artists » Daniel Jorgenson of Owl City

Whether you’ve heard “Fireflies” echoing from your radio speakers or have seen one of their countless TV appearances, you probably know about the synth-pop project fronted by Minnesota native Adam Young. Formed in 2007, Owl City hit it big with 2009’s Ocean Eyes, topping several Billboard charts including Dance/Electronic, Rock, Digital, and Alternative. The album was certified Gold in the United States that December. A year later, it was revealed that its single “Fireflies” was the 20th most downloaded song of all time in the UK…and Owl City shows no signs of stopping now.

Following up Ocean Eyes, All Things Bright and Beautiful was released in June of 2011 and it already reached #1 on the iTunes American album chart. Owl City continues to take fans to another world with lush soundscapes and tender, imaginative lyrics. Accompanying Young on tour and bringing the popular alternative tracks to audiences across the nation is guitarist Daniel Jorgenson. VOX recently got a chance to talk to Daniel about the tour and his “sexy” Virage guitar.

VOX: Let’s start from the top…How did you begin your journey as an artist/musician?
Daniel: I grew up in Austria so naturally, I was constantly surrounded by a very musical culture. I started playing drums as a kid, eventually picking up the guitar, bass, and piano as well. My dad is very musical and had a big role in my beginnings as a musician.

VOX: How did you hook up with Adam to begin touring with Owl City?
Daniel: I met Adam Young in the summer of 2005 on a Midwest tour that both of our metal bands were a part of. We were both drummers in these bands and as a result of playing break-downs on our drums and fixing break-downs of our vans, we hit it off. We stayed in touch over the next few years and he eventually asked me to be a part of the Owl City touring unit in 2009.

VOX: That’s great. So you guys are currently on tour supporting All Things Bright and Beautiful… how’s that been going?
Daniel: We are currently about three weeks in to the Owl City tour in support of the new album All Things Bright and Beautiful. It has been an amazing experience performing new songs to new crowds and we love it. Having worked hard as a band to create something of a musical and theatrical experience that is memorable and enjoyable, it has been rewarding, to say the least. We are trying out new things we haven’t in the past, [we] have more gear to clutter the stage with, more songs to pound through every night. Definitely a worth-your-while show!

VOX: Let’s talk about gear…what drew you to the Virage?
Daniel: The Virage is a wonderful instrument to play. I was immediately drawn to the Virage SC semi-hollow based on its appearance - let’s face it, it’s a sexy guitar. It’s light-weight and feels great to play. The two triple coil pickups are great for allowing me to be creative with my tone and they help me get exactly what I am going for. You can get some huge, fat sounds while attaining soft, warm, shimmery tones on the same guitar. I think this guitar has character of its own and I love playing it! It sounds especially huge through my AC30 - absolutely love it.

VOX: Would you say that is what separates it from other guitars you’ve played?
Daniel: Yes, the ability to have full control of my tone with the variety of knobs and switches is what’s amazing about this guitar. It just feels better…more light-weight, but still very solid.

VOX: Are there favorite pickup settings for you?
Daniel: Depends on the project or song, but usually I dig the twin-mode select switches on “lead” and selecting the Bridge pick up - gives it a punchy, huge sound.

VOX: Awesome. Your AC30C2 amps…How did you get into them?
Daniel: Growing up, I saw a lot of bands that I loved playing VOX AC30s and they always sounded incredible. I finally picked one up for myself and absolutely love it. The amp compliments the character of my guitars (especially the Virage) in a way that other amps haven’t. It responds very well to dynamics. You can tell a lot of effort went into the construction of these amps - they are incredibly reliable, diverse, sound great, and they look cool!

VOX: Is there anything you’d like to mention while we have you?
Daniel: Our new album All Things Bright and Beautiful is out now!

VOX: Is there a general quote about the Virage or VOX in general you’d like to leave us with?
Daniel: VOX has become an integral component to my live setup. The Virage is an incredible sounding and feeling guitar, and especially matched with the AC30C2, it feels unbeatable!

VOX: Thanks, Daniel!

For more info on Owl City, including tour dates, check out www.owlcitymusic.com

Photo Credit: Andy Frost