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==Musical styles and influences==
==Musical styles and influences==
Owl City's music is described as [[indietronica]] and [[synthpop]] and is often described as belonging under the broad "[[alternative music]]" label.<ref name="leahey1">{{cite web |url={{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p1050183|pure_url=yes}} |title=Owl City > Overview |last=Leahey |first=Andrew |work=[[Allmusic]] |publisher=[[Rovi Corporation]] |accessdate=2009-11-05 |quote=He eventually combined those diversions into a blend of electronica and emo-pop, ...}}</ref> Young has stated that he is inspired by [[disco]] and European [[electronic music]], as well as instrumental genres such as drone, ambient, and post-rock. He cites his biggest influences as Johnathon Ford of Unwed Sailor and Thomas Newman. Young also incorporates a large amount of his [[Christian]] faith into his music, since he is a vocal Christian. <ref>{{cite web|title=Interview Of Adam Young Master Mind Behind Owl City|url=http://www.azteenmagazine.com/band-reviews.php?article=714|publisher=''[[azTeen Magazine (magazine)|azTeen Magazine]]'' |date=2010-03-00 |accessdate=2011-02-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Fitzmaurice |first=Larry |title=Hot New Band: Owl City But GOD is his amin influnce|url=http://www.spin.com/articles/hot-new-band-owl-city |publisher=''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'' |date=2008-06-01 |accessdate=2009-11-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Moring|first=Mark|title=Owls, Fireflies, and Jesus|url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/music/interviews/2010/adamyoung-april10.html|publisher=Christianity Today|accessdate=19 February 2011}}</ref>
Owl City's music is described as [[indietronica]] and [[synthpop]] and is often described as belonging under the broad "[[alternative music]]" label.<ref name="leahey1">{{cite web |url={{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p1050183|pure_url=yes}} |title=Owl City > Overview |last=Leahey |first=Andrew |work=[[Allmusic]] |publisher=[[Rovi Corporation]] |accessdate=2009-11-05 |quote=He eventually combined those diversions into a blend of electronica and emo-pop, ...}}</ref> Young has stated that he is inspired by [[disco]] and European [[electronic music]], as well as instrumental genres such as drone, ambient, and post-rock. He cites his biggest influences as Johnathon Ford of Unwed Sailor and Thomas Newman. Young also incorporates a large amount of his [[Christian]] faith into his music, since he is a vocal Christian. <ref>{{cite web|title=Interview Of Adam Young Master Mind Behind Owl City|url=http://www.azteenmagazine.com/band-reviews.php?article=714|publisher=''[[azTeen Magazine (magazine)|azTeen Magazine]]'' |date=2010-03-00 |accessdate=2011-02-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Fitzmaurice |first=Larry |title=Hot New Band: Owl City But GOD is his amin influnce|url=http://www.spin.com/articles/hot-new-band-owl-city |publisher=''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'' |date=2008-06-01 |accessdate=2009-11-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Moring|first=Mark|title=Owls, Fireflies, and Jesus|url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/music/interviews/2010/adamyoung-april10.html|publisher=Christianity Today|accessdate=19 February 2011}}</ref> Young's faith is evident on the new album, "All Things Bright and Beautiful", especially in "Galaxies". Explaining why the faith-filled song was added to the mix, he said, "I feel like if I were ever to hide the fact that that’s what’s so important to me, it would be a crime, that I should probably be put in jail for that." <ref>[http://www.cbn.com/cbnmusic/interviews/owl-city-all-things-bright-beautiful-goodwyn.aspx Owl City Reveals "All Things Bright and Beautiful], ''CBN.com''.</ref>


Owl City is a huge fan of [[Lights (musician)|Lights]], a Canadian singer-songwriter who, like Owl City, writes and plays optimistic rave-tinged new wave pop songs. Lights opened Owl City's 2010 tour and they have developed a friendship, and there is a lot of overlap between their fanbases. <ref>http://lights-love.com/</ref>
Owl City is a huge fan of [[Lights (musician)|Lights]], a Canadian singer-songwriter who, like Owl City, writes and plays optimistic rave-tinged new wave pop songs. Lights opened Owl City's 2010 tour and they have developed a friendship, and there is a lot of overlap between their fanbases. <ref>http://lights-love.com/</ref>

Revision as of 13:51, 8 July 2011

Owl City

Owl City is an American electronic/synthpop musical project by singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Adam Young formed in 2007 in Owatonna, Minnesota. Young created the project while experimenting with music in his parents' basement. Like many musicians that achieved success in the era between 2005 and 2009, Owl City developed a following on the music and social networking site Myspace in the late 2000s before signing with Universal Republic in 2008.

