I think perfect dates involve walking a lot, and not a bunch of driving around in cars. Ideally, you can walk together and go to a restaurant, and then walk from there to another nice place - this is, I guess, because of really great dates that I've had with my wife here in Portland. James Mercer bunchcardate share on social
I tend to write a pretty half and half split of, like, slow, morose things and then sort of more upbeat stuff. James Mercer halfmorosepretty Change image and share on social
For some reason, it seems like pop writers, it's like they just get worse or something over time. And then you're really jealous of movie directors whose careers seem to grow and they'll be 70 years old and still doing these incredible jobs. I'm going to reverse that, I hope. James Mercer badlycareerdirector share on social
I've always sort of felt like what the Shins is, I guess, is a vehicle for my writing. James Mercer feltguesshave Change image and share on social
I have the soundtrack for 'A Clockwork Orange,' which is kind of cool. I guess I don't really end up buying a lot of modern soundtracks. Another soundtrack I love is from a French movie called 'Betty Blue.' it has some really melancholy piano work. James Mercer bettybluebuy share on social
I sit and write songs alone and then get together with people to help me flesh it out into a recording. James Mercer fleshpeoplerecord Change image and share on social
Meeting Perry Farrel was kind of cool. He's such an icon, and I was such a fan of Jane's Addiction. James Mercer addictioncoolfan Change image and share on social
The thing that inspires me most is empathizing with people's flaws and seeing how they deal with them. That sort of connection you feel with someone when you realize that maybe even the negative things that they've said or done are because of insecurities or injuries they've endured. James Mercer connectiondealempathize 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
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
