The Shins are an American indie rock band founded in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1996 by singer-songwriter James Mercer. Originally a side project to Mercer’s earlier band Flake Music, The Shins quickly gained attention for their melodic, thoughtful approach to indie rock. Their breakthrough came with the 2001 debut Oh, Inverted World and the hit single New Slang, which was later featured in the film Garden State. The band continued their success with Chutes Too Narrow and the Grammy-nominated Wincing the Night Away, which reached number two on the Billboard 200. After lineup changes and a move to Portland, Oregon, Mercer remains the group’s driving force, joined by current members Yuuki Matthews, Mark Watrous, Patti King, and Jon Sortland. The Shins have released five studio albums, including Port of Morrow and Heartworms, and are known for their rich sound and enduring influence on indie music.