Early-Mid January 2009
Around this time, Adam, along with Andy and Tony Johnson, release three new songs for their project entitled The Perfect Theory: "Fast Food Relationships", "Waldorf + CSU = LOVE" and "Waldorf Sweetheart". These songs mark the end of the project.
Adam also befriends founding member of Relient K, Matt Thiessen, around this time. The two begin writing songs for Adam's upcoming album, as well as collaborating on each other's music.
Adam: "I grew up a huge Relient K fan so needless to say it was a surreal experiences working with such an admirable artist. Nicest guy in the world."
February 2009
Adam's label deal with Universal Republic is finally confirmed. According to Steve Bursky, there was some initial disagreement about the direction Owl City should follow.
Steve Bursky: "They were ready to send him [Adam] into the studio with big producers and polish him up to try to become this thing that he wasn't. But we put our foot down and said, 'Look, the reason you signed this kid is because it's working. Whatever it is about him - his music, his interaction with his fans, his brilliance in the online space - these things are connecting with people, and as soon as you change that you lose what's special about this artist.' To their credit, they really listened and they got it."
Around this time, Adam's first two releases, Of June and Maybe I'm Dreaming, are remastered and re-released under Universal Republic, featuring new album artwork.
February 3, 2009
Owl City performs with Lights in Tampa, FL at the Ritz Ybor.
February 13, 2009
Owl City performs with Swimming with Dolphins in Minneapolis, MN at The Varsity Theater.
February 14, 2009
Owl City performs with Swimming with Dolphins in Chicago, IL at Schubas.
February 25, 2009
Adam announces on social media that his new album will be released in the fall.
April 5-6, 2009
Adam travels to Seattle for the first time. He takes time on the trip to record strings for his upcoming album, Ocean Eyes, at Two Sticks Audio in Emerald City.
Adam: "Spent the first day in Emerald City at Two Sticks Audio (owned by Jason McGerr of Death Cab For Cutie) recording live strings for the new record. It was absolutely breathtaking. I’m incredibly excited at how well the new album is coming along and I absolutely can’t wait for you to hear it. There are songs about birds and worms, riding dirt bikes on turnpikes, warm fuzzy sweaters, ice skating across the country, modern dentistry, boys and girls holding hands, sock hops and fox trots, heavy violet eyelids, underwater ferris wheels, frozen floating icebergs, meteor showers, abandoned boxcars, beach umbrellas, armies of fireflies and lightning bugs… you name it!"
April 7, 2009
Adam writes an article on his blog. "Helloooooooooo Seattle!"
April 16, 2009
Adam writes an article on his blog. "10 Words That Don't Exist, But Should..."
April 26, 2009
Adam writes an article on his blog. "10 Words That Don't Exist, But Should... (Part 2)"
May 3, 2009
Owl City performs with various other artists in East Rutherford, NJ at The Bamboozle 2009.
May 5, 2009
Owl City performs with Swimming with Dolphins in Boston, MA at Berklee's Cafe 939.
May 6, 2009
Owl City performs with Swimming with Dolphins in Philadelphia, PA at North Star Bar.
May 7-8, 2009
Owl City performs with Swimming with Dolphins in New York City, NY at the Bowery Ballroom.
May 9, 2009
Owl City's new single entitled "Hot Air Balloon" is released.
Adam, on "Hot Air Balloon": "Hot Air Balloon is a carefree song about adventure and exploration. Looking down on the world, leaning out and brushing the snow from evergreen branches, wondering where life will take you."
Owl City performs with Swimming with Dolphins in Vienna, VA at Jammin' Java.
May 11, 2009
Owl City performs with Swimming with Dolphins in Cleveland, OH at The Grog Shop.
May 12, 2009
Owl City performs with Swimming with Dolphins in Pontiac, MI at The Pike Room.
May 14, 2009
Owl City performs with Swimming with Dolphins in Chicago, IL at Subterranean.
May 15, 2009
Owl City performs with Swimming with Dolphins in Minneapolis, MN at The Varsity Theater.
May 22, 2009
Adam writes an article on his blog. "Nothing Works For Me!"
May 23, 2009
Owl City performs in George, WA at the Sasquatch Music Festival at The Gorge Amphitheatre.
