For the longest time, I didn't even want to admit I was serious about music. Before the Shins, I would tell myself, 'Oh, I'm going to figure something out someday.' I had this romantic vision of being this old dude maybe making guitars or something. James Mercer admitdudefigure 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 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
I've never been one to think it was cheating to sample this or to loop the drum part there - I've always done that. Even using four-track cassette recorders, I was always doing whatever I could to make it as good as I could. James Mercer cassettecheatdrum 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
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 was a regular dork. I was a kid who was scrawny and all that, and probably kind of dumb or something. I wasn't unordinary; I wasn't extraordinary. James Mercer dorkdumbextraordinary Change image and share on social
So happy that Broken Bells is a thing in my life and really cool in so many ways. Not only, like, as something to sell records and be a band and whatnot, but just to give me an outlet and give me a fresh approach on things. James Mercer approachbandbell 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
