Meet the Man Behind Owl City

You’ve probably heard the catchy song "Fireflies" on the radio for months now, but you still may be wondering who sings it. That would be Owl City, an electronic/pop project of Adam Young. Young single-handedly created the project in 2007 in his parent’s basement, writing songs to help take his mind off his insomnia. The result? Ocean Eyes, a successful full-length album that has earned him a growing number of fans all over the world. Youthink caught up with Adam Young via email (apparently the way he prefers to do interviews) to find out more about his recent projects.

YT: When you wrote “Fireflies,” did you have a feeling it would be a hit?
OC: I didn’t even have an inkling. It was one of those songs that wrote itself and I never gave it much thought. For whatever reason, people really seem to connect with it and I’m completely honoured.

YT: What went through your mind when you realized that millions of people were listening to your music?
OC: I remember thinking “How?” and then I remember thinking “WHY?”

YT: Obviously the Internet played a big part in your success, specifically MySpace. Even now that you’re signed to a major label, how important is this DIY philosophy in your career?
OC: I like how accessible music is these days, and how everyone seems to be doing it. There’s so much to be discovered and it’s so easy to do so. MySpace certainly helped me out in more ways than one but Universal is the right home for me right now.

YT: “Vanilla Twilight,” your second single, has done well on the US and Canadian charts. What was your inspiration for this song?
OC: It’s about an astronaut who gets lost in space and what his family is feeling from their perspective back on earth. It’s sort of an acceptance of loss kind of a song. It’s not the most optimistic song ever written haha.

YT: Your music has a real fantastical quality to it. Is this sense of wonder a reflection of your outlook on life?
OC: Yes, I’m a daydreamer and an escapist and I’ve always been fascinated by the way the imagery in music can be so powerful. It can change the way you feel, even the way you think about things.

YT: I read that you started creating music as a result of insomnia, and your music does have an almost dreamlike quality to it. Do you still mostly write songs at night?
OC: Yeah, I tend to be most inspired during nights when I can’t fall asleep. It’s a blessing and a curse.

YT: What else influences your music?
OC: Travel, photography, kids, books and art.

YT: You’ve said in other interviews that Johnathon Ford of Unwed Sailor and composer Thomas Newman have greatly influenced you... in what ways?
OC: They both capture optimism in the sense of it being very serious and sober rather than silly and carefree. It’s so inspiring. Their melodies exude a feeling of hope and that’s a tough thing to do.

YT: Recently, you announced that you will be joining John Mayer in the summer as part of his Battle Studies tour. How are you feeling about the upcoming tour?
OC: I’m excited. I have June and July off to write and record, so it will be nice to have a break in the process and see some new sights. I’m going to remember my camera this time.

YT: What’s your favourite thing about being on tour?
OC: The pizza.

YT: What’s the worst thing about being on the road?
OC: The green rooms.

YT: What things must you bring with you on tour?
OC: Clothes, food, friends, songs.

YT: What’s on your iPod these days?
OC: I actually lost my iPod so I listen to music on my friend Daniel’s computer. We listen to Norma Jean and As I Lay Dying and stuff.

YT: Looking ahead, what is your ultimate goal for Owl City?
OC: To be the first artist to perform on a live TV show broadcasted from the moon.