May 25, 2009
Adam writes an article on his blog. "Marshmallow Fluff"
May 26, 2009
Owl City performs with Relient K in Los Angeles, CA at The Glass House.
May 27, 2009
Owl City performs with Relient K in Bakersfield, CA at The Dome.
May 28, 2009
Owl City performs with Relient K in Orangevale, CA at The Boardwalk.
May 29, 2009
Owl City performs with Relient K in Eugene, OR at Indigo District.
May 30, 2009
Owl City performs with Relient K in Portland, OR at the Wonder Ballroom.
May 31, 2009
Owl City performs with Relient K in Seattle, WA at Neumo's.
June 2, 2009
Owl City performs with Relient K in Spokane, WA at The Knitting Factory.
June 3, 2009
Owl City's new single entitled "Strawberry Avalanche" is released.
Adam, on "Strawberry Avalanche": "Strawberry Avalanche is about two kids camping out in sleeping bags in the backyard and imagining what a strawberry avalanche would be like."
Owl City performs with Relient K in Boise, ID at The Knitting Factory.
June 4, 2009
Owl City performs with Relient K in Salt Lake City, UT at Murray Theatre.
June 19, 2009
Owl City performs with Holiday Parade and Swimming with Dolphins in Nashville, TN at Rocketown.
June 20, 2009
Owl City performs in Atlanta, GA at the Vinyl.
June 22, 2009
Owl City performs with Relient K in Asheville, NC at The Orange Peel.
June 23, 2009
Owl City performs with Relient K in Raleigh, NC at the Lincoln Theatre.
June 25, 2009
Owl City performs with Swimming with Dolphins in Baltimore, MD at Sonar.
June 26, 2009
Owl City performs with Relient K in Rochester, NY at Water Street Music Hall.
June 27, 2009
Owl City performs in Columbus, OH at The Basement.
June 29, 2009
Owl City performs with Relient K in Green Bay, WI at Riverside Ballroom.
June 30, 2009
Owl City performs in Duluth, MN at Grandma's Sports Garden. This concert features one of the first performances of the new song entitled "Fireflies".
July 1, 2009
Owl City performs in Marietta, IL at the Cornerstone Festival 2009.
July 2, 2009
Owl City performs with Relient K in Lawrence, KS at the Granada Theater.
July 3, 2009
Owl City performs with Relient K in Omaha, NE at Slowdown (Front Room).
July 5, 2009
Owl City performs in Milwaukee, WI at Summerfest.
July 9, 2009
Owl City performs in San Francisco, CA at Popscene.
July 14, 2009
Owl City's debut single from the upcoming album, entitled "Fireflies", is released. The single features both A and B sides, also including the song "Hot Air Balloon".
Adam, on "Fireflies": "It was 2AM and I was sitting on the floor in my parent's basement with a MicroKorg on my laptop. I built this synthy legato, 'ping' sound routed through a lowpass filter and ran it through a bunch of guitar pedals. I came up with a little cascading part that wound up as the intro and verses of a song called Firelfies."
Owl City's third studio album, Ocean Eyes, is released exclusively on iTunes before its initially release in stores.
Adam writes an article on his blog. "This is Who I am"
July 23, 2009
Adam reunites with Andy and Tony Johnson to record the seventh Windsor Airlift EP, We Rule!, two nights before Andy's wedding. The album is then released not long after recording. This is also the last time Adam records music with the band due to his busy schedule with Owl City.
July 25, 2009
Adam's childhood friend, Andy Johnson, is married to Austin Johnson.
July 28, 2009
Owl City's second studio album entitled Ocean Eyes is released by Universal Republic. This is Adam's debut album under his new label. Three singles are released from this album: "Umbrella Beach", "Vanilla Twilight" and "Fireflies".
Universal Republic releases the music video for Owl City's new single, entitled "Fireflies". The original video, now deleted, had very subtle differences in terms of video editing and color saturation.
August 23, 2009
Adam writes an article on his blog. "10 things that make me happy"
September 9, 2009
Owl City performs in Nashville, TN at Rocketown.
September 10, 2009
Owl City performs the song "Fireflies" in Atlanta, GA at 99X studios.
Owl City performs in Atlanta, GA at The Loft.
September 11, 2009
Owl City performs in Carrboro, NC at the Cat's Cradle.
