“I am sometimes overwhelmed, moved to tears or action, by the words and music and images of friends and heroes alike. In those feelings, in that flood, the power and potential to wash away the poison of our present moment are tangible, close. Your art – it is powerful and real.” – Chris Walla

Writer, musician and record producer Chris Walla is best known as a founding member of iconic indie band, Death Cab for Cutie. For 17 years, from 1997-2014, he was the guitarist, co-writer and producer on the band’s albums. His production work with the band laid the template for the “indie-rock” sound and continues to reverberate through popular music.

Though he came to prominence as the guitarist/producer in Death Cab for Cutie, Walla had always planned on a career as a record producer. In fact, Death Cab started with Walla recording high school friend Ben Gibbard on his 4-track recorder. As the band began to tour, Walla connected with like-minded musicians who wanted his help recording their music. Soon, his recordings started to get the industry’s attention.

The turning point came with the release of Death Cab’s Transatlanticism album which went gold. The sonic signatures of those albums defined a generation. Death Cab signed to Atlantic and has gone on to have multiple platinum records, and the sonic signature of those albums defined a generation. Between album cycles, Chris’ producer ear was in high demand. His limited time outside the band was dedicated to producing a handful of artists he felt had the potential to do something special. His work with The Decemberists, Tegan & Sara, Nada Surf and others in the period proved hugely influential.

Since leaving Death Cab for Cutie, his production work includes collaborations with Ratboys, Pinegrove, Foxing, Lo Moon, Petey, Wild Child, S, The Thermals, The Posies, William Fitzsimmons, Braids, Yorke, Japanese Wallpaper, and more.

According to Ratboys, Walla’s greatest strength is how he locates the feeling bubbling beneath a song and uncorks its emotional impact. “When writing and demoing songs as the four of us, we’re talking about music theory and chord progressions, but Chris refreshed our views by reaffirming our emotional direction.” 

Asked to describe his style behind the console, Walla says he is fond of the adage “the first rule of record production is to do no harm.” He is quick to add that he doesn’t believe he always succeeds in adhering to this philosophy. “I think it’s really easy to miscalculate the route between where a band is and what a band wants. My style as a producer, inasmuch as I have one, is to try and find that path.” – Consequence of Sound