James Mercer

James Mercer across The Shins and Broken Bells

James Mercer is presented here through the work attached to The Shins and Broken Bells. The supplied sources describe The Shins’ 2007 album Wincing the Night Away as their third full-length release, recorded in Mercer’s basement studio, Phil Ek’s Seattle digs, and in Oregon City. Another source says Port of Morrow arrived after Mercer had spent time with Broken Bells and was returning to The Shins with new songs. The interviews frame him as a writer who keeps recording active and lets songs evolve over time, while also balancing family life and band work. Across the excerpts, Mercer appears as a central songwriter whose projects moved between studio-focused making, collaboration, and later label changes.