SALT LAKE CITY — Adam Young, the chief songwriter/singer/performer of Owl City, got into the minds of pop-music lovers with his breakthrough third album "Ocean Eyes."
The 2009 disc peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on both Billboard's dance/electronic chart and alternative album chart.
"Ocean Eyes" was re-released as a deluxe edition earlier this year.
The Deseret News caught up with Young via e-mail as he recuperated from an undisclosed medical ailment last month. Young's Owl City will open for John Mayer at the USANA Amphitheatre on Aug. 31.
Deseret News: What was it about the electronic aspect of music that drew you to the genre, specifically when it came to performing as Owl City?
Adam Young: "Electronic was (and still is) an exciting idea because it allows for so much manipulation and control over sounds/samples, etc. I love how a boy with a laptop could suddenly be a conductor in front of a symphony orchestra and that, via layers, one could truly do anything. The sky was the limit, and that was what really drew me in.
"Tackling the touring side of artistry was a little more complicated because it wasn't as simple as finding two other musicians and saying, 'Here are your parts.' There are SO many layers upon layers of tracks and instruments featured in the recordings, I would've needed 15 or more people to pull it off and actually have everything covered.
"The beauty of summing audio and running tracks was the obvious way around the problem (that) still allows for a lot of flexibility when performing live. It's a unique process, unlike the traditional drums, bass, guitar-type band, but I've really grown to love it."
DN: You have also created and performed music under a lot of different monikers, including Sky Sailing. What was their purpose? Was it to make music that otherwise wouldn't have fit under the Owl City style?
AY: "Exactly. I've found myself inspired and drawn toward creating music across the entire spectrum of genres and, rather than cramming every inspired creative direction into one band, the idea of having several different projects allows me to still be creative and not feel married to one endeavor.
"I'm also fascinated by the idea of one creative mind featuring all sorts of different avenues for his/her art. I think that allows for a lot of creativity that would otherwise be thwarted because of any sort of genre restraint or limitation."
DN: The deluxe edition of "Ocean Eyes" features six additional songs and a remix of "Hello Seattle," where you all recorded during the original "Ocean Eyes" recording sessions?
AY: "Yes. I spent a few months writing all the material I wanted to release and spent the next handful of months in studio."
DN: While "Hello Seattle" wasn't released as a single, did it surprise you at how popular the song became?
AY: "It did, indeed. It was the first song I wrote for Owl City, and, in fact, was the song that inspired the whole project. It was the attention fans (gave) that song that really started me thinking, 'Maybe I can work at this and really make something happen.'
"Little did I know it would exceed my wildest dreams."
DN: On the same thought, did you ever think that Owl City would become as popular as it has over the past year?
AY: "When I released my first record, I was loading trucks for Coca-Cola in a sweaty warehouse. I had no direction, no incentive and no plans to do anything with my life other than that.
"Owl City started as a whimsical idea, and I have no way to describe how surreal it is for me to look back at all that has happened. I truly could not be more grateful for the opportunity to do what I'm most passionate about."
If you go…
What: John Mayer, Owl City
Where: USANA Amphitheatre, 5150 S. 6055 West
When: Aug. 31, 7 p.m.
How much: $29.50-$69.50
Phone: 801-467-8499, 800-888-8499
Web: www.smithstix.com
e-mail: scott@desnews.com