A magnetic stack includes a interlayer structure and a magnetic recording layer disposed over the interlayer in the magnetic stack. The magnetic recording layer includes substantially ordered L10, oriented crystalline magnetic grains laterally separated by a nonmagnetic, segregant material. The interlayer structure comprises a first layer having cubic crystal structure including oriented crystalline grains and a second layer having crystalline grains laterally separated by a segregant material. The crystalline grains of the second layer are arranged in substantially vertically contiguous alignment with the crystalline grains of the first layer and the segregant material of the magnetic recording layer is arranged in substantially vertically contiguous alignment with the segregant material of the second layer.