We played a festival in Ireland once, and in the middle of 'New Slang,' the Scissor Sisters kicked in across the field on this mega stage. It was a little distracting. It was hard to keep track of what I was supposed to sing. James Mercer distractfestivalfield share on social
The real challenge of writing songs isn't just writing a bunch of parts - like a verse, chorus, verse - but making something that flows together, that brings you back. James Mercer backbringbunch Change image and share on social
The Shins is, in a way, a recording project that turned into a live band. So I don't really keep myself beholden to any rules when I'm in the studio for Shins. I just gotta get it done as best I can. James Mercer bandbeholdengotta Change image and share on social
My attempt at really doing classic sort of songwriting is Shins stuff. James Mercer attemptclassicshin Change image and share on social
As a child, I lived in Germany at the Ramstein air force base, where my dad sang at a nightclub in Kaiserslautern. My parents couldn't afford a babysitter, so when I was, like, ten or 11, I would go with them to the bar until two in the morning. James Mercer affordairbabysitter share on social
My dad was a Navy munitions officer, and by the end of his career, he was a specialist in nuclear weapons. James Mercer careerdadend Change image and share on social
I know that there are a lot of sort of silly things that one thinks as a music listener about bands. I am a fan of many bands. James Mercer bandfanlistener Change image and share on social
Maybe it's just parenthood that puts you in a situation where you just have to develop a new attitude, I guess, about things. James Mercer attitudedevelopguess Change image and share on social
I'm real happy. I've been lucky in love, and I've got a wonderful kid now, and things have been going well. James Mercer happyhavekid Change image and share on social
There is pressure that comes with everything being a big deal. I remember thinking, 'I need to survive the Shins. I don't know what I'm going to do to make a living otherwise, but I really don't want to do the Shins right now.' James Mercer bigdeallive share on social
