vocal warmups while putting on her makeup and the trouble with being an Aries.

Top: The Concert Hickey in Multi Rainbow; Pants: The Lace Up Zip Hiker Hover in Black

What first made you want to make music? Probably seeing girl groups like Spice Girls, TLC, Destiny’s Child and the Motown girl groups — it looked like so much fun. Cool girls making music seemed like the ultimate power. Then No Doubt came along and totally blew my mind!

Do you feel like music and creativity run in your family? Yes! Music was and is very encouraged in my family!

Do you have a ritual before performing or creating? All my vocal warmups are done whilst I do my makeup.

Hat: Fuzzy Wuzzy in Kitten; Top: The Lil Goodie Ringer in Pink Stripe; Pants: The Bookie Slit Twist Heel Fray in Double Take

What are you listening to on repeat right now? Slippers 

Is there an album that's stayed with you throughout your life? Either/Or by Elliott Smith

What's the best concert you've ever been to? I saw Dagger Polyester the other day so I’m just going to have to say them. Dagger puts on a hell of a show.

What’s the best concert you’ve ever played? It’ll have to be opening for Jack White in Asheville, North Carolina. It was one of the most fun nights of my life. Another was when my band, The Paranoyds, wrote and performed a live score to Night of the Living Dead.

Top: The Lazy Sunday in Power Ballad, The Itty Bitty Ringer in Paradise Pink; Top: The Biggie Concert in Faded Black; Select photos courtesy of James Duran.

You have such a great fashion sense both on and offstage. Do you approach dressing for performance any differently than dressing for the everyday? Thank you <3 It’s pretty similar. I love color and expression. I like the effect it has on people and how it photographs.

Who are your fashion icons? Neon that appears in nature on bugs and flowers, old movies, Exene Cervenka, Richard Hell, Tchotchke, Debbie Harry and Dee Dee Ramone.

Who are your music icons? Lou Reed, Dagger Polyester, Ronnie Spector, X, Devo

Hat: Fuzzy Wuzzy in Kitten; Top: The Lil Goodie Ringer in Pink Stripe; Pants: The Bookie Slit Twist Heel Fray in Double Take

What’s your favorite music venue in LA? Oblivion and Permanent Records

Where do you go when you're in the mood to dig for records? Cosmic Vinyl in Eagle Rock!

If LA had a soundtrack, what would be the opening song? Wow how do I pick?! Maybe I’ll have some fun and pick Tangerine Rose by Angelyne.

You're an Aries. What's the most Aries thing about you? Always thinking I’m right 😹

If your music had a zodiac sign, what would it be—and why? Maybe Pisces…I’m quite an emo songwriter at heart! 

Top: The Padded Crop Cardigan in Black Ivory Heather Grey; Pants: The Scooter Skimp in Power Ballad

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