September 12, 2009
Owl City performs in Washington, D.C. at the Rock and Roll Hotel.
September 14, 2009
Owl City performs in Toronto, Canada at El Mocambo.
September 15, 2009
Owl City performs in New York City, NY at the Bowery Ballroom.
September 16, 2009
Adam writes an article on his blog. "Stay Encouraged"
September 17, 2009
Owl City performs in South Hackensack, NJ at the School of Rock.
September 18, 2009
Owl City performs in Boston, MA at the Paradise Rock Club.
September 19, 2009
Owl City performs in Chester, PA at The Note West.
September 21, 2009
Owl City performs in Cleveland, OH at the Grog Shop.
September 22, 2009
Owl City performs in Pontiac, MI at Eagle Theater.
September 23, 2009
Entirely Smooth publishes an article where Adam provides an interview. Adam discusses the origins of Owl City as well as his most recent album, Ocean Eyes.
September 24, 2009
Owl City performs in Grand Rapids, MI at The Intersection.
September 25, 2009
Owl City performs in Chicago, IL at The Metro.
September 26, 2009
Owl City performs in Minneapolis, MN at The Cabooze.
September 27, 2009
Owl City performs in Milwaukee, WI at The Rave.
September 28, 2009
Adam releases a short snippet for his upcoming single, entitled "Sunburn". He also announces that the song will be released on October 13.
October 1, 2009
Owl City performs in Kansas City, MO at the Beaumont Club (free concert).
October 5, 2009
Relient K's sixth studio album, Forget and Not Slow Down, is released by Mono Vs Stereo and Jive. The album includes a track entitled "Terminals", which Adam programs and produces for the band.
October 6, 2009
Owl City performs in Boston, MA at Lansdowne WFNX Disorientation 2009.
October 8, 2009
Owl City performs in Des Moines, IA at the House of Bricks. Adam's parents, Randy and Joan Young, attend the concert.
Randy: "There was a crescendo in the music, then our son walked onto the stage. It was a total shock. Adam sat at the edge of the stage during the performance and started swinging his legs, and the crowd was just reaching for them."
October 9, 2009
Westward publishes an article where Adam is interviewed by Dave Herrera. Adam discusses the unique sights while on tour, as well as his inspiration for new songs.
Adam: "I wrote a song called "The Tip of the Iceberg" after I spent a month studying the natural habitats and environments of the emperor penguin with my cool Uncle John. He's an arctic biologist. We hung out, took measurements and readings, conducted sweet experiments and played a game of tackle football on a frozen iceberg at 2 a.m. the night before we sailed home from our expedition. It was awesome. The song is about how cold icebergs are and how gnarly Uncle John undeniably is."
Owl City performs in Omaha, NE at The Waiting Room.
October 10, 2009
Owl City performs in Denver, CO at the Bluebird Theater.
October 11, 2009
Owl City performs in Salt Lake City, UT at Murray Theatre.
October 12, 2009
Owl City performs in Boise, ID at The Venue.
October 13, 2009
Owl City's new single entitled "Sunburn" is released. The song appears on the compilation album Soundtrack 90210 the same day.
Adam, on "Sunburn": "Sunburn is the occasional feeling of not being good enough, despite how hard you try. It's about relationships and finding the one that is really meant to last."
Owl City performs in Spokane, WA at the Service Station.
October 15, 2009
Owl City performs in Vancouver, Canada at the Biltmore Cabaret.
October 16, 2009
Owl City performs in Seattle, WA at Neumo's.
October 17, 2009
Owl City performs in Portland, OR at the Hawthorne Theatre.
October 19, 2009
Owl City performs in San Francisco, CA at Slim's.
October 20, 2009
Owl City performs in West Hollywood, CA at Troubadour.
October 22, 2009
Owl City performs in Anaheim, CA at the House of Blues.
October 23, 2009
Owl City performs in San Diego, CA at The Epicentre.
October 24, 2009
Owl City performs in Scottsdale, AZ at Martini Ranch.
October 25, 2009
Owl City performs in Albuquerque, NM at the Launchpad.
October 26, 2009
Owl City performs in San Diego, CA at 91X.
October 27, 2009
Owl City performs in Tulsa, OK at The Marquee.
October 28-29, 2009
Owl City performs in Dallas, TX at the Cambridge Room.
