Feed the Beat recently had the opportunity to chat with Adam Young aka Owl City! He took some time during his very busy schedule to talk about the recording process, Jay & Conan and give some advice to young musicians!

For those of you not in the know, Owl City is an American synthpop musical project by Adam Young. After two independent albums, Owl City gained mainstream popularity from the 2009 major label debut album Ocean Eyes, which spawned the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #1 hit single and UK #1 hit single “Fireflies”. We’re thrilled to have Owl City as part of Feed The Beat.

You have a huge selling album and a hit song. You have gone from indie-songwriter to the top of the charts. Were you surprised by how fast this has happened?

I was basically just sitting around at home in my sweatpants when it punched me in the face. The music business really chose me, which is both ironic and certainly a dream come true, since it’s something I’ve been hopelessly dreaming about since I was a crabby baby in diapers.


Your music is very personal and introspective. What does it feel like to have sold out audiences singing the words back to you?

Needless to say it’s pretty surreal for a shy boy from Minnesota. The fact that I recently boarded an airplane and flew 16 hours, literally around the world and showed up at a little venue in Wuhan, China full of kids who knew every word to every song… I’m still coming to grips with how incredible that was. Stuff like that is so far above and beyond anything I’ve ever dreamed or hoped for.


Where did you get the inspiration for the song Fireflies?

I wrote the song in my parent’s basement after I went camping in the middle of nowhere in Iowa last summer. The countryside at dusk was literally crammed full of lightning bugs and that image really stuck in my mind. I have insomnia, and naturally I couldn’t fall asleep that night so I stayed awake until each little light faded into the distance or eventually turned out. It was quite magical.


What artists are you most excited to work with in the future?

I have a few favorite film composers I’d turn handsprings for the chance to work with someday. I am not a self-proclaimed gymnast.


I know you started in your parent’s basement. How supportive are they of your music career today?

They don’t really understand everything that’s going on in every minute detail, but they get the big picture and they couldn’t be more happy or excited for me. I’m incredibly blessed to be their kid.


Were you Team Conan or Team Leno? Thoughts on the recent Conan/Leno situation?

You officially have my permission to point and laugh. I have no idea what the Conan/Leno situation was. I don’t watch TV. I don’t even have a TV. Whenever I’m bored, I get in my car and go to Taco Bell. Haha.


What advice do you have for young musicians that want to make it in the industry?

Write and record the songs you as a listener want to hear. Make an album you would go to Best Buy or Walmart and buy yourself. Make yourself the audience.


Put your dream tour scenario together for us (artists can be living or dead).

Taco Bell presents: an evening with Shaquille O’Neal along with very special guests, Hulk Hogan and the Wrestling Boot Band, Vanilla Ice, and Owl City.


Thanks for being a part of Taco Bell’s Feed The Beat!