Paz Lenchantin (born December 12, 1973) is an Argentine-American musician. She is best known as the bass guitarist and backing vocalist of the alternative rock band Pixies. Lenchantin joined the band in 2014, following the departure of founding member Kim Deal, and recorded three studio albums before leaving in 2024.[1]
Prior to joining Pixies, Lenchantin was a member of Entrance, A Perfect Circle, Silver Jews and Zwan. In April 2024, Consequence named Lenchantin the 75th greatest bass guitarist of all time, noting: "Not only did she fit in beautifully in [A Perfect Circle and Pixies], but she was also a shining light in Billy Corgan’s short-lived band Zwan. Along with holding down the low-end, she’s also a wonderful vocalist and a skilled violinist."[2]
Early life
Lenchantin is of Armenian, French and Argentine ancestry.[3] She moved to Los Angeles with her family at the age of four. Her father, Mario Merdirossian, is a classical pianist who has been a professor of piano at the National University of Buenos Aires-Tandil, the University of Mississippi, and the Catholic University of Lima, Peru.[3][4] Lenchantin speaks fluent Spanish and English. She began playing piano at age five.[5] She then took violin lessons at age 8 and taught herself how to play guitar at age 12.[5] Her sister Ana Lenchantin is a musician and a frequent collaborator. She also frequently collaborated with her brother Luciano Lenchantin before his death in 2003. In the '90s, Paz was a piano teacher, a music programmer for video games, and a sound composer for the Sci-Fi Channel.[6]
Since 2012, Paz has been touring with Josephine Foster supporting the Blood Rushing album promotion.[7] In December 2013, Lenchantin was announced as the new touring bassist for Pixies, in replacement of founding band member Kim Deal and touring bassist Kim Shattuck, for their 2014 tour.[8] In July 2016, Lenchantin confirmed that she was a full-time member of Pixies.[9]
On 4 March 2024, the Pixies announced that Lenchantin had left "to concentrate on her own projects". In a statement to Rolling Stone, Lenchantin said that the choice was not hers and that her "departure [was] a bit of a surprise to [her] as it is to many".[10]