Most frequent collaboratorMatt Thiessen · 11 tracks
GenresElectronicaSynth-PopDream Pop
Complete Artist
99%
Authorship
Holds writing credit on 85 of 86 tracks
Does Adam Young write all the Owl City songs?
Almost. He is credited on 85 of the 86 album tracks, and three of the seven albums credit nobody else at all. The exceptions are the two records made at the height of the label push, where outside writers appear.
By the Numbers
7
Studio Albums
86
Tracks Credited
99%
Self-Written
19
Years Active
27
Collaborators
Authorship Breakdown 85 / 86 self-written
Who wrote the songs?
Across all 86 tracks: how many Owl City wrote alone, how many they co-wrote, and how many were written by others. The bracket marks every track they hold any writing credit on.
Owl City has a writing credit99%
81%
17%
1%
Sole author70tracks81%
Co-written15tracks17%
Outside writers1tracks1%
Role Fingerprint how they contribute
Owl City's roles across the catalogue
Share of all 86 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.
Lyricist (words)99%
Composer (music)99%
Producer100%
Performer100%
Authorship Over Time writing credit per album
Owl City's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.
avg 99%
100%
100%
100%
91%
100%
100%
100%
2008Maybe I'm Dreaming
2009Ocean Eyes
2011All Things Bright and Beautiful
2012The Midsummer Station
2015Mobile Orchestra
2018Cinematic
2023Coco Moon
Early · 100% written
Mid · 97% written
Late · 100% written
Authorship by Decade track-weighted
100%
2000s
Maybe I'm Dreaming, Ocean Eyes
98%
2010s
All Things Bright and Beautiful, The Midsummer Station +2 more
100%
2020s
Coco Moon
Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author
Where Owl City sits on the scale from a pure performer (0%, sings songs written by others) to a complete author (100%, writes everything). The bright marker is their catalogue authorship score, plotted against other artists on the site.
Owl City
Other artists on the site
Reference artists spread across the scale, closest by genre and era.
Bubble size = tracks worked on together. MT Matt Thiessen · AB Aloe Blacc · JC Joshua Crosby · JM Joey Moi · RW Ryan Williamson · EW Emily Wright
The Authorship Story
Data Insight
The first two albums are his alone, and so are the last two: Cinematic in 2018 and Coco Moon in 2023 credit nobody else across 29 tracks. The exception is the middle stretch, which is exactly the period when the label wanted hits. The Midsummer Station in 2012 brings in Matt Thiessen on five tracks, Emily Wright on four and Nate Campany on four, and Mobile Orchestra in 2015 keeps Thiessen and Wright on three each. Eleven credits to Thiessen across two albums is the closest anyone gets to co-writing an Owl City record, and after 2015 the door closes again.
Quick Facts
Adam Young85 of the 86 album tracks
Written aloneThree albums with no other name
Matt ThiessenEleven co-writes, all on two albums
Studio albumsSeven, from 2008 to 2023
Biggest single"Fireflies", a Hot 100 chart-topper certified Diamond
The longest albumCinematic, eighteen tracks and no co-writers
Creative Fingerprint
A one-man project that stays one man, apart from two label-era albums with outside co-writers.
The Story
Adam Young is Owl City, and he is credited on 85 of the 86 album tracks. Three albums out of seven have no other name on them at all.
Frequently Asked Questions Owl City
Does Adam Young write all the Owl City songs?
Almost. He is credited on 85 of the 86 album tracks, and three of the seven albums credit nobody else at all. The exceptions are the two records made at the height of the label push, where outside writers appear.
Who wrote "Fireflies"?
Adam Young, alone. It topped the Hot 100. On January 25, 2023, the song was certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America denoting sales of 10 million units.
How many albums has Owl City released?
Seven studio albums, from Maybe I'm Dreaming in 2008 to Coco Moon in 2023. The EPs, Christmas releases and the Sky Sailing side project are counted separately.
Owl City