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'''Owl City''' is the name of a project formed in early 2007 consisting of one member, Adam Young.<ref name="whooo">{{cite web|url=http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/music/39522412.html?page=1&c=y|title=Whooo's Owl City?}}</ref> Young started out making music in his parents' basement,<ref name="whooo" /> which he claims is a result of his [[insomnia]].<ref name="ms">{{cite web|url=http://www.examiner.com/x-4672-Minneapolis-Area-Music-Examiner~y2009m5d22-Owl-City-were-allstars-at-the-Varsity|title=Owl City were all-stars at the Varsity}}</ref> Among Young's influences are [[disco]] and European [[electronic music]].<ref>[http://www.spin.com/articles/hot-new-band-owl-city Hot New Band:Owl City]. ''[[Spin (magazine)|SPIN]]'', June 1, 2009.</ref> [[1980s]] [[synthpop]] and [[New Wave music]] is also heard in Owl City's sound.
'''Owl City''' is the name of a project formed in early 2007 consisting of one member, Adam Young.<ref name="whooo">{{cite web|url=http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/music/39522412.html?page=1&c=y|title=Whooo's Owl City?}}</ref> Young started out making music in his parents' basement,<ref name="whooo" /> which he claims is a result of his [[insomnia]].<ref name="ms">{{cite web|url=http://www.examiner.com/x-4672-Minneapolis-Area-Music-Examiner~y2009m5d22-Owl-City-were-allstars-at-the-Varsity|title=Owl City were all-stars at the Varsity}}</ref> Among Young's influences are [[disco]] and European [[electronic music]].<ref>[http://www.spin.com/articles/hot-new-band-owl-city Hot New Band:Owl City]. ''[[Spin (magazine)|SPIN]]'', June 1, 2009.</ref> [[1980s]] [[synthpop]] and [[New Wave music]] is also heard in Owl City's sound.


Owl City found early popularity through its own [[MySpace]] profile, which has received more than 5 million plays on tracks, such as "Hello Seattle".<ref name="ms"/> Young is joined by [[Breanne Duren]] on several tracks; the most noted of which being "[[The Saltwater Room]]." He is often mistaken for, but is not, the singer [[Lights]]; however, Adam Young is also friends with [[Lights]], and is often musically compared as her stylistical male equivalent.
Owl City found early popularity through its own [[MySpace]] profile, which has received more than 5 million plays on tracks, such as "Hello Seattle".<ref name="ms"/> Young is joined by [[Breanne Duren]] on several tracks; the most noted of which being "[[The Saltwater Room]]." He is often mistaken for, but is not, the singer [[Lights (singer) |Lights]]; however, Adam Young is also friends with Lights, and is often musically compared as her stylistical male equivalent.


[[Relient K]] vocalist [[Matt Thiessen]] has also collaborated with Owl City on several tracks.
[[Relient K]] vocalist [[Matt Thiessen]] has also collaborated with Owl City on several tracks.

Revision as of 19:07, 19 September 2009

Owl City

Owl City is the name of a project formed in early 2007 consisting of one member, Adam Young.[3] Young started out making music in his parents' basement,[3] which he claims is a result of his insomnia.[4] Among Young's influences are disco and European electronic music.[5] 1980s synthpop and New Wave music is also heard in Owl City's sound.

Owl City found early popularity through its own MySpace profile, which has received more than 5 million plays on tracks, such as "Hello Seattle".[4] Young is joined by Breanne Duren on several tracks; the most noted of which being "The Saltwater Room." He is often mistaken for, but is not, the singer Lights; however, Adam Young is also friends with Lights, and is often musically compared as her stylistical male equivalent.

Relient K vocalist Matt Thiessen has also collaborated with Owl City on several tracks.

Owl City's first two records were released while Young was unsigned.[4] In early 2009, Owl City was signed to record label Universal Republic with the help of entertainment attorney Ken Abdo.[3]

Musical style

He sings about unconventional topics such as urban design, the elements, travel, dental care, and also more conventional topics such as romance and love.

Like new urban contemporaries Lights, Young's music is primarily synth based, dreamy and atmospheric.[6]

Despite being a devoted Christian, Adam does not consider his music exclusively Christian music, though he does say his faith is "his main inspiration" in his music. His song "Meteor Shower" is, however, about Jesus.[citation needed]

Discography info

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 had an exclusive premier on MySpace,[7] but was leaked onto Dailymotion and YouTube hours early.

Owl City has released three albums, with the latest entitled Ocean Eyes released at iTunes on July 14, 2009 and a physical release on July 28, 2009. In 2007, Owl City released an EP titled Of June.

In 2008, the album Maybe I'm Dreaming was released. Of June reached #20 on the Billboard Electronic Albums chart, and Maybe I'm Dreaming peaked on the same chart at #16.[8] In 2009, Ocean Eyes debuted at #27 on the Billboard 200.

Ocean Eyes went on to reach #2 on the Top Albums section of iTunes during the iTunes week of July 14. After two weeks the album had received over 2,600 ratings on iTunes with an average score of five stars.

Owl City has also released four singles, "Hello Seattle", "Hot Air Balloon", "Strawberry Avalanche", and "Fireflies", leading up to the release of Ocean Eyes.[9]

Young maintains two side projects, Swimming With Dolphins with Austin Tofte and sometimes Breanne Duren and Port Blue. Young has been a part of two other side projects that created original music similar to Owl City; Windsor Airlift and Insect Airport.

