Occasionally, an artist will have a song that becomes such an overnight viral hit that it is played and sung by many for years to come. Oftentimes, the artist behind these songs isn’t nearly as well known. This was the case with Owl City’s Adam Young, whose overnight sensation “Fireflies” skyrocketed his career and is still the main song he is known for today. What many may not know is that he has faith that inspires him and keeps him motivated.
Is Owl City a Religious Band?
While most of their songs do not have very many explicit references to religion, the lyrics do tend to be very encouraging.
Each religion attempts to answer questions regarding the reality and origins of the universe and mankind’s ultimate destiny, both individually and collectively. Depending on the religion in question you will get a wide variety of answers to these questions, but many times, people seek out the answers to these questions within religions to find some sort of hope for themselves and their future. The way Adam’s religion has influenced his perspective on life comes across in his lyrics: many songs sing about having hope in the future, and not being alone.
They also have a song titled “Angels”, which talks about the possibility of angels being everywhere. The vast majority of religions and ancient mythologies around the world speak of angels– spiritual beings that mostly remain out of sight, but occasionally reveal themselves to human beings for some specific purpose.
What Kind of Music is Owl City?
While there are a few different genres that can describe what Owl City plays, the most accurate label is electronica. Electronica is a type of music that has its roots in the early 90s when people were starting to make electronic music that was just for listening instead of being danced to. Eventually, however, this label fell out of use in favor of the term EDM (electronic dance music). Most electronic music falls into this category, whether intended for raves or not.
They have also been considered synth-pop, a genre known for the fact that the synthesizer is the main musical instrument used. Because of the subject matter of a few of their songs, they have also been considered CEDM (Christian Electronic Dance Music) and CCM (Christian Contemporary Music).
Is Owl City a Christian Band?
While the majority of their songs do not have any obvious spiritual themes, there are a small handful of songs that do speak about what it’s like to be Christian.
The song “Meteor Shower” from the album Ocean Eyes speaks of a conversion experience: “I am not my own/For I have been made new” describes the experience of accepting Christ and no longer being your own person; you have been made new because you now belong to Christ.
The end of the song “Tidal Wave” makes a subtle reference to conversion experiences: “I was given grace and love/I was blind but now I can see/Cause I found a new hope from above/And courage swept over me”. The symbol of going from blindness to being able to see is one that is referenced in Christian hymns, such as “Amazing Grace.”
One very notable song is “Galaxies” on All Things Bright and Beautiful, with the line in the chorus: “Dear God, you’re the only North Star I would follow this far.” Inspired by the space shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986, Adam Young has stated this song “is a vivid portrayal of the idea that even amidst tragedy, victory can be achieved through Christ and through Him alone.” He put himself in the shoes of the flight commander, on what he might’ve thought if he was in that position and “suddenly taken from reality into eternity in a split second.”
Besides these, they have collaborated with noted contemporary Christian singers like Britt Nicole to make the song “You’re Not Alone” on his album Mobile Orchestra, as well as making a cover of the hymn “In Christ Alone”.
In interviews, Adam speaks pretty openly about his faith. To a question on whether he ever thought a song would do well in the Christian market, he responded: “I merely try to push all that aside and write sincerely from the heart, as if myself and God will be the only ones ever to hear it.”
In another interview, he talks about how grateful he is for the impact his music has had and states his hope for how God will use any music he puts out: “My prayer is that the music of Owl City serves as a bright light in a very dark place, a ray of hope in this haunted house of a world. I want the Lord Jesus to use my music to do WHATEVER it is He wills.”
Owl City band Christian Songs
“Meteor Shower” and “Tidal Wave”, both from Ocean Waves, reference Christian conversion experiences. “Galaxies” is about following God through tragedy. Their song with Britt Nicole “You’re Not Alone” is considered Christian contemporary. Adam Young has also occasionally covered hymns such as “In Christ Alone.”
Is Owl City a Satanic Band?
With such positive lyrics and bold faith, there is conclusive evidence that Owl City is not a satanic band.
However, a minority of Christians believe that any secular music can be considered satanic, as it doesn’t put God at the forefront. There are also some who are concerned about Satanic influences in certain genres, such as pop and electronica. If an artist becomes popular enough to be signed to a major label, as Owl City has, questions inevitably arise on the sincerity of their faith and on whether they are compromising with the world too much—or worse, are actively involved in satanism behind the scenes.
However, artists such as Owl City typically view their status as an opportunity to give a positive witness. While the lyrics may often be secular in nature, they can still be a subtle way to cause non-Christians to be more open to the positive influence that a relationship with Jesus can have on someone’s life.
Conclusion
While Owl City is not a Christian band, they have made waves in the CCM world with a few of their songs. Their concern for creating a positive influence in the world has been an inspiration to many.