After two independent albums, Owl City gained mainstream popularity with the 2009 major label debut album Ocean Eyes, which spawned the quadruple-platinum[1] hit single "Fireflies" and lesser hit "Vanilla Twilight". The album was certified Platinum in the United States in April 2010.[1]

Owl City, along with La Roux, Lights, and several other artists, are credited with helping to revive synthpop, a genre which had been in severe decline since the early 1990s.[2]

History

Early years (2007–2009)

Suffering from insomnia while working loading Coca-Cola trucks in his hometown, Owatonna, MN, Young turned to composing music.[3][4][5] He began receiving attention for songs he had uploaded to MySpace, the "viral popularity" of which would later result in his signing to a major label.[5][6] In 2007, Owl City released an EP titled Of June, followed by the 2008 release of the album Maybe I'm Dreaming. Of June reached #15 on the Billboard Electronic Albums chart, and Maybe I'm Dreaming peaked on the same chart at #13.[7]

Ocean Eyes (2009–2010)

Owl City's third album, Ocean Eyes, was released on iTunes on July 14, 2009, with the physical release following on July 28, 2009. The album debuted at #27 on the Billboard 200. Owl City has released three official singles from this album: "Umbrella Beach", "Vanilla Twilight" and "Fireflies".[8] "Fireflies" topped the US and Canadian charts and became the most-downloaded song on iTunes in the US. Ocean Eyes reached the top ten on the US album charts, topped the US electronic charts, and also reached Amazon MP3's top 10 most downloaded album list. By December 2009, it was certified Gold in the United States. On January 24, 2010, Owl City reached the number 1 spot in the UK Top 40 Singles chart with "Fireflies". The song "Tidal Wave" also received significant airplay on Christian music radio stations.[citation needed] On January 2, 2011, it was revealed "Fireflies" was the 20th most downloaded song of all time in the UK.[9]

Young is joined by Breanne Düren on several tracks; the most noted being "The Saltwater Room". Owl City's live band consists of Breanne Düren (background vocals/keyboards), Matthew Decker (drums), Laura Musten (violin), Hannah Schroeder (cello), and Daniel Jorgenson (vibes).[citation needed]

Relient K vocalist Matt Thiessen has toured and collaborated with Owl City on several tracks, including "Fireflies", where Matt can be heard providing the backup vocals. Young also produced Relient K's song "Terminals".

"Fireflies" was released as a free download on the / game Tap Tap Revenge 3 by Tapulous. Prior to the July 14, 2009 internet release of Ocean Eyes, and the "Fireflies" single, Steve Hoover was hired as a director for a music video for "Fireflies". The video was to have had an exclusive premiere on MySpace,[10] but had been leaked onto YouTube and Dailymotion hours earlier. "Fireflies" became a big sleeper hit, topping the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States for the week ending November 7, 2009.[11]

Owl City is featured on Soundtrack 90210 with a song titled "Sunburn", which was released on October 13, 2009.[12] Owl City has toured with The Scene Aesthetic, Lights, John Mayer, Maroon 5 and Brooke Waggoner. He was also guest featured in the soundtrack to Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland with a song entitled "The Technicolor Phase" that had already been featured in his debut album.[13]

In 2010, Young revealed a new musical project known as Sky Sailing, which moved away from his usual electronica genre of music and introduced acoustic guitar and piano accompaniments into his work. The unrefined tracks were recorded in the summer of 2007 before he began making music as Owl City.[14] His first album under this new project is entitled An Airplane Carried Me to Bed, and was released July 13, 2010 via iTunes.[15]

In May, 2010, Adam Young collaborated with high-profile British electronic composer, producer, musician, and songwriter Nick Bracegirdle. Under his Chicane alias, Bracegirdle released the single "Middledistancerunner" on 1 August 2010 featuring Adam Young on vocals. This is the first single from the fourth Chicane album Giants. He also worked with famed Dutch producer Armin van Buuren, appearing on a track called 'Youtopia' from the forthcoming van Buuren album Mirage on September 10, 2010.

On September 21, 2010 "To the Sky" was officially released via iTunes on the soundtrack for Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'hoole.

On October 25, 2010, Young released a cover version of the praise and worship song "In Christ Alone" as a streaming mp3 on his website,[16] [17]

On November 13, 2010, a new album was also released for one of his other musical projects, "Windsor Airlift", called "Flight" on iTunes.[18]

On November 23, 2010, a new Christmas single called "Peppermint Winter" was released. A preview had been released the previous week on Facebook.

