Death Cab For Cutie rose from relative obscurity to become one of the most popular indie bands of the 2000s, but now, as they prepare to release a new album, they will be losing one of their founding members. Multi-instrumentalist Chris Walla, who also served as the band’s producer at times, announced yesterday that he would be leaving Death Cab once their 2014 tour wraps up.

“I will miss being a quarter of this band and will support whatever course Death Cab For Cutie takes from here,” Walla said in a statement. Walla acknowledged that the choice to leave the band was difficult. “It’s really, really said,” he said. “I love my bandmates, and I’m proud of what we’ve done, and mercifully, those things don’t change with my departure.”

Walla played multiple instruments in the band, including guitar and keyboards. As a musician and a producer, he was crucial in shaping Death Cab’s sound as their work reached an increasingly large audience. He also produced albums by the likes of The Decemberists, Tegan & Sara, and Nada Surf, among others.