Owen Pallett

Owen Pallett

Owen Pallett is a Canadian composer, violinist, keyboardist and vocalist from Mississauga, Canada. Born in 1979, they also work as a singer-songwriter and are associated with experimental, indie pop, chamber pop and indie music. Pallett is the winner of the inaugural Polaris Music Prize.

Career

Pallett first releases music under the name Final Fantasy before announcing in 2009 that they retire that alias and issue future work under their own name. Earlier releases under the Final Fantasy name are later planned for re-packaging and re-release as Owen Pallett.

Their debut album, Final Fantasy Has A Good Home, is released by Blocks, the Toronto-based cooperative label they belong to. Their second album, He Poos Clouds, is released on Tomlab and takes its inspiration from the eight schools of magic used in Dungeons & Dragons and their relation to modern life.

Performance style

Pallett is noted for live performances in which they play violin through a sampler controlled by foot pedals, looping phrases while adding more parts on top. They also perform with string quartets as backing musicians.

Other projects and collaborations

Pallett's earlier projects include Les Mouches, a three-piece Toronto band, and they are also a member of Picastro. They record and tour with The Hidden Cameras and Arcade Fire. Their song This Is the Dream of Win & Regine is inspired by Arcade Fire's Win Butler and Régine Chassagne, as well as a Dntel track with a similar title. Pallett also co-writes the orchestral arrangements for both of Arcade Fire's albums with Chassagne.

Identity and songwriting

Pallett says their work is influenced by their sexuality, while also stressing that the music is not simply about identity itself. In interviews, they reference Joel Gibb as an artist they respect for making music that extends beyond direct self-representation.