Artist News

The Shins’ James Mercer discusses anxiety and depression

By | Published on Monday 6 March 2017

The Shins

The Shins’ James Mercer has discussed his experience of anxiety and depression in a new interview with the NME.

“When I was a kid, I would have waves of [anxiety] that lasted months and I didn’t know what the hell was going on”, he says. “Back then you just got told to shut up. It faded into this depression that lasted a while, and I haven’t had that for a long while”.

He continues: “Sometimes anxieties come in, just from knowing that I have kids and I have to be there. It comes at weird moments in life, too. Like we went for this big meal the other night because The Shins are releasing a new record, and then I realised that it’s just me in The Shins so all those people were there for me. It was weird. It was friendly, but I was so anxious”.

The new Shins album ‘Heartworms’ is out on 10 March.

Mind has information on anxiety and depression and how to cope with both. You can also contact music industry helpline Music Support online or at 0800 030 6789.



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