Interview: Owl City
In a very short time it seems that Owl City has polarized the masses. Half of you are all about his lovey-dovey, auto-tuned pop songs and half of you could do without. And, surprise! Buzzgrinder’s got some of both. So you can duke it out in the comments if you want. That’s half the reason I took the energy to get this interview. I know, I love you guys so much.
So read on if you would like to see what Mr. Adam Young thinks of ambient music and Gerard Way vs. David Bowie. And bacon.
I was surprised to find out how much of an ambient/post-rock fan you are. Do you ever think of making an instrumental record in that vein?
It’s funny you should mention it. I write a lot of ambient music in a solo project by the name of Port Blue which is largely inspired by bands like Unwed Sailor, Boards of Canada and Hammock. I love the idea of creating wordless abstract music without telling a listener specifically what to think or how to feel. It feels limitless because you can go anywhere, do anything or be anyone in your mind. You can let your imagination go and there’s no telling where it might take you. I find my escape in instrumental soundscapes and I definitely plan on writing and releasing more records under Port Blue. It’s very dreamy stuff.
Why do you write about beaches and the ocean when you’re from a land-locked state? Wishful thinking?
Absolutely. I grew up in the midwest so most of my daydreams revolved around faraway places, the ocean being the most interesting to me. I’d never flown on an airplane or stood on either coast up until a few months ago and both experiences have proven to be even more inspiring than I’d imagined. I probably spend way too much time lost in wishful thinking but there are so many places I’ve never been, people I’ve never met, things I’ve never experienced… sometimes I’m afraid I’m missing out on something wonderful, you know? I mean, I couldn’t be more grateful for who I am or where I’m at in life, but it’s the “great unknown” that fascinates me.
Is there a real girl that you’re singing these songs to? An old high school flame, perhaps?
Haha, yeah. I met the most charming girl imaginable when I was in high school and most of my “cozy” songs are about her. She moved away to college for a few years and we kind of lost touch. She and I recently started talking to each other again and life has a way of reshaping sometimes. I’m absolutely crazy about her.
Do you like all the Postal Service comparisons? I’m hearing more hellogoodbye, but maybe that’s just me.
It was never the intention or the initial concept of the band to remind people of The Postal Service, but it’s proven to do just that and I take it as a total compliment. The idea of my music being likened to a Ben Gibbard side-project is a pretty honoring thing.
Do you tour with a live band, or is it just you up there pushing all the buttons?
Matt plays drums, Breanne sings and plays piano, Laura plays violin, Hannah plays cello and I play synth and guitar. I’d hate to tour without them. Best bunch of friends you could ask for.
Top five things you are looking forward to on your fall US tour. Go.
01. Pizza
02. Miniature golf
03. Someone telling a stupid joke and me spitting coffee all over them
04. Pop
05. Awkward hotel bathrobes
On a scale of 1 to 10, how much do you like bacon?
I’d be lying if I said anything other than 1. I’m not really a fan of eating helpless little porkers.
Gerard Way vs. David Bowie. Who wins?
Bowie all the way.
36 Responses to “Interview: Owl City”
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On 08/20/09 11:11 AM, Jadyn said:
Owl City is fun.
Port Blue is a great listen as well. All around good stuff from this guy. -
On 08/20/09 7:21 PM, Cool dude said:
hello Seattle i am a blah blah blah!
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On 08/21/09 8:18 PM, 7'6 Ben Gibbard said:
Hey cool album, y you rippin’ my shit off. No for real it took forever for me to perfect this.
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On 08/23/09 1:17 AM, Jordan said:
The new album is actually really good. I didn’t really get into the older stuff because a lot of it sounded alike and the autotune drove me nuts.
However the new stuff is more diverse and the autotune is gone. Also Matt Thesien from Relient K sings on the CD which is rad.
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On 10/21/09 5:53 PM, Charlotte said:
Hey i just found out about ur songs from my friend. Your songs are just great i love them especially rainbow veins and Dear vienna!!! keep on rockin
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On 11/17/09 9:57 AM, Bella said:
This guy’s adorable but horribly wrong. Gerard Way all the way. Sheesh
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On 11/17/09 8:39 PM, cool said:
Before these guys became super popular, their music was pretty good, but after hearing “Hello Seattle” a million times, I have to admit, its rather annoying. The Postal Service/Ben Gibbard can never be compared to anyone by the way. I do agree on the David Bowie thing though. Bowie totally wins.