All Things Bright and Beautiful (2011–present)

On Valentine's Day, 2011, Young released a cover/reply song to Taylor Swift's "Enchanted".[19]

On February 14th, 2011, it was announced that All Things Bright and Beautiful would be released on May 17, although that date was subsequently pushed back to June 14.

On March 1, he announced via his website the All Things Bright and Beautiful Tour featuring recording artist Mat Kearney and Unwed Sailor. All Things Bright and Beautiful presale and tour ticket presale started March 22.

The album is also a hit, reaching #1 on the iTunes American album chart and #8 in Canada. [20]

On March 22, 2011, the debut single off the album called Alligator Sky was released on iTunes. Two versions have been released so far, with a version featuring only Adam Young on vocals and another featuring Young as well as guest rapper Shawn Chrystopher, and each version having different lyrics in the verses. Adam Young also released a song "Lonely Lullaby," available through his website. Previews of 3 songs (Honey and the Bee, Dreams Don't Turn to Dust, and Deer in the Headlights) could be heard in a making-of video posted on the official website. People were also able to pre-order his album All Things Bright and Beautiful on iTunes starting then.

On April 6, 2011, Adam Young released a statement on his website, along with lengthy previews of four of his songs (Dreams Don't Turn to Dust, Alligator Sky Ft. Shawn Chrystopher, Galaxies, and Deer in the Headlights), that the release date for All Things Bright and Beautiful would be pushed back to June 14. His song 'The Yacht Club' features electropop singer Lights, who opened for him during his 2010 tour.

On May 6, 2011, Owl City released the music video for "Alligator Sky". Adam discussed the concept in a making-of video, "So the concept is basically about these two guys who are leaving Earth. Rather than it being this very dark post-apocalyptic vibe, it's very optimistic, and so it's like people are excited to leave earth." [citation needed]

Beginning on May 16, Adam Young released different parts of his new song 'Deer in the Headlights' each day.

On May 20, Almost all of All Things Bright and Beautiful leaked onto the internet, "Shy Violet" was not among the leaked tracks.[21]

On May 23, 'Deer in the Headlights' was released on iTunes.

On June 1'st, Owl City stated on his Twitter Page that he is working on a new "Port Blue" song.

On June 14, 'All Things Bright and Beautiful' was released on iTunes. An exclusive package is available from Best Buy that includes a unique Owl City girl's T-shirt.

On June 30, the music video for 'Deer in the Headlights' was released. It features Adam driving the DeLorean featured in "Back to the Future" and Lights appears as a special guest. Adam sees himself at the end, in the space suit that he wore in the Alligator Sky music video. This is after he dives the DeLorean to 2015, which is the year Doc from Back to the Future original target year was.

Musical styles and influences

Owl City's music is described as indietronica and synthpop and is often described as belonging under the broad "alternative music" label.[22] Young has stated that he is inspired by disco and European electronic music, as well as instrumental genres such as drone, ambient, and post-rock. He cites his biggest influences as Johnathon Ford of Unwed Sailor and Thomas Newman. Young also incorporates a large amount of his Christian faith into his music, since he is a vocal Christian. [23][24][25] Young's faith is evident on the new album, "All Things Bright and Beautiful", especially in "Galaxies". Explaining why the faith-filled song was added to the mix, he said, "I feel like if I were ever to hide the fact that that’s what’s so important to me, it would be a crime, that I should probably be put in jail for that." [26]

Owl City is a huge fan of Lights, a Canadian singer-songwriter who, like Owl City, writes and plays optimistic rave-tinged new wave pop songs. Lights opened Owl City's 2010 tour and they have developed a friendship, and there is a lot of overlap between their fanbases. [27]

Owl City, a child of the late 80s/early 90s era, is also influenced by 1980s electronic/New Wave music and classic music.[28]

Owl City also has been compared to The Postal Service, often critically, for his combination of fuzzy synths, ironic lyrics and use of female guest singers.[29] Pitchfork.com goes far enough to say that "The surprise No. 1 single in the country, Owl City's "Fireflies", jacks the Postal Service in such a bald-faced, obvious manner that getting into specifics feels redundant at best and tacky at worst.".[30] In response to this comparison, Adam Young suggested in a 2009 interview with The New York Times that Ocean Eyes is perhaps the "next chapter" after American band The Postal Service: "[The Postal Service] released a record in 2003, and that was it. There was really nothing to compare it to until some one else came along and wrote the next chapter. Maybe that's this record. Maybe that's this band." [31]

Other projects

Young also produces music under a wide variety of other projects, which include Port Blue, Seagull Orchestra, Novel, Aquarium, Sky Sailing, and Swimming with Dolphins. Most of these projects were started before Owl City propelled Young to fame. Many of these projects were formed alongside some friends, including Austin Tofte of Swimming with Dolphins.