October 30, 2009
Entertainment Weekly publishes an article where Adam is interviewed by Simon Vozick-Levinson. Adam discusses his introductions to music and his overall Minnesota background.
Owl City performs in Austin, TX at Emo's Alternative Lounge.
October 31, 2009
Melissa Kaelin publishes an article for Stairway to Success about Adam's overnight success. Adam's parents, Randy and Joan Young, are interviewed.
Owl City performs in Houston, TX at the Meridian.
Before the show, Adam is interviewed by Leonie Cooper for NME.
November 1, 2009
Owl City performs in Norman, OK at University of Oklahoma - McCasland Field House (free concert).
November 2-7, 2009
"Fireflies" tops the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. for this week.
November 9, 2009
Island Records Group make a statement in promo material for Adam's upcoming Ocean Eyes single in the UK, "Umbrella Beach".
"In June 2007 Adam Young, aka Owl City, on a whim began writing versions of what became his first, self released digital EP - Of June. He put it up on MySpace the following month and didn't tell anyone. 7 million profile views and 40 million plays later, Adam is something of a MySpace phenomenon, selling 25k albums and 200k digital tracks - all with no radio or touring. As listeners climb into the tens of millions, Owl City gets set to release his debut single in the UK, Umbrella Beach; a track that conveys Owl City's trademark desire to escape in dreams, oceans and sky. The album, Ocean Eyes will be released in January, along with Fireflies, a track that captures Adam's terrific and incredibly playful wit. Having already won a huge fan base in America, Adam will now be focusing on winning fans here in the UK whilst continuing to satisfy a global fan base that is constantly growing and always eagerly anticipating new material."
November 18, 2009
Owl City begins its China Tour, performing in Hong Kong, China at Grappa's Cellar.
November 19, 2009
Owl City performs in Wuhan, China at Vox Livehouse.
November 20, 2009
The New York Times publishes an article where Adam is interviewed by Ben Sisario. Adam talks about how he came to work on music and the surprise success he garnered seemingly overnight, as well as future shows he is set to perform. The topic of the comparison between Adam's writing style to that of a band by the name of The Postal Service also comes up. Although the comparison comes from a critical perspective, Adam sees it as an honor, considering Ocean Eyes to be a possible second part to the band's music.
Adam: "They released a record in 2003, and that was it. There was really nothing to compare it to until someone else came along and wrote the next chapter. Maybe that's this record. Maybe that's this band."
Owl City performs in Shanghai, China at Dream Factory.
November 21, 2009
Owl City performs in Beijing, China at Yu Gong Yi Shan.
November 24, 2009
Owl City begins its First Japan Tour, performing with MAE in Tokyo, Japan at Shibuya Club Quattro.
November 25, 2009
Owl City performs with MAE in Osaka, Japan at Shinsaibashi Club Quattro.
November 26, 2009
Owl City performs with MAE in Nagoya, Japan at Nagoya Club Quattro.
November 28, 2009
Owl City performs in Honolulu, HI at Pipeline Cafe.
December 6, 2009
Owl City performs with various other artists in Saint Paul, MN at Xcel Energy for KDWB Presents Jingle Ball 2009.
December 8, 2009
Owl City performs in Baltimore, MD at Pullo Performing Arts Center, Penn State.
December 9, 2009
Owl City performs with various other artists in Philadelphia, PA at BB&T Pavilion.
December 10, 2009
Owl City performs with various other artists in Lowell, MA at Tsongas Center for Kiss 108's Jingeball 2009.
December 11, 2009
Owl City performs with various other artists in New York City, NY at Madison Square Garden at the Z100 Jingle Ball 2009.
December 14, 2009
Owl City performs in Houston, TX at the House of Blues.
December 15, 2009
Owl City uploads the music video for the song "Fireflies" to its YouTube channel. The video is produced by Steve Hoover and directed by Danny Yourd.
Owl City performs in San Antonio, TX at Hemisfair Park.
December 16, 2009
Owl City performs in Austin, TX at Austin Music Hall.
December 17, 2009
Owl City performs with various other artists in Atlanta, GA at Gwinnett Arena for Star 94 FM Jingle Jam 2009.
December 18, 2009
Adam gives an interview for The Road to MSG.
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