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On 11/23/09 9:31 PM, Melanie Cullen said:
i love him but…he doesnt like bacon? its never going to work between us.
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On 11/23/09 10:55 PM, 7'6 Ben Gibbard said:
for real man, whats next. horn rim glasses? are you trying to impress zoey? the other dude from postal service told me you called him ??!!! whats up
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On 11/24/09 9:12 AM, j said:
Man, this dude’s video is all over VH1 and MTV and I must say – it’s fucking atrocious. How can you even entertain for a second that this isn’t a complete Postal Service rip off? With some of the worst, most uninspired and cliche lyrics I’ve ever heard, no less. The Postal Service was cheesy, but could get by on the fact that it was tuneful and well-put together. This just reeks!! Yikes, that people could take this seriously.
You know it’s bad when Aaron Carter says you’ve written his new favorite song of all time.
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On 01/29/10 11:36 AM, Fresh, Yesh! » Owl City, Ocean Eyes (Deluxe Edition) said:
[...] Adam took to the basement and found several instruments and a computer sitting around and wa-la: Owl City was born. In the heyday of Myspace, which I think is now returning to its roots as a place for bands to [...]
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On 02/12/10 4:02 PM, Venomous said:
Yours is the first interview I have found that has mentioned Port Blue anywhere in there. It’s ten times better than Owl City, IMO, and I was wondering about the status of the whole thing.
Thank you.
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On 02/25/10 12:06 PM, alana and christen said:
YOUR FREAKING AWESOMEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!! we love your music and we don’t like bacon either. poor piggies
we’re going to your concert on april 15! you better talk to us ;D
btw, you should write a song about us
. our names are christen and alana <3 -
On 02/25/10 2:23 PM, jeez said:
Owl City… really? And to think half of the commenters like this garbage, it is astounding. I would rather pop in a Justin Blieber album.
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On 02/25/10 3:16 PM, Jay DiNitto said:
Hey, thanks for letting us know what you like and don’t like.
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On 02/28/10 1:59 AM, Taylor Haulk said:
Owl City is amazing. It crushes me to think he has a girlfriend. His music is my inspiration to life.
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On 02/28/10 10:13 AM, jonesy said:
First time I heard this ‘Owl City’ on the radio I was pissed at The Postal Service for making and releasing such a crap song. I’m happy to know that it wasn’t The Postal Service, but I still think this is incontrovertibly crap. I’m an audio engineer, so my ‘opinion’ is actually fact and scientific. You can’t prove me wrong.
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On 02/28/10 1:54 PM, Jay DiNitto said:
“I’m an audio engineer, so my ‘opinion’ is actually fact and scientific. You can’t prove me wrong.”
Oh my gosh…
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On 03/13/10 5:14 AM, reverb_disaster said:
oh my god, have any of you actually sat down and listened to postal service? owl city sounds nothing like them!! you might as well say that owl city sounds like angels and airwaves, or any other musician that uses delay!! its amazing how most people who think they know music are the most ignorant ones. and that applies to the audio engineer…
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On 03/14/10 10:45 AM, 8tamd8 said:
really???? Someone told me vanilla twilight was about his girlfriend dying……..is that not true then??????
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On 03/15/10 10:33 PM, shawn bradley said:
“I’m an audio engineer, so my ‘opinion’ is actually fact and scientific. You can’t prove me wrong.” – comment of the new decade
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On 03/15/10 10:34 PM, shawn bradley said:
“I’m an audio engineer, so my ‘opinion’ is actually fact and scientific. You can’t prove me wrong.” – thats my new foundation name
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On 03/27/10 9:26 PM, Laura said:
First I’d like to say that I absolutely LOVE his music! My favorites would have to be Rainbow Veins and Dental Care
Secondly, I can understand why people don’t like his music, but they shouldn’t bash others who adore it. I love the songs with randomness in them. It’s like, story of my life. XDLastly, I can’t help but comment on this because of how well. . . . incorrect this is:
“I’m an audio engineer, so my ‘opinion’ is actually fact and scientific. You can’t prove me wrong.”
