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With multiple tracks from Ocean Eyes in heavy rotation on our iPod, we realized we wanted to know just a little more about the man behind Owl City.  We got a lot more than we bargained for and still find ourselves chuckling at the lyrically whimsical responses we received…

DS: Describe the past year for you—from what we can tell, it looks like it’s been a busy one.

Owl City: Most of last year consisted of lounging around the house in my incredibly enormous pair of 1989 turquoise sweatpants. The kind that have the super tight, bunchy elastic bands around the ankles. Other than that, I’ve kept busy writing, performing, touring, snoozing, grilling, driving, eating, noodling, shouting, and yakking (as in “talking” and not to be confused with hunting wild yaks).

DS: Narrowing the time frame a bit, what did you do today?

Owl City: I spent the morning lying on my back on a sandy secret ocean beach in LA, then drove down the coast in a red convertible with the most wonderful girl in the universe, through the coziest little beach towns imaginable. Now I’m sitting in a Starbucks in southern California wearing clothes, drinking Naked Juice and typing like a madman on my MacBook which doesn’t even belong to anyone named Mac.

DS: We hear you’re a bit of an insomniac—is it true this had a little something to do with your development as a musical artist?

Owl City: Very true. I can’t fall asleep and get a good night’s sleep unless I’ve been awake for two or three days. I have it pretty bad, but it allows me to get a lot of work done and usually I become most inspired when I’m dog tired. And that’s a pretty weird feeling for a punky little owl.

DS: Does your creative drive being a nighttime endeavor have anything to do with your pseudonym of Owl City?

Owl City: Not particularly. The term Owl City comes from a show and tell experience I had when I was in second grade. It involved a class full of whiny brats, a ferocious screech owl by the name of Pickles and both parties screaming, running, hooting and flapping around the room. Total lunacy.

DS: How would you describe your musical style and who would you credit as having influenced it?

Owl City: Some people say it reminds them of chocolate donuts. Some people say it sounds like the feeling one might perceive after swan diving into a swimming pool full of melted Moose Tracks ice cream and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Others say Owl City sounds like a gang of skin-headed Harley bikers hurling rude insults and throwing punches at each other in a furious, rambunctious, obstreperous brawl. Totally awesome.

DS: What was the inspiration behind Ocean Eyes?

Owl City: The ocean and…eyes.

DS: What’s your favorite song on Ocean Eyes and why?

Owl City: I sorta like this song called “Fireflies.” It reminds me of Iowa.

DS: If you were to do a cover of a song, which would it be?

Owl City: “I Wanna Be A Hulkamaniac” by Hulk Hogan and the Wrestling Boot Band. The song is unbelievably epic. Like “Lord of the Rings” epic.

DS: You’ve got a very slick and fully interactive website (www.owlcitymusic.com) as well as pages on just about every other major social networking site out there—at times, does it feel like being digitally connected to your fan base is just as much a full time job as it is being a musical artist?

Owl City: Yeah for sure. However, it’s a great challenge and I think of it as a huge blessing to be able to connect with fans in such a progressive way. Because…the internet is the new…TV. Or radio. Or something sweet like that.

DS: What does one do for fun in your hometown of Owatonna, Minnesota?

Owl City: Well, we folks enjoy bowling on weekends, driving clean cars to church on Sunday, running on treadmills after eating a lot of pizza, throwing Baby Ruth candy bars in swimming pools and hot tubs full of people when no one’s looking, wearing knee-high tube socks with cowboy boots or sandals or Crocs, and driving super tough 4×4 trucks with sleeping bags in the back and mud on the fenders. It’s lavish but I call it home.

DS: The editors at DS are foodies at heart and wherever we travel, we always look forward to eating the best or most random of local foods—what would that be in Owatonna?

Owl City: There’s this place called McDonald’s. It’s amazing. They sell burgers and fries. It gives some people Montezuma’s revenge.

DS: You’re about to start your 2009 North American Tour in Nashville, TN—is this your first major tour and how are you feeling about it? Who else are you playing with?

Owl City: Yeah, this is the first major headline tour. Couldn’t be more excited about it. Playing with my wonderful friends Kate Havnevik, Unicorn Kid, Brooke Waggoner and The Scene Aesthetic. Good times are approaching like the Buffalo Bills in the Super Bowl.

DS: Is there one venue or city you’re particularly looking forward to playing?

Owl City: By all means, Boston. Gonna throw the biggest tea party since 1773.

DS: Who are you listening to right now that you’re really digging?

Owl City: I’ve really been digging Garbage lately…the band.

DS: Who would you love to collaborate with in the future?

Owl City: Michael Jackson.

DS: What other projects do you have in the pipeline?

Owl City: I have an idea for this revolutionary project called Wellington Gigglebomb and the Flexing Porpoises. Haven’t gotten around to it yet but it’s gonna take over the world.

Related Item:
Ocean Eyes by Owl City

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