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Chris Walla
Biography
An accomplished producer, multi-instrumentalist, and former DJ, Christopher Walla is perhaps best known as Ben Gibbard's right-hand man in Death Cab for Cutie. Walla was born in 1975 and grew up in the suburbs of Seattle, a town whose rich music scene inspired him to pursue work as a producer. While attending a local concert, he met future bandmate Gibbard -- who, at the same time, was playing guitar with the power pop outfit Pinwheel -- and bonded with him over a shared love of Teenage Fanclub. Seeking a break from his Pinwheel duties, Gibbard soon enlisted Walla's help on an eight-song cassette entitled You Can Play These Songs with Chords. The project was surprisingly successful, and Gibbard couldn't support the release without a live band. Accordingly, Walla joined the lineup alongside bassist Nick Harmer (Gibbard's roommate) and temporary drummer Nathan Good, and Death Cab for Cutie officially took root.

Walla issued a self-titled cassette (under the name Martin Youth Auxiliary) on the Washington-based Elsinor Records in 1999, following its release with a series of solo shows. However, Death Cab for Cutie's profile was steadily rising, and Walla's solo efforts took a back seat as he focused on the band.
Selected Discography