This week I sat down with Nathaniel McCurley, bassist for Seattle’s own Magenta Wave. We talked about what it’s like to live in a house with your entire band, how much distortion is too much before you stop calling it indie, and why their track “Why Am I In Love With You” caught fire.

Nathaniel shared the story behind their move from Bellingham to Seattle, the lessons learned from producing their early songs with friends, and what it’s like to build momentum in a city stacked with serious musicians. We also dug into the band’s influences—from the Red Hot Chili Peppers to Hendrix—and how newer artists like Flipturn are shaping the way Magenta Wave thinks about their sound.

You’ll hear Magenta Wave tracks in this order:

1. Solitude
2. Why Am I In Love With You
3. Texas (Very Often)

Stick around for the Final Spin, where Nathaniel talks about opening for the Chili Peppers, why Wynton Marsalis is on his personal playlist, and his pick for an under-the-radar Seattle artist you should check out right now: Avery Cochran.

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Thanks for listening—see you next week.