Discography

Albums

Singles

Year Single US Hot 100[11] US Alt[12] Album
2009 "Hot Air Balloon"
"Strawberry Avalanche" "Ocean Eyes"
"Fireflies" 58 30

Discography (Adam Young)

Project name and info
Album Name Yr Released
  Song Title Length
Windsor Airlift (2005-Current)
Project Members
  • Andy Johnson
  • Anthony Johnson (Chris P. Lettuce)
  • Adam Young (Grizzly)
  • Selections for a fallen soldier Vol 2 Nov 2004
      This Face Alone Unveils Shadow 4:33
    Hotels Nov 2005
      A Lovely Wedding Snow and Sky 7:52
      When I Was A Pedant Clerk 5:03
      Owl 8:00
      400 6:18
    Ocean City Park Aug 2006
      Ocean City Park
    (split into "Ocean", "City" and "Park" on MySpace due to size)
    29:01
    Qiu! 2006?
      Wake Up Boss You're Bald 3:22
    Beneath the Crystal Waves Jun 2007
      Hello Enchanted Evening 9:19
      Crescent Island 3:46
      The Theme from Moonglow 6:41
      Hellicopters 4:43
    (Unreleased some available on MySpace)  
      A Suite of Serenades 5:01
      Seaboards 3:09
    Insect Airport   (2006)
    Band Members
  • Adam Young
  • (unreleased available on MySpace)  
      Apple 6:27
      Grape 3:49
      Orange 5:30
      Strawberry 4:33
    Port Blue (2006-current)
    Project Members
  • Adam Young
  • Andy Johnson (guest)
  • Arctic
    (Un-released)
    2006
      Juneau 7:38
      Frigid Airport Lounge 3:19
      Aurora Borealis 4:53
      Ice Hands 1:17
      Snow Fox On Glacier Coast 2:08
      Moonscape 4:59
      Deep Iceberg 8:00
      Glider 6:00
      Shell And Wing 2:17
      Polar Bear 5:56
      Winter Mint(Coda) 4:48
    The Airship 2007
      Up Ship! 4:43
      Over Atlantic City 4:43
      The Grand Staircase 4:57
      Sunset Cruiser
    prerelease title "Mr. Chen, Sailmaker"
    8:04
      The Axial Catwalk 4:32
      Of The Airship Academy 3:33
      In The Control Car 1:40
      Under The Glass Observation Dome 2:55
      Into the Gymnasium
    prerelease title "The Resilient Miss Kate De Vries"
    1:33
      The Cargo Bay
    prerelease title "The Cargo Bay and Aft Hatch"
    3:19
      Arrival at Sydney Harbour 1:52
      At Anchor 4:45
    The Albatross (EP)
    (written and recorded in Oct 2006)
    2008
      In the Dolphin Tank 2:03
      Butterflies 1:30
      City of Safe Harbors 2:07
      Monorail 2:04
      The Snow Ballet 1:12
      Elephant Island 2:27
      Of Japan 1:02
      Into The Sea 2:23
      Silver Blueberry 1:19
      An Enchanted Evening 1:50
    (Unreleased available on MySpace) from 2009
      Setting Sail 5:00
      June Bug 3:54
    Dolphin Park (2006)
    Band Members
  • Adam Young
  • Andy Johnson
  • (songs from the project are found in the Windsor Airlift release "Beneath the Crystal Waves")
    Swimming With Dolphins (2008 - current)
    Band Members
  • Austin Tofte
  • Adam Young
  • Ambient Blue 2008
      Silhouettes
    (feat. Breanne Düren)
    5:50
      Pajama Party 3:50
      Sunset 1989 3:20
      Everything's A Miracle 5:41
      Up In The Stars 5:03
    (Unreleased) 2008
      Fast Car 4:39
    Owl City (2007-current)
    Band Members
  • Adam Young
    live performances include Austin Tofte and Matt Decker
  • Of June 2007
      Swimming in Miami 4:55
      Captains and Cruise Ships 3:28
      Designer Skyline 3:29
      Panda Bear 3:07
      The Airway 3:23
      Fuzzy Blue Lights 4:41
      Hello Seattle 2:57
    Maybe I'm Dreaming 2008
      On The Wing 5:05
      Rainbow Veins 4:41
      Super Honeymoon 3:20
      The Saltwater Room 4:56
      Early Birdie 4:16
      Air Traffic 3:02
      The Technicolor Phase 4:27
      Sky Diver 2:45
      Dear Vienna 3:58
      I'll Meet You There 4:17
      This Is The Future 2:53
      West Coast Friendship 4:06
    Ocean Eyes 2009
      Cave In 4:02
      The Bird and the Worm 3:27
      Hello Seattle 2:47
      Umbrella Beach 3:51
      The Saltwater Room 4:02
      Dental Care 3:11
      Meteor Shower 2:14
      On the Wing 5:01
      Fireflies 3:48
      The Tip of the Iceberg 3:23
      Vanilla Twilight 3:52
      Tidal Wave 3:10
    (unreleased)  
      The Christmas Song 3:48

    See also

    References

    1. ^ "ASCAP Writing Credits".
    2. ^ a b "Owl City Myspace".
    3. ^ a b c "Whooo's Owl City?".
    4. ^ a b c "Owl City were all-stars at the Varsity".
    5. ^ Hot New Band:Owl City. SPIN, June 1, 2009.
    6. ^ http://newurbanmusic.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=1
    7. ^ "Info On MySpace premier of Fireflies Music Video off of an Owl City Fan Website".
    8. ^ Charts, Allmusic
    9. ^ "Free Download Owl City's new track: "Hot Air Balloon"".
    10. ^ http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/owl-city/chart-history/998477?f=305&g=Albums
    11. ^ http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/owl-city/chart-history/998477?f=379&g=Singles
    12. ^ http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/owl-city/chart-history/998477?f=377&g=Singles