An opinion can’t be fact, that’s why it’s called an opinion. Oh, one more thing. If most of these people love his music then we just did prove you wrong.
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On 03/30/10 9:22 AM, Dr. Jones said:
“An opinion can’t be fact, that’s why it’s called an opinion.”
That’s a pretty stupid thing to say. Opinions can absolutely be factual.
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On 04/2/10 3:02 AM, gr8-fan-of-owl-city said:
I really really love his songs…. “fireflies” of ocean eyes is my current BEST……… No matter what others say, I love him….
I liked this interview. He is a fun-guy and our view matches… he doesn’t like bacon. -
On 04/10/10 10:30 PM, ~OwlCityFanatic!~ said:
Owl City is amazing i love his music i can never be mad when i’m listening to it… His music pushes all the bad irritable thoughts out of my head… There isn’t a song yet that i don’t like by him
And for the people who don’t like it why bash other people who like it? it’s pretty immature to do that i’m not going to stop listening to Owl City just because someone hates it…
My total favorites are probably, Hello Seattle, Hot Air Ballon, West Coast Friendship, and Sunburn
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On 04/22/10 5:55 PM, AutumnBaby said:
aww he already has a girl… =’(
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On 04/28/10 5:45 AM, fillmylittleword said:
“I’m absolutely crazy about her.”
gahhh i hate it when i got a crush on a celebrity… only to find out that they got someone else 
oh well… life is life -
On 05/2/10 2:05 AM, Tsuki said:
HAHAHAAH. He said “Pop” so Minnesotan. He has a girl. Boo!!
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On 05/2/10 12:54 PM, The Boss said:
Owl city is homosexual music. It is scientifically proven. Homo’s love this shit. Can’t blame them though; If i were a homo, i would dig this shit too.
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On 05/2/10 9:39 PM, brad said:
owl city… don’t care enough to listen but enough to tell everyone else.. also – i know a lot of homosexual people that do like owl city – so touche to you boss.. that said, i don’t like the degrading nature of your language towards them – and neither does owl city.
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On 05/3/10 3:03 PM, nate said:
I like Bacon.
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On 05/5/10 8:03 PM, Cammie said:
Really good music, really unique. Awesome.
And, guys, Gerard Way = awesomeness… but really? You CAN’T say Way over Bowie. It’s the law of music.
It’s like this…as much as I think Tyson Ritter is awesome, he DOES NOT come before Johnny Rotten.
Geddit? -
On 05/5/10 8:08 PM, Cammie said:
Oh, and to Jonesy?
“I’m an audio engineer, so my ‘opinion’ is actually fact and scientific. You can’t prove me wrong.”
You’re an audio engineer? Really? That must have taken some education.
So where’s your logic? And where does your ignorance stem from? Oh, and how about the FACT that that has to have been the STUPIDEST opinion I’ve ever heard of? And THAT’S my opinion. You can’t prove me wrong.
So how about it?
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On 05/28/10 10:54 AM, John said:
Amazing Adam youn when I here his songs it reminds me of someone(vanilla twilight) All of ur songs are amazin keep on makin more
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On 08/18/10 10:40 PM, Tara said:
first off Adam is not gay and I am sick of people calling him and his music gay. This article proves it if anything, cuz it says he has a girl so leave the man alone! And even if he was, who the F*ck cares. I mean really its not like if he was he would mention it in his music anyway! I’m sure he likes his music’s clean appeal on Christian people. he wouldnt really want to mention it for that sake. We listen to music because we like a song not what an artists represents anyway.
Second of all. I can see where people are making the comparison to Postal Service but really? Isnt all of todays music starting to sound slightly clich’e anyway. Atleast he picked a less used genre than most of today’s artists. Big deal if it sounds similar, they’re different and maybe those saying that dont have ears that can pick up the OBVIOUS difference.
Lastly, I think its really rude that people are being so rude about their opinions. If you don’t like it then that’s you you don’t have to down someone else just because they’re enjoying something that doesnt suit your fancy.
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