For some reason, it seems like pop writers, it's like they just get worse or something over time. And then you're really… — James Mercer Copy Share Image
The Shins is, in a way, a recording project that turned into a live band. So I don't really keep myself beholden… — James Mercer Copy Share Image
When I started The Shins, it really was just me, alone, but it was still The Shins. I was totally recording stuff… — James Mercer Copy Share Image
I don't like the idea of a singer-songwriter record. I don't picture myself that way, and it's not my favorite sort of… — James Mercer Copy Share Image
I most enjoy sitting down with the acoustic guitar and just fiddling around and trying to come up with something like a… — James Mercer Copy Share Image
The real challenge of writing songs isn't just writing a bunch of parts - like a verse, chorus, verse - but making… — James Mercer Copy Share Image
So happy that Broken Bells is a thing in my life and really cool in so many ways. Not only, like, as… — James Mercer Copy Share Image
Maybe it's just parenthood that puts you in a situation where you just have to develop a new attitude, I guess, about… — James Mercer Copy Share Image
I have no ethics when it comes to art. You just do what you can to make it as beautiful as you… — James Mercer Copy Share Image
I do like talking with friends about big concepts, you know, the stuff that will ruin a party. To me, the party hasn't begun… — James Mercer Copy Share Image
Horrible dates are when you're with people who are immature and can't really be comfortable in their own skin. — James Mercer Copy Share Image
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 Copy Share Image
The fact that I'm often pushing my voice as hard as I can is from playing in nightclubs in Albuquerque where you don't have… — James Mercer Copy Share Image
I really [enjoy] working with new people and just sort of the freshness of it. ... I [want] to have those new conversations, musically… — James Mercer Copy Share Image
Meeting Perry Farrel was kind of cool. He's such an icon, and I was such a fan of Jane's Addiction. — James Mercer Copy Share Image
My dad and I get into it all the time. He loves to discuss politics much more than I do and we have pretty… — James Mercer Copy Share Image
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… — James Mercer Copy Share Image
I tend to write a pretty half and half split of, like, slow, morose things and then sort of more upbeat stuff. — James Mercer Copy Share Image
If you're 14 and you're skinny, you can't be on the football team, basically. It's just not even really possible. But skating is something… — James Mercer Copy Share Image
I think that what's funny is that I seem to be taking up the roles that I remember my dad having - for some… — James Mercer Copy Share Image