Adam Young Scores

Adam Young publically announced on December 18, 2015, that he would be releasing a new project for 2016 titled 'Adam Young Scores'. Starting from February 1st 2016, Adam Young began releasing scores, as if they were recorded for use in a movie, and act as an accompaniment to the events for which they are based on.
Scores are composed and recorded, being released on the 1st of each month. The first three scores are based on the events: Apollo 11, the RMS Titanic and the first solo transatlantic flight- Lindbergh and his plane, the Spirit of St. Louis.
The visuals for each score were created by James R. Eads, an artist collaborating with Adam for the project.
You can buy and stream the scores from various websites as linked below, or buy directly at https://store.ayoungscores.com/

His words regarding this were posted on his Twitter and Facebook pages as:
"Starting February 1, for as long as I feel moved to do so, I will release a conceptual “film score” each month based on my interpretation of stories that mean something to me."

Adam wrote about the background of the scores on his Instagram,
"At long last, I'm able to work on a few important projects I've wanted to begin for years, one of them being a composer project inspired by my love of film music. The first installment in a collection of 11 score albums is available now, the second will be available March 1, followed by one album per month for the remainder of 2016."

In this post, Adam also addressed his main project, Owl City-
"For those wondering, Owl City is not defunct or on hiatus, merely paused for a moment to allow me to pursue a passion I've dreamed about since I was 16 years old."

"I want to create worlds and tell stories, imagine, explore and experiment. Praise and glory to God for allowing me to spend my days doing what I enjoy most. Thank you all for joining me!"

He also said on his blog:
"I wanted to be a composer since I was 16 years old. When I first discovered film music and began to explore classical music and the universe it occupies, I was hooked. My friends didn’t get it, it wasn’t cool to listen to orchestral music, but I didn’t care. It was the first thing that made sense to me. At long last, I’m finally at a place in my life where I have time to work on the really important things I’ve wanted to do for over a decade."

A letter from Adam, from the official ayoungscores.com website:
"Dear Friends,
Not long ago, I found myself reminiscing the last half decade of my career. I recalled what it was like writing my first songs, recording my first album and touring in a 15-passenger van. Then I went back further and remembered being 16-years-old and what it felt like discovering something that would ultimately allow my dreams to become reality. It was then that I stumbled upon a world of music that did something to me no other type of music had ever done before — it inspired me."

"The revelation of a person’s first love of music is different for everyone, but for me, it was film scores — original music written to accompany motion pictures. These types of atmospheres and anthems spoke my language and I remember experiencing a feeling of wide-eyed wonder while listening to my favorite composers. The talent and prowess of John Williams, Harry Gregson-Williams, James Horner, Thomas Newman and Alan Silvestri exposed me to a creative canon I’d never experienced before. I felt as though I’d stumbled into a universe that was made just for me. It spoke to my heart, moved me deeply, and gave me the confidence to drop everything and say, “That. I want to do that."

"And so, as a 16-year-old with little knowledge of composition or audio production, I followed my inspiration blindly and simply began to paint with music. I didn’t have a long-term goal, I just knew I’d unearthed a creative drive that would not rest until I gave it my all. So that’s exactly what I did. The years have flown by, and here I am today — the same 16-year-old at heart, filled with more motivation and creativity than ever. "

"Along the road, I’ve experienced my share of highs and lows and I’ve learned the mainstream pop music industry can be a frustrating place for everyone. It has a way of coaching one to adopt a creative process that may or may not come naturally, depending on the individual. "

"As I found myself looking back on my own story, I realized the ups and downs of the mainstream music space have, at times, given rise to a degree of personal frustration and stress that affects everyone in the industry. By pausing to muse on the way things are in such a place, I find myself greatly inspired to use such trials and tribulations as the means to ignore any such “rules” the industry embodies. I consider myself fortunate enough to see the big picture from several angles, and after stopping to study over it, I suddenly feel a deep indwelling desire to make music for the sake of creating nothing but pure, bold, trailblazing art. No speed limits, no safety nets, no rules."

"And so, as I listen to the works of the composers I first fell in love with, I feel a great longing to create my own version of that same wonder and euphoria that moved me as a young impressionable musician. I want to create worlds of sound that tell stories and tales in ways that cannot be described with words. I want to explore a vast, wild universe of storytelling and create in others the same fascination and curiosity I felt. "

"Stories are infinite. They offer us the ability to retell them according to the way we imagine them. Thus, I want to create musical narratives that aid in the telling of stories that move Adam Young, according to his imagination. And I want to share them with you."

"Starting February 1, for as long as I feel moved to do so, I will release a conceptual “film score” each month based on my interpretation of stories that mean something to me. They will live here, on ayoungscores.com, available for you to listen to or download for free, or consume via your preferred online platform (Apple Music, Spotify, etc.). Each score will be accompanied by a visual companion, created from scratch by a visual artist I admire (2016 will feature the work of the incredible James R. Eads). The visual piece will also be released in the form of a limited edition movie poster, signed and numbered by James and myself."

"I hope you are as inspired by the music as I have been to create it."

