Zac Rae, Death Cab for Cutie - The Keyboard Chronicles

Zac Rae has been Death Cab for Cutie’s keyboard/guitar player for more than 1o years, with previous touring or session stints with Macy Gray, Alanis Morrissett, Leonard Cohen and Morrisey to name just four. In addition, Zac has a prolific and ongoing career in film, TV and other collaborations.

To listen / watch:

Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio player above, or:
Video: watch the embedded video below or check it and previous episodes out on our YouTube Channel

Discussion topics covered during the show (links will open in new tab):

Zac’s past 12 months

Death Cab for Cutie’s latest album, I Built You A Tower

Death Cab for Cutie – Trap Door

Death Cab for Cutie – Riptides

Death Cab for Cutie in action live, 2026

Death Cab for Cutie Tiny Desk Concert

Zac’s musical upbringing

Eileen Rowe – Piano Teacher

Zac’s ‘weird shit’ keyboards and accessories

Playing and touring with Macy Gray and Alanis Morissette

Zac playing with Macy Gray in 2001 at the Grammys

Zac’s keyboard rig with Alanis Morrissette

A memorable on-stage train wreck

Working on Leonard Cohen albums – You Want It Darker and Thanks for the Dance

A discussion on the relationship between guitar and keyboards

Brett Dennen – Hope For The Hopeless

Brett Dennen – Loverboy

Early Winters – Early Winters

Joey Waronker, Luke Reynolds, Zac Rae – Proof

Working with Morrissey

Morrissey – Some Say I Got Devil

Joining Death Cab for Cutie

Love of Benmont Tench’s approach

Death Cab for Cutie – Title and Registration

Death Cab for Cutie – Gold Rush

Zac’s Death Cab for Cutie keyboard rig

Desert Island Discs: Odyssey and Oracle – The Zombies, Head Hunters – Herbie Hancock, Spilt Milk – Jellyfish, The Shutov Assembly – Brian Eno, Syro – Aphex Twin

Thumbnail photos via the brilliant Brynn Osborn and Joshua Halling

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Check out our podcast guest playlist on Spotify to get a taste of each guest’s creations.