World of Owl City, Aligator Sky and ‘All Things Bright And Beautiful’
Adam Young has spent the best part of the last six months in peaceful hibernation, busy writing the second Owl City album, ‘All Things Bright And Beautiful’ which will be released on 17th May. The first single ‘Alligator Sky’, which features US rapper Shawn Chrystopher, rockets us back into the cosmic world of Owl City. “’Alligator’ and ‘sky’ are two words that don’t really go together, but conjure up an image, which fits the idea of the song,” Adam says. “It’s about how there are so many weird things coming at you every day. Why not just meet them head on and take charge even though you have no say over what’s going to happen? You and those around you are what matter most.” Owl City’s swift rise from the unknown into chart topping success saw his debut album - the lush, lovingly created ‘Ocean Eyes’, which was released by Island Records in February 2010 - certified gold or platinum in nine countries. The album spawned the quadruple-platinum first single ‘Fireflies’, which was a No. 1 smash hit in 24 countries including the UK (where it remained at the top spot for 3 weeks), and sold more than four million downloads. Its eye-popping success has made Owl City an international phenomenon, selling nearly 12 million tracks worldwide and amassing an impressive touring record in which Owl City sold-out headline tours and performed for besotted fans in the US, UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan.
Adam’s adventures over the past two years are evocatively detailed on the impossibly catchy electro-pop songs that make up Owl City’s new album, ‘All Things Bright and Beautiful’. “Ocean Eyes was written from the perspective of my bedroom,” Adam says. “All I could do was imagine how I’d feel if I could visit all these places I was writing about. This time around, I was influenced by very specific things and was able to draw upon what I’d been through, so that got poured into the lyrics and the moods of the songs. The music always dictates the lyrics. I just sit down at the piano and think about things and it happens in front of me.” Adam confesses that the thought of playing live used to give him ‘white knuckles’ but, having been forced to overcome his shyness and trepidation, Adam and his five-piece backing band are now confidently playing sold-out shows to a crowd who, as The NME observed, ‘squeals and shrieks with the kind of delight usually reserved for buffed-up boy bands’. The shy boy’s dreamy DIY imaginings have become a bonafide pop phenomenon. Adam is now getting ready to spread his wings and set off on another worldwide tour to promote the release of ‘All Things Bright And Beautiful’. He will land in the UK for a nationwide tour this September. “The gratification you get from flying across the world and playing to a sold-out room full of kids who know all your lyrics, even if they don’t speak your language, is incredible,” Adam says. “It’s those times when you stand back and say, ‘I’m just a normal guy, I can’t believe this is happening.’”
Artist: Owl City Single: Alligator Sky Release Date: 16th May 2011 Label: Island Records Website: www.owlcitymusic.co.uk
WHAT THE PAPERS SAY
****- Q
****- Mail on Sunday
‘Pretty damn spectacular’ – NME
‘Sublime’ – Sunday Times Culture
‘Adam Young is currently one of music’s hottest properties.’ – Independent
‘Be prepared to cheer new American electro-popster Adam Young’ - Daily Telegraph
‘These songs have a naïve melodiousness that could uplift even the most cynical of souls’ – The Times
'a one-man MySpace phenomenon... His electronics and melodies are intrusively infectious.' - The Fly
Adam’s adventures over the past two years are evocatively detailed on the impossibly catchy electro-pop songs that make up Owl City’s new album, ‘All Things Bright and Beautiful’. “Ocean Eyes was written from the perspective of my bedroom,” Adam says. “All I could do was imagine how I’d feel if I could visit all these places I was writing about. This time around, I was influenced by very specific things and was able to draw upon what I’d been through, so that got poured into the lyrics and the moods of the songs. The music always dictates the lyrics. I just sit down at the piano and think about things and it happens in front of me.” Adam confesses that the thought of playing live used to give him ‘white knuckles’ but, having been forced to overcome his shyness and trepidation, Adam and his five-piece backing band are now confidently playing sold-out shows to a crowd who, as The NME observed, ‘squeals and shrieks with the kind of delight usually reserved for buffed-up boy bands’. The shy boy’s dreamy DIY imaginings have become a bonafide pop phenomenon. Adam is now getting ready to spread his wings and set off on another worldwide tour to promote the release of ‘All Things Bright And Beautiful’. He will land in the UK for a nationwide tour this September. “The gratification you get from flying across the world and playing to a sold-out room full of kids who know all your lyrics, even if they don’t speak your language, is incredible,” Adam says. “It’s those times when you stand back and say, ‘I’m just a normal guy, I can’t believe this is happening.’”
Artist: Owl City Single: Alligator Sky Release Date: 16th May 2011 Label: Island Records Website: www.owlcitymusic.co.uk
WHAT THE PAPERS SAY
****- Q
****- Mail on Sunday
‘Pretty damn spectacular’ – NME
‘Sublime’ – Sunday Times Culture
‘Adam Young is currently one of music’s hottest properties.’ – Independent
‘Be prepared to cheer new American electro-popster Adam Young’ - Daily Telegraph
‘These songs have a naïve melodiousness that could uplift even the most cynical of souls’ – The Times
'a one-man MySpace phenomenon... His electronics and melodies are intrusively infectious.' - The Fly
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