"With love,
Adam"

Apollo 11

“One Giant Leap for Mankind”

Released: February 1st, 2016

File:Adam Young Scores - Apollo 11 full album

"If there is a historical event I wish I could've witnessed more than any other, it may well be the events that took place during July 16-24, 1969. Men went to the moon, returned to Earth, and history changed forever. For as long as I can remember, I've marveled at the story of the Apollo 11 mission, and the older I get, the more inspired I feel. In the history of mankind, perhaps no other technological leap forward symbolizes the same imagination, humanity and wonder quite like the Apollo 11 mission does, and it is these types of emotions I want to capture with music according to the way I feel them. This is my interpretation of what happened in July of 1969."

-Adam's words on Apollo 11 as written on ayoungscores.com

Apollo 11 is an 18" x 24" four color screenprint on Neenah Epic Black paper. Prints are numbered in a limited edition of 125 and hand signed and numbered by Adam Young and James R. Eads.

• iTunes download
• Apple Music stream
• Spotify Stream

Tracklist

1. Launch 3:34
2. The Lonely Three 2:08
3. CSM-LM Docking 2:07
4. Trajectory Burn 2:45
5. 400 Degrees Between Sunlight And Shadow 2:21
6. Lunar Landing 1:47
7. Mare Tranquillitatis 1:38
8. First Step On The Surface 1:48
9. Lunar Liftoff 1:29
10. Return To Earth 1:38
11. Re-Entry 2:32
12. Splashdown 1:09

RMS Titanic

File:Tit.jpg

“The Tragedy that Shook the World”

Released: March 1st, 2016

"We all know the story. A century has passed since Titanic found its final resting place in the North Atlantic, yet the story is still as stirring as ever. I will never cease to be amazed at how vulnerable and fragile we as human beings are despite our presumptions of technological infallibility, and the story of Titanic drives that notion home tenfold. I wanted to capture feelings of excitement, premonition, and outright horror according to the way I imagine the story of the ill-fated luxury steamship. As such, this is my interpretation of the tragedy that shook the world."

-Adam's words on RMS Titanic as written on ayoungscores.com

File:Adam Young - RMS Titanic Full Album "The Tragedy that Shook the World"

RMS Titanic is an 18" x 24" four color screenprint on Neenah Epic Black paper. Prints are numbered in a limited edition of 250 and hand signed and numbered by Adam Young and artist, James R. Eads.

• iTunes download
• Apple Music stream
• Spotify Stream

Tracklist

1. Southampton 2:07
2. Boarding 1:57
3. Captain Edward Smith 2:09
4. Maiden Voyage 2:42
5. Lookout Duty 2:33
6. The Iceberg 1:58
7. Distress Call 3:35
8. Sinking 2:00
9. Lifeboats 2:04
10. Every Man For Himself 0:50
11. Silence 2:36
12. Survivors 3:16

The Spirit of St. Louis

"New York to Paris"

Released: April 1st, 2016

"100,000 people welcomed Lindbergh as he landed in Paris after 33.5 hours in the air. Aviation history was made and Lindbergh became a hero. Such a daring feat has always stirred my imagination and I’ve often caught myself daydreaming about that first solo flight. Air travel is something I take for granted today, but things were very different in 1927. Lindbergh’s groundbreaking triumph, after several others had tried and failed, will continue to inspire me for years."

-Adam's words on The Spirit of St. Louis as written on ayoungscores.com

The Spirit of St. Louis is an 18" x 24" four color screenprint on Neenah Epic Black paper. Prints are numbered in a limited edition of 250 and hand signed and numbered by Adam Young and artist, James R. Eads.

Tracklist

1. Takeoff 3:14
2. Nova Scotia 2:42
3. Over Water 2:55
4. Stars Appear 2:19
5. The Thunderhead 2:55
6. Ice On Wings 1:47
7. The Fog 3:11
8. Fighting To Stay Awake 3:03
9. Land Ahead 2:28
10. Wheels Down 3:38

The Ascent of Everest

"29,029ft"

Released: May 1st, 2016

"No one knew where the roof of the world was until the 19th century. By 1865, the highest peak was known as Mount Everest and it wasn’t until May 1953 that a beekeeper from New Zealand and a Nepalese Sherpa became the first to reach the summit.
My interpretation of this astounding human feat is a collection of frozen, wind-burned, sun-bleached instrumentals that become more and more tattered and torn as you listen to them. The higher Hillary and Norway climbed, the more extreme the elements became. Despite great dangers, they succeeded and returned as heroes. Yet another example of man’s triumph despite insurmountable odds, the ascent of Everest remains a story that will always inspire me. "

- Adam's words on The Ascent of Everest, from ayoungscores.

The Ascent of Everest is an 18" x 24" four color screenprint on Neenah Epic Black paper. Prints are numbered in a limited edition of 250 and hand signed and numbered by Adam Young and artist, James R. Eads.

