Owl City is the musical brainchild of Adam Young, who launched the project in 2007 while living at his parents' home in Owatonna, Minnesota. Troubled by insomnia, Young began spending his evenings in the household basement, where a computer and several instruments provided a diversion from his sleeping patterns. He eventually combined those diversions into a blend of electronica and emo-pop, using little more than his computer and various keyboards to record the material.

Likened to Coldplay for their falsetto vocals and big piano-led pop/rock, Virginia band Days Difference are comprised of brothers Jeremy (vocals, keyboard) and Jonathan Smith (drums) and brothers Jeremiah (guitar) and Micah Ricks (bass).