“James Mercer and Brian Burton come together to create the super duo project Broken Bells, spanning fifteen-plus years and three albums.”
(Artist Report)
Written by: Cody Denning
Broken Bells is the kind of project that shouldn’t work on paper, and yet every time James Mercer and Brian Burton step back into the same room, something clicks in time. This is more than just a side project, it’s a full on second operation.
The two met back in 2004, at the Roskilde Festival in Denmark, both artists had been orbiting entirely different musical worlds. Mercer was the understated architect behind The Shins, the indie rock band, best known for their song “New Slang,” This song has almost half a billion streams on Spotify alone, and has been the key song in movie soundtracks like “Golden State.” Meanwhile Burton has built a reputation as one of the most creatively restless producers in modern music. known for everything from Gnarls Barkley’s era-defining hit “Crazy” with CeeLo Green, and for production work that stretched from Beck to Gorillaz to The Black Keys. When the two first met, the two minds immediately clicked, finding common ground snd chemistry.
The bells did not break immediately, in fact, the two didn’t act on that 2004 meeting for years. It wasn’t until 2008 that they began recording together in earnest, and in 2009 they formally announced Broken Bells as a project. The debut self-titled album arrived March 9, 2010 on Columbia Records, hyped by the single “The High Road.” This record earned a Grammy nomination for Best Alternative Music Album at the 53rd ceremony, a nod to the creative ability of the duo that confirmed Broken Bells was on the right track.
The psychedelic sweep of that debut album went deep into layered atmospheres, Mercer’s cool, melancholy vocals riding over Burton’s cinematic production. pointing toward influences like Pink Floyd and the Elephant 6 collective. Broken Bells has built a sound that is both cinematic and raw,
The 2011 EP “Meyrin Fields,” A lo-fi rock vibe. This release kept the project warm while the two figures tended to their other commitments, then diving deeper into the psychedelic elements they released “After the Disco.” the duo’s 2014 album release and second studio album on Columbia.
After that came silence. Eight years of it. Mercer toured and recorded with The Shins. Burton deepened his producer’s chair, working with A$AP Rocky, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Karen O, as well as releasing Cheat Codes, a celebrated collaboration with the Roots’ Black Thought. Most people would have assumed Broken Bells was finished, however this was not the case. The duo’s had been stockpiling ideas and songs, waiting for the right moment to bring things back to life.
In October 2022, the duo returned with “Into the Blue”, their third studio album and their most ambitious to date. It was their first record to incorporate samples, threading trip-hop and psych-rock textures into the atmospheres that had always defined their sound. Singles “We’re Not in Orbit Yet” and “Saturdays” arrived ahead of the full release, and the record was met with strong reviews.
When Broken Bells perform live, Mercer and Burton are joined by Dan Elkan and Jon Sortland, fleshing the duo into a full band experience. Past live configurations have included collaborators like Nate Walcott and Nik Freitas, sidemen from Conor Oberst’s Mystic Valley Band, and Jonathan Hischke, giving the live show a depth that matches the studio recordings.
You really never know when Broken Bells is going to pop up with a show or new string of release’s, they operate on their own schedule, if you get the rare chance to be a part of the experience, take it. This band has an impressive sound and shows what can be done when two minds collaborate.
We will keep our ear to the ground and let you know if we hear of any new announcements coming from Broken Bells. If you like what we are doing here at Soundwave and want to support the mission, get something from our store or make a donation! Thank you for reading!
Music Video
Share This story.
Written By: Cody Denning
(Report)
(Sources)
Website/EPK/Contact,
Spotify,
Youtube,
Meta,
Wikipedia,
All Music,
Relix,
Alt Press,
Popdose,
Georgia Straight,
MN2S Booking Agency,
Rock Music Wiki,
IHeart,
PLAYBACK 30
Every month we put together a playback playlist with a song from each report and bring it to you. listen to the all the incredible artist we report on and subscribe on Youtube!
If you want to support the team and everything we do here at Soundwave, consider donating to The Soundwave Foundation!
Our donor base keeps us truly independent and free—no paywalls on any of our content, no corporate strings attached. Your support lets us stay focused on what matters: delivering daily coverage of the great music being made today, preserving the history that got us here, and expanding with more shows, interviews, live broadcasts, and deep dives into indie and alternative rock. Every contribution—big or small—helps fuel our growth and ensures this space remains open and accessible for fans and artists alike. Donations are tax-deductible through our nonprofit partnership with Fractured Atlas.