Tracklist

• Base Camp 3:14
• Khumbu Icefall 3:34
• Western Cwn 3:16
• Lhotse Face 2:56
• South Col 3:38
• The Hillary Step 3:38
• The Summit 4:11

Omaha Beach

"Into the Jaws of Death"

Released: June 1st, 2016

"1944, after years of planning, the Allies launched an invasion upon Nazi Germany and converged on the coast of France, beginning the reclamation of occupied Europe. In anticipation, Hitler fortified German defenses in hopes of countering the Allies and driving them back into the sea. What the Allies didn't know as they stepped onto the shores of Europe was that Hitler was waiting for them. The ensuing battle was gruesome. At a place codenamed Omaha Beach, hundreds of Americans fought and died for the freedom of others, and it is the memory of these men I want to honor with this album. This is my interpretation of what occurred that fateful day in 1944 on Omaha Beach."

-Adam's words on Omaha Beach from ayoungscores.com

Omaha Beach is an 18" x 24" four color screenprint on Neenah Epic Black paper. Prints are hand-signed and numbered in a limited edition of 250.

Tracklist

1. H-Hour 3:19
2. Seasick 3:42
3. On The Beach 3:33
4. Bloody Omaha 1:56
5. The Cliffs 2:36
6. Troops Advance 4:27
7. Reinforcements 2:27
8. The Longest Day 3:34

Miracle in the Andes

"Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571"

Released: July 1st, 2016

"In 1972, a chartered flight carrying 45 people, including a Uruguayan rugby team, crashed in the Andes in an incident known as the Andes Flight Disaster. More than two months after the crash, only 16 survivors remained at the time of their rescue.
It is an incredible story of human perseverance and the will to survive despite immense and immeasurable odds. I saw the 1993 movie Alive when I was 7 years old, and the story the film is based upon left an enormous impression on me which inspired a sense of awe and fasciation I still carry today.
In this score, I wanted to capture the emotions the survivors felt: fear, shock, horror, dread, dismay and anxiety — but at the end of a very grim story, lies an overwhelming sense of victory, relief, triumph and elation because of the inextinguishable and undying power of the human spirit."

-Adam's words on Miracle in the Andes, from ayoungscores.com.

Miracle in the Andes is an 18" x 24" four color screenprint on Neenah Epic Black paper. Prints are numbered in a limited edition of 250 and hand signed and numbered by Adam Young and artist, James R. Eads.

Tracklist

1. The Fairchild 3:44
   
2. Impact 3:06
   
3. Making Water 4:07
   
4. The Dead 3:29
   
5. Avalanche 2:23
   
6. The Tail 3:44
   
7. Camera 2:40
   
8. Parrado and Canessa 3:09
   
9. The Rider 3:01
   
10. Rescue 3:16
    

Project Excelsior

"The Highest Step In The World"

Released: August 1st, 2016

"In 2005, Scottish electronic duo Boards of Canada released a music video featuring footage from Joe Kittinger’s famous parachute jump in 1960. That was my introduction to Project Excelsior, a series of high altitude jumps made by Kittinger from the edge of space with the purpose of testing parachute systems intended to be used by pilots ejecting from high altitude. In one of these jumps, Kittinger set world records for the highest parachute jump, the longest drogue fall and the fastest speed by a human through the atmosphere.
Reading and daydreaming about Kittinger’s feats have inspired me enormously over the years, and I believe the sense of wonder and awe they instilled in me can be heard in the music I create. This score is the way I imagine the tremendous bravery of one man who ascended to the edge of space, said a prayer, and jumped."

-Adam's words on Project Excelsior, as written on ayoungscores.com.

Project Excelsior is an 18" x 24" four color screenprint on Neenah Epic Black paper. Prints are numbered in a limited edition of 250 and hand signed and numbered by Adam Young and artist, James R. Eads.

Tracklist

1. The Pilot 3:34
   
2. Preparations 3:07
   
3. Helium Balloon 4:26
   
4. Ground Crew 3:29
   
5. The Ascent 3:44
   
6. The Highest Step In The World 3:15
   
7. The Jump 4:14
   
8. The Descent 4:45
   
9. On The Ground 3:31
   

Corduroy Road

"The Final March of the Civil War"

Released: September 1st, 2016

"Long have I been fascinated by the American Civil War and the men who fought in it. I love imagining the era, the clothing, the technology and the old-fashioned blood, sweat and tears of days gone by.
One of my favorite stories is of Union General William Tecumseh Sherman and his famous march to the sea. Sherman received recognition for his outstanding command of military strategy as well as criticism for the harshness of his scorched earth policy in conducting total war against the Confederate States. 62,000 men marched toward Savannah, Georgia, living off the land and destroying everything in their path.
A corduroy road is a type of road made by placing sand-covered logs perpendicular to the direction of the road resulting in an improvement over impassable terrain. These makeshift roads were used extensively in Sherman’s campaign. Not long after Sherman captured Columbia, South Carolina, Lee surrendered and the war was over. Thus, this is my musical interpretation of the final march of the Civil War."

-Adam's words on Corduroy Road as written on ayoungscores.com

Tracklist

1. Country Hymn 3:00
2. Georgia Boys 3:33
3. Up With The Stars 1:34
4. Sherman 3:41
5. Kennesaw Mountain 2:59
6. Atlanta 3:39
7. The Deep South 3:16
8. How Sweet The Sound 2:51
9. March To The Sea 4:10
10. Fall Of The Confederacy 1:44