Snuggle up to Bellingham’s Cuttlefish and you may just fall for them hook, line and sinker
If you’re in the mood for an eclectic jazz beat with some Bellingham flair, Cuttlefish is the band for you. Since forming in January 2023, the Bellingham-based band has gained a loyal fan base with over 1,000 followers on social media.
Composed of Brett Strizich, Oliver Godfrey, Cameron Katz and Nathan Quasha (also known as Quash), they describe their music as “colorful” and “emotional.” Cuttlefish’s songs bring a more mellow jazz feel to the Bellingham music scene while maintaining an upbeat rhythm you can dance to at one of their shows.
“[We’re] always trying to not take ourselves too seriously,” Katz said.
Strizich and Katz grew up together in Phoenix before moving to Bellingham. They began playing music with Godfrey before meeting Quash at a local show. When their usual drummer was unavailable, Quash was the first person they reached out to.
“I had played a show with Quash a few months ago, so I just texted him, ‘Dude, do you want to play a show with me?,” and he was like, ‘No, I’m out of town,” Strizich said. “Quash was like, ‘But hit me up in January,’ and then January rolled around, and the band started.”
The band has released multiple singles on Spotify and Apple Music, including their favorite: “Pink Shoes.”
“We gave [Quash] three weeks to play music with us, and then I put a mic on his drum and said, ‘We’re gonna record ‘Pink Shoes’ right now,’” Strizich said.
With its fast, funky rhythm and jazz solos, it feels like the most “Cuttlefish” of all their songs, Strizich said.
“[We’ve been] playing that song pretty much since we started and still just play it every show,” Quash said.
The band has come a long way since recording the original version in a closet and mixing their own sound. Their new music is being recorded with the help of Eric Wallace, a senior instructor and recording studio coordinator at Western Washington University.
They are recording a studio version of “Pink Shoes” alongside their new single, “Shaggy,” which will be released by the end of July. “Shaggy” showcases their sound quality development, the band said.
“We joke that we never will be able to hear Cuttlefish as an audience member, but that was the closest we’ll come,” Godfrey said about hearing “Shaggy” for the first time.
Spending time in the studio has bolstered Cuttlefish’s passion for making music and sharing their songs with a broader audience.
“It was surreal waking up in the morning, drinking my cup of coffee and then going into the studio, and just imagining if that was my job,” Strizich said.
Cuttlefish has played at many popular local venues, from The Blue Room to the Ramble Tamble. Fans can also find them at numerous pop-up and house shows from Bellingham to Seattle.
Some notable shows for the band have been at the DIY skate park on Roader Ave., where the crowd expanded to the overhanging bridge, and at The Bakery, a house show venue in Seattle.
Strizich, who used to put on house shows, expected a crowd of 150 people. Around 1,000 people showed up that night, he said. When they closed their set with a cover of “Weird Fishes” by Radiohead, they realized just how powerful the crowd was.
“There’s like a very distinct drum beat, and right when Nathan started playing that, you could hear murmurings in the crowd,” Strizich said. “When we hit the first cord and everyone was like ‘ah.’”
Live music lovers can see Cuttlefish perform Aug. 7 at Downtown Sounds in Bellingham. Follow their Instagram for future Bellingham shows.
Bellingham’s music scene has fostered a collaborative space for many local musicians, including Cuttlefish. Everyone goes to each other’s shows, Godfrey said.
“[I] like the community a lot. All bands in town are full of great people,” Katz said. “Everyone wants to collaborate and do shows together.”
Outside of local shows, Cuttlefish is in the process of planning a tour around the West Coast. They look forward to checking out different music scenes along the way, Quash said.
“We have a lot of friends who are in bands just up along the West Coast, so we’ll definitely make it to LA and Phoenix,” Strizich said. “Then probably up through Utah and Spokane.”
Whether you’re a regular at their shows or want to know more, the best way to support local music is to come out and enjoy a show.
“Forward our music to your moms,” Strizich said. “Moms love us.”