Chris Walla
Background information
Birth name	Christopher Ryan Walla
Born	(1975-11-02) November 2, 1975 (age 39) Bothell, Washington
Genres	Indie rock
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer
Instruments	Guitar, Vocals, Piano, Bass
Years active	1994–present
Labels	Barsuk Atlantic Elsinor
Associated acts	Death Cab for Cutie, Martin Youth Auxiliary

Christopher Ryan Walla (born November 2, 1975) is an American musician and producer, best known for being a former guitarist and songwriter for the band Death Cab for Cutie. Walla is a prolific producer in the Indie rock community, having earned production credits on dozens of albums, and is also a former DJ for radio station KCWU, 88.1 The 'Burg.

Musical career[edit]

Early bands[edit]

While at Bothell High School in the early 1990s, Walla started a program called Open Microphone with creative writing teacher Laura Drumheller, as a noon-time forum for the arts, which allowed any student to take the stage and perform. Walla regularly performed at these shows, as well as serving as MC. One performance by Chris included a song by PJ Harvey. These early Open Microphone shows proved popular and continued for over twenty years, moving from Bothell High School to Inglemoor High School when teacher Drumheller transferred there.^[1] Walla was in a short-lived band called The Wallflowers (not to be confused with The Wallflowers of California). Later, in 2001, he was an early member of the Seattle band The Long Winters.

Death Cab for Cutie[edit]

Walla joined Death Cab for Cutie in 1997, while attending Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington. Eventually releasing seven albums, four EPs and two live EPs with band, he co-wrote many of their hit songs, including "Title and Registration" and "I Will Possess Your Heart".

On August 13, 2014, after 17 years with Death Cab for Cutie, Chris Walla decided to part ways with the band, stating that he plans to "...continue making music, producing records, and erring on the side of benevolence and beauty whenever possible."^[2] Walla's last performance with the band occurred on September 13, 2014 at the Rifflandia Music Festival in Victoria, British Columbia.^[3]

Solo projects[edit]

Walla has recorded a variety of solo material, and released his debut solo album, Field Manual, in 2008 on Barsuk Records. The song "Sing Again" became available for free download from Barsuk's website. Before the release of Field Manual, it was reported that two tracks recorded for Death Cab for Cutie's 2005 album, Plans, would be featured, but this is unconfirmed. Some of Walla's solo work has been released as Martin Youth Auxiliary, and has played several shows under this name. One cassette, under the name was recorded and released in 1999, on Elsinor Records. In the past, Walla has stated plans to release a Martin Youth Auxiliary record, but his first solo album was eventually released under his own name. Much of the solo material consists been quick low-quality recordings, which have never been intended for release.^[4]

Production[edit]

In addition to being a musician Walla has a long career as producer, earning production, engineering, and mixing credits on over thirty albums and EPs. His first credit was as the producer for Death Cab for Cutie's debut album, Something About Airplanes, released in 1998. Walla has produced all releases by Death Cab for Cutie to date, with the sole exception of the 1997's You Can Play These Songs with Chords EP, which was produced by Ben Gibbard. However, Walla earned production credits on the 2002 re-release of You Can Play These Songs with Chords, which featured 10 new songs.

Studios[edit]

Walla founded his own recording studio, located within his home in Portland, Oregon, named the Alberta Court. Prior to moving to Portland, from 2000 to 2005, he was the owner/proprietor of Seattle's legendary recording studio, the Hall of Justice, where Death Cab for Cutie and many Pacific Northwest bands such as Nirvana recorded over the years. In 2012, Walla began rebuilding the Hall of Justice after moving back to Seattle.^[5]

Personal life[edit]

Walla married knitwear designer and illustrator Dianna Potter in February 2012, at the Swedish Cultural Center in Seattle.^[6][7][8]

Discography[edit]

Producer/Engineer/Mixer/Writer[edit]

Selected credits[edit]