Band members

Current members
Current touring members

While Young writes, composes, records, and produces all of Owl City's music, during live performances he is accompanied by a group of supporting musicians:

Concert tours

Main article: Owl City concert tours

Discography

Main article: Owl City discography
Extended Plays

Of June (2007)

Studio albums

References

  1. ^ a b "Multi-Platinum International Sensation Owl City Pens Theme Song to Zack Snyder's Animation Debut Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole". Jesus freak Hideout. Stunt Company. 2010-08-24. Retrieved 2011-05-28.
  2. ^ http://spinorbinmusic.com/?s=cosmic+armchair
  3. ^ Riemenschneider, Chris (2009-02-17). "Whooo's Owl City?". Star Tribune. Minneapolis. Retrieved 2009-11-26.
  4. ^ Sisario, Ben (November 20, 2009). "Adam Young, aka Owl City, Finds Pop Success". New York Times. Retrieved December 24, 2009.
  5. ^ a b Frenette, Brad (2009-07-28). "Band of the Day: Owl City". The National Post. Archived from the original on 2010-01-13. Retrieved 2010-01-13.
  6. ^ Leahey, Andrew. "Owl City — Biography". Allmusic. Archived from the original on 2010-01-13. Retrieved 2010-01-13.
  7. ^ "Owl City > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-11-27.
  8. ^ "Free Download Owl City's new track: "Hot Air Balloon"".
  9. ^ "TOP 100 DOWNLOADS OF ALL TIME". http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/downloads. {{cite web}}: External link in |work= (help)
  10. ^ "Info On MySpace premier of Fireflies Music Video off of an Owl City Fan Website".
  11. ^ Pietroluongo, Sylvio (2009-10-29). "Owl City's "Fireflies" Lands at No. 1 on Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 2009-10-29.
  12. ^ "Sunburn". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2010-01-06.
  13. ^ "Almost Alice: Various Artists: Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2010-05-28.
  14. ^ Lipshutz, Jason (2010-07-02). "Owl City's Adam Young Releases A New Old Project". Billboard. Retrieved 2011-05-28.
  15. ^ "Sky Sailing". MySpace. 2010-05-13. Retrieved 2010-05-28.
  16. ^ "Owl City Blog". Owl City. Retrieved 2011-05-28.
  17. ^ "My Hope Is Found". Owl City Blog. Owl City. 2010-10-25. Retrieved 2011-05-28.
  18. ^ "Windsor Airlift - Flight". iTunes.
  19. ^ Vena, Jocelyn. "Taylor Swift Gets Valentine's Day 'Enchanted' Cover From Owl City". MTV.
  20. ^ http://www.apple.com/euro/itunes/charts/top10albums.html
  21. ^ http://www.jamxclusive.net/2011/05/23/owl-city-%E2%80%93-all-things-bright-and-beautiful-leak/
  22. ^ Leahey, Andrew. "Owl City > Overview". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2009-11-05. He eventually combined those diversions into a blend of electronica and emo-pop, ...
  23. ^ "Interview Of Adam Young Master Mind Behind Owl City". azTeen Magazine. 2010-03-00. Retrieved 2011-02-21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  24. ^ Fitzmaurice, Larry (2008-06-01). "Hot New Band: Owl City But GOD is his amin influnce". Spin. Retrieved 2009-11-27. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  25. ^ Moring, Mark. "Owls, Fireflies, and Jesus". Christianity Today. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  26. ^ Owl City Reveals "All Things Bright and Beautiful, CBN.com.
  27. ^ http://lights-love.com/
  28. ^ http://owlcityblog.com/2011/01/24/halcyon/
  29. ^ Westhoff, Ben (2009-10-28). "Owl City: The Latest In A Long Line Of Rip-Offs". Dallas Observer. Retrieved 2009-11-26.
  30. ^ Cohen, Ian (2009-11-05). "Track Reviews: Owl City - "Fireflies"". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2009-11-26.
  31. ^ Sisario, Ben (2009-11-21). "From Mom's Basement to the Top of the Chart". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-03-12.
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