Welcome back for another edition of First, Last, and Favorite; our column where we get to learn a little bit about an artist’s listening life from its beginning to the present. This edition we’re happy to have Chris Staples.

Chris has been active writing and recording songs here in Seattle for a good while now. His newest project is Holy Moly and is out tomorrow on Barsuk Records. Recorded nights in a Seattle garage over the course of 2018, Holy Moly has a definitively nocturnal feel. Chris has a hushed lovely voice throughout and a sensitive touch as a songwriter. His music fits right into our Northwestern lineage of thoughtful indie-rock with a soft side. Give it a taste:

Chris weighs in on some favorite records of past and present, giving us a glimpse at some of the sounds that have informed his. Here he is in his own words:

First

Tom Petty Full Moon Fever

When I was 13 I got a CD player for my birthday and a copy of Tom Petty’s Full Moon Fever. He was a big influence to me early on. He was like Florida royalty and the fact that he came from Gainesville Florida only a few hours from where I grew up always astonished me.

Last

Sonny & The Sunsets Longtime Companion

I’m really late finding this but I just got Sonny And The Sunsets “Longtime Companion”. It’s kind of a country record, though most of his other stuff is kinda surfy. Great lyrics and melodies and I’m surprised I’m only just becoming acquainted with his tunes.

Favorite

Hayden Skyscraper National Park / Karl Blau Introducing Karl Blau

My favorite record of all time? God that’s impossible. I really liked Hayden’s “Skycraper National Park”. He’s a clever songwriter. He writes songs that start out slow and sort of build up. They can be hypnotic and very sad. Also, I really love love Karl Blau’s “Introducing Karl Blau”. Great record produced by Tucker Martine. It’s a bunch of old country songs re-recorded. It’s a great sounding record.