• Death Cab for Cutie, Codes and Keys (2011) – Producer, Engineer, Mixer, Writer
• Death Cab for Cutie, The Twilight Saga: New Moon (soundtrack) (2009) – Producer, Engineer, Mixer, Writer
• Death Cab for Cutie, The Open Door EP (2009) – Producer, Engineer, Mixer, Writer
• Death Cab for Cutie, Narrow Stairs (2008) – Producer, Engineer, Mixer, Writer
• Death Cab for Cutie, Plans (2005) – Producer, Engineer, Mixer, Writer
• Death Cab for Cutie, Transatlanticism (2003) – Producer, Engineer, Mixer, Writer
• Death Cab for Cutie, The Stability EP (2002) – Producer, Engineer, Mixer, Writer
• Death Cab for Cutie, You Can Play These Songs with Chords (2002) – Producer, Engineer, Mixer, Writer
• Death Cab for Cutie, The Photo Album (2001) – Producer, Engineer, Mixer, Writer
• Death Cab for Cutie, The Forbidden Love EP (2000) – Producer, Engineer, Mixer, Writer
• Death Cab for Cutie, We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes (2000) – Producer, Engineer, Mixer, Writer
• Death Cab for Cutie, Something About Airplanes (1998) – Producer, Engineer, Mixer, Writer

• The Lonely Forest, Arrows (2011) – Producer, Engineer, Mixer
• Ra Ra Riot, The Orchard (2010) – Mixer
• Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, Let It Sway (2010) – Co-producer, Engineer
• The Thermals, Personal Life (2010) – Producer, Engineer, Mixer
• Gordon Downie, The Grand Bounce (2010) – Producer, Engineer, Mixer
• Tegan and Sara, Sainthood (2009) – Co-producer, Engineer
• Telekinesis, Telekinesis! (2009) – Producer, Engineer, Mixer
• So Many Dynamos, The Loud Wars (2009) – Producer, Engineer, Mixer
• Mates of State, Re-Arrange Us (2008) – Producer, Engineer, Loops
• Youth Group, The Night Is Ours (2008) – Guitar, Vocals (background), Mixer
• Nada Surf, Lucky (2008) – Engineer
• Chris Walla, Field Manual (2008) – Producer, Engineer, Mixer, Writer
• Tegan and Sara, The Con (2007) – Producer, Engineer, Mixer
• The Decemberists, The Crane Wife (2006) – Producer, Engineer, Mixer
• Youth Group, Casino Twilight Dogs (2005) – Mixer
• Youth Group, Forever Young (2005) – Mixer
• Nada Surf, The Weight Is a Gift (2005) – Producer, Engineer
• The Decemberists, Picaresque (2005) – Producer, Engineer, Mixer
• The Decemberists, The Tain (2005) – Producer, Engineer, Mixer
• The Thermals, Fuckin A (2004) – Producer, Engineer, Mixer
• The Long Winters, When I Pretend to Fall (2003) – Producer, Engineer, Mixer
• The Postal Service, Give Up (2003) – Engineer, Piano, Drums, Vocals
• The Stratford 4, Love & Distortion (2003) – Producer, Engineer, Mixer
• The Thermals, More Parts per Million (2003) – Mixer
• Rocky Votolato, Suicide Medicine (2003) – Producer, Engineer, Mixer
• Rocky Votolato, Light and Sound EP (2003) – Producer, Engineer, Mixer
• David Cross, Shut Up, You Fucking Baby! (2002) – Engineer
• Carissa's Wierd, Songs About Leaving (2002) – Engineer, Mixer
• Hot Hot Heat, Knock Knock Knock (EP) (2002) – Producer, Engineer
• Hot Hot Heat, Make Up The Breakdown (2002) – Additional Recording, Mixer
• The Long Winters, The Worst You Can Do Is Harm (2002) – Producer, Engineer, Mixer
• Nada Surf, Let Go (2002) – Engineer, Mixer
• The Velvet Teen, Out of the Fierce Parade (2002) – Producer, Engineer

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• 20 Questions to Christopher Walla from 2000.
• Hall of Justice Recording
• Review of Chris Walla's "Field Manual" 1
• Review of Chris walla's "Field Manual" 2
• Chris Walla interview, Jan. 2008