After teasing new music in April, the Shins’ frontman James Mercer revealed that the band’s fifth studio album is complete in a recent interview with Portland’s KBOO 90.7. The follow-up to 2012’s Port of Morrow will be released early next year, with Mercer hoping for a January date.
“My intention was to have the record come out this year, but there’s inevitably these reasons that the label or whatever wants to postpone release, just so that they have more time to set things up,” he said.
The postponement is a calculated move by the label, as artists’ revenue has become increasingly reliant on live performances. Mercer explained that festivals, Coachella in particular, are powerful influencers and release dates play a vital role in lineup placement.