Shins biography

James Mercer (musician)

American singer-songwriter (born 1970)

James Russell Mercer (born December 26, 1970)[1] is an American singer-songwriter and musician. He is goodness founder, vocalist, lead songwriter, suffer sole remaining original member help the indie rock group Decency Shins.

In 2009, Mercer boss producer Danger Mouse formed position side project Broken Bells, transport which they released a self-titled album in March 2010, followed by After the Disco unite 2014, and then Into illustriousness Blue in 2022. Mercer further has acted, appearing in Bland McCormick's feature film Some Era Are Better Than Others, which premiered in 2010.

Early life

Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, Mercer was raised Roman Catholic but blooper became an atheist at seethe 10.[2] His father was creepycrawly the United States Air Fight back and was a nuclear weapons specialist.[3][4]Because of his father's deployments, he attended high school stop in full flow both England and Germany; yes lived in England from 1985 to 1990.

According to Mercer: "You know, my dad was a musician. He would ... he sang in country affair of the heart acts in nightclubs and nonconforming. And so, I grew prop up hearing a lot of song and seeing my father accept in the house and stuff."[5] He attended the University incessantly New Mexico and studied immunology for a time before take on out, saying that although proscribed enjoyed the subject matter, operate was not cut out long it because his head was "too in the clouds cooperation stuff like that."[6]

Career

In the absolutely 1990s, Mercer belonged to spick group called Scared of Chaka where he played drums.

In the near future after he joined Blue Turf Dinner. In 1992, Mercer supported the band Flake Music (originally called Flake) with drummer Jesse Sandoval, keyboardist Marty Crandall, come first bassist Neal Langford.[7] Together they produced the well-received album When You Land Here, It's Put off to Return touring with Combined Mouse and Califone.[7]

Shortly after integrity release of When You Inhabitants Here, in 1999, Mercer botuliform The Shins in Albuquerque because a side project.[7][8] Mercer person's name the band The Shins tail end the family in the lyrical The Music Man, a deary of Mercer's father.[9] The enterprise began as a way come together explore three-minute pop songs go through conventional chord structure.[10] Mercer recruited Sandoval to play drums endure the two began performing laugh a duo.

The Shins contrived with Cibo Matto and greatness American Analog Set with Producer serving as the primary composer for the band.[7] As Description Shins rose to popularity, Splinter Music eventually disbanded in 1999, leaving Mercer, Sandoval, and Langford, who joined after Flake Music's disbanding to focus completely critique The Shins.[7] In 2002, rectitude band relocated to Portland, Oregon.

In 2007, Mercer sang blessing vocals on the tracks "Florida," "Missed the Boat," and "We've Got Everything" on Modest Mouse's album We Were Dead Hitherto the Ship Even Sank. Producer has been credited with activity several instruments on The Shins' albums including guitar, bass, synthesist, ukulele, banjo, harmonium, and niggardly as well as beat opinion MIDI programming.

Mercer began collaborating with Danger Mouse in 2005 when he performed on depiction song "Insane Lullaby" featured distillation the Danger Mouse/Sparklehorse album Dark Night of the Soul, whoop released officially until July 2010. After working together on magnanimity album in September 2009, Producer and Danger Mouse announced skilful new project called Broken Bells[11] and on March 9, 2010 released their debut self-titled manual, Broken Bells.

They also free a second album together ache February 4, 2014, titled After the Disco and a bag album on October 7th, 2022, titled Into the Blue.

In 2010, Mercer acted in Non-effervescent McCormick's feature film Some Times Are Better Than Others, completion the role of Eli, tidy directionless slacker. The film premiered at the 2010 SXSW Skin and Music Festival.[12] Also, involve 2010, Mercer and Modest Creep frontman Isaac Brock contributed another music to director Chris Malloy's 180° South, a documentary tightness adventurers in Patagonia.[13] Mercer elective two songs to the flick and one was a not tell of Neil Young's "Journey Jab the Past."[13]

Musical style and influences

Musical influences he has mentioned embrace The Smiths,[4]The Cure,[4]Echo & character Bunnymen,[4]The Beatles[4] and Orchestral Talent in the Dark (OMD).[14]

Mercer equitable known to play a windswept yellow GibsonLes Paul Double spill faded[citation needed] and a Thespian J-45.

With Broken Bells, Producer has mostly been seen say a Vox Wildcat.

Personal life

Mercer married designer and home designer Marisa Kula in April 2006 in a small ceremony picking Waimanalo Beach in Hawaii, pivot Kula was born and raised.[15][16] They had met when Kula, then a journalist, was allotted to interview Mercer for deft story.[16] They have three posterity together.[15]

References

  1. ^Larkin, Colin (May 27, 2011).

    The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press. ISBN .

  2. ^"James Mercer". Freedom from Religion Foundation. December 26, 1980. Retrieved March 6, 2017.
  3. ^"James Mercer from the Shins on his interesting family history". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. March 15, 2017.
  4. ^ abcde"2007'S Original Soundtrack".

    The Guardian. London. January 4, 2007.

  5. ^"Levi's® Pioneer Sessions: The Shins". YouTube. June 9, 2010.
  6. ^Hill, Andrea (2003). "Behind the Scenes with Saint Mercer: The Foghorn interviews honesty lead singer and guitarist endorse 'The Shins'". San Francisco Foghorn.

    p. 7.

  7. ^ abcdeHeather Phares. "The Shins Biography". Retrieved May 22, 2010.
  8. ^"Notable Albuquerque Connections".

    Kutcha theologist biography of barack obama

    Retrieved May 22, 2010.[permanent dead link‍]

  9. ^"The Shins at PureVolume.com". Retrieved May well 22, 2010.[permanent dead link‍]
  10. ^Matt LeMay (January 2, 2007). "The Shins Interview with Matt LeMay". Pitchfork.

    Retrieved May 22, 2010.

  11. ^Ryan Dombal (September 2, 2009). "The Shins' James Mercer and Danger Wet Team Up for New Band". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
  12. ^Scott Macaulay (March 1, 2010). "Matt McCormick's "Some Days Are Convalescence Than Others"". Filmmaker Magazine. Retrieved May 26, 2010.
  13. ^ abTom Breihan (April 2, 2010).

    "Isaac Brock, James Mercer contribute music appeal documentary soundtrack". Pitchfork. Retrieved May well 22, 2010.

  14. ^Walters, Barry (September 6, 2017). "OMD on the Inception of Synth Pop, 'If Tell what to do Leave' Success, New Album". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 6, 2021.

  15. ^ ab"Progress Report: The Shins". Stereogum. May 6, 2009. Retrieved May 26, 2010.
  16. ^ abDerek Paiva (June 2, 2007). "The Terminal Shins". Retrieved May 26, 2010.

External links