His fifth studio album, Mobile Orchestra, was released on July 10, via Republic Records/Capitol CMG. “It was just me in the studio just daydreaming and taking things very slowly. I didn’t schedule time in a main professional studio. I wrote most of these songs on my laptop, by myself doing my own thing. A lot of the songs were written in weird places such as hotel rooms, coffee shops and airplanes, so that is where the title came from. I am always working on music, while I am travelling,” he said.
Young’s latest CD features collaborations with such artists as Jake Owen, Hanson, Britt Nicole and Aloe Blacc, among others. He listed “Back Home,” his collaboration with country star Jake Owen, as his personal favorite song on the project. “I am a huge fan of Jake Owen, and I am a huge country music fan. That is something that a lot of my fans might not know about me. It was fun to experiment, and it has a hybrid country-pop sound,” he said.
In this album, Young pays homage to his different influences from different genres. “The album has some of my influences from rock music from bands such as Blink-182 and Green Day, to my love for country music, and some of my love for EDM music. It has different snapshots for my loves of different genres,” he said.
Young performed the new track “Unbelievable” with Hanson on NBC’s “The Today Show” on July 14. “That was awesome. It was my second time on ‘The Today Show.’ The guys from Hanson are so great in what they do. It was such an honor to have been asked back to play there again,” he said.
His headlining tour in the fall will feature support from pop songstress Rozzi Crane. On October 10, Young will be performing at New York’s Irving Plaza. “I am very excited to play Irving Plaza. It will be my second time playing there. I am excited to play a bunch of the new songs, and a mixture of the older songs,” he said. “It is really exciting to have Rozzi on tour with me this fall. We did a tour with Maroon 5 a few years ago.”
Young’s dream female collaboration choice is Grammy-winning New Age artist Enya. “I would love to work with her. I am not sure what that would sound like, but I love how dreamy and whimsical Enya’s music is, so you never know,” he said.
Over the last five years, Young has grown substantially as an artist. “I definitely know a lot more than I did five years ago about my craft. I really have a love for learning about the different tools in the studio,” he said.
Regarding the key to longevity in the music industry, he said, “Being sincere. People can tell if you are not sincere. Be honest and genuine, and be exactly who you are. That is a big thing.”
The hardest part of his job as a musician are the early wake-up calls. “I am definitely not an early morning guy, so I have to wake up really early to catch flights and I travel a lot. A lot of that can be exhausting,” he said.
In the pop world, he is known for his Billboard chart-topping smash single “Fireflies,” and his “Good Time” collaboration with pop star Carly Rae Jepsen.
For Owl City, the word success means “Coming up with something new and something that feels creatively inspiring, and it goes back to being honest, and giving your best shot all the time. Also, having a blast, while doing what you love to do the most.”
To learn more about Adam Young and Owl City’s forthcoming tour dates and new album, check out his official website.
