The Shins

The Shins are an American indie rock band formed in 1996 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, before relocating to Portland, Oregon. Fronted by singer, guitarist and principal songwriter James Mercer, the group built its reputation on richly melodic songwriting, layered vocal harmonies, and a warm, slightly lo-fi guitar-pop sound that drew from 1960s pop and jangle-rock traditions filtered through a distinctly modern indie sensibility.

The band's breakthrough came with the 2001 debut album Oh, Inverted World and its 2003 follow-up Chutes Too Narrow, which cemented their status as one of the defining acts of the early-2000s indie rock scene. Their profile expanded dramatically after their song «New Slang» was prominently featured in the 2004 film Garden State, introducing the band to a much wider audience and becoming one of the most iconic indie rock moments of the decade.

Over the following years The Shins released Wincing the Night Away (2007), Port of Morrow (2012), and Heartworms (2017), with Mercer serving as the band's sole constant member while the surrounding lineup evolved considerably. Mercer also collaborated with producer Danger Mouse in the side project Broken Bells. Known for songs like «Simple Song», «Australia», and «Phantom Limb», The Shins remain influential figures in indie rock for their craftsmanship and enduring melodic sensibility.