I'm really happy that people are starting to hear my band, and we are so happy to be conduits for all this other happiness, and this emotional response. So, I can't be like, "that doesn't matter to me, I'm an artist, I exist apart from that!" But on the other hand, if you buy into that too much, you're setting yourself up... if I start thinking, "well, people at the show really liked one song, maybe I should write more songs like that," then I'm in trouble.
Carey MercerOne thing I've always been proud of is that vicious dichotomy between the pretty controlled, angular playing of the band, and my - I don't want to talk about myself as a 'wild man' or anything, but I have trouble staying on the beat.
Carey MercerTen people who are into our music is better than three hundred people who are just standing there.
Carey MercerYou don't expect people to go, "music has just been reinvented!" But the hope is that people won't say, "this is the most boring clichรฉ." I mean, that's one of my pursuits, is trying to not become a clichรฉ, or get stuck in that. But even that's a clichรฉ in itself! It's difficult! But I think it's worth it.... It's a real vicious circle there.
Carey MercerAn acceptance of your cultural inheritance, and at the same time a dislike of it, is a building block of good art.
Carey Mercer