After “following [his] nose for so many years,” Death Cab for Cutie guitarist and producer Chris Walla has signed the first band, Anacortes, Washington’s The Lonely Forest, to his new Atlantic Records imprint, Trans.
The Stranger reports that Walla first heard the indie rock quartet after the release of their second LP, We Sing the Body Electric!, which was released via Seattle-based label Burning Building last year. Though Walla has been considering the move from guitarist to producer to record label A&R man for many years, “[t]his wouldn’t be happening if it weren’t for the Lonely Forest,” he said. “They’re a phenomenal band.”
After one listen (my first) to the song “We Sing In Time” on their MySpace page, here’s hoping Walla continues to follow his nose.