Owen Pallett

Owen Pallett

Born: September 7, 1979
in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Michael James Owen Pallett is a Canadian composer, violinist, keyboardist, and vocalist, who performs solo as Owen Pallett or, before 2010, under the name Final Fantasy. As Final Fantasy, he won the 2006 Polaris Music Prize for the album He Poos Clouds.

From the age of 3, Pallett studied classical violin, and composed his first piece at age 13. A notable early composition includes some of the music for the game Traffic Department 2192; he moved on to scoring films, to composing two operas while in university. Apart from the indie music scene, he has had commissions from the Barbican, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, National Ballet of Canada, Bang on a Can, Ecstatic Music Festival, the Vancouver CBC Orchestra, and Fine Young Classicals.

On his Final Fantasy releases, Pallett has collaborated with Leon Taheny, who is credited as drummer and engineer. Following the release of Heartland, Pallett has toured with guitarist/percussionist Thomas Gill and more recently with his former collaborators in Les Mouches, Rob Gordon and Matt Smith.

Pallett has been noted for his live performances, wherein he plays the violin into a loop pedal. Pallett uses Max/MSP and SooperLooper to do multi-phonic looping, which sends his violin signal to amplifiers across the stage.

In January 2014, Pallett and William Butler were nominated for Best Original Score at the 86th Academy Awards for their work on Her.

Movies for Owen Pallett...

Music Is My Boyfriend
Title: Music Is My Boyfriend
Released: November 5, 2022
Type: Movie
The Hidden Cameras burst onto the music scene in the early 2000s boasting an irresistible combination of pop and queer sensibilities. Music Is My Boyfriend chronicles the early days of Joel Gibb’s mighty band as they gather steam in their native Toronto. Combining interviews with original members, behind-the-scenes session footage and rarely-seen 16mm film of two legendary live church shows, the film is both a mash note to a beloved band and a time capsule of the raucous, vivacious queer underground scene from which they emerged.
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Lennon or McCartney
Title: Lennon or McCartney
Character: Self
Released: December 12, 2014
Type: Movie
550 artists were interviewed over ten years. At some point during those interviews, they were asked a question and told to answer with one word only. Some stuck to one, some said more, some answered quickly, some thought it through, and some didn't answer at all. That question… Lennon or McCartney?
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Her: The Untitled Rick Howard Project
Title: Her: The Untitled Rick Howard Project
Character: Self
Released: May 13, 2014
Type: Movie
The making of Spike Jonze's "Her."
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Arcade Fire: Madison Square Garden New York, NY 2010-08-05
Title: Arcade Fire: Madison Square Garden New York, NY 2010-08-05
Character: Himself
Released: August 5, 2010
Type: Movie
Live Concert. Directed by Terry Gilliam
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The Arcade Fire: Olympia Paris
Title: The Arcade Fire: Olympia Paris
Character: Himself
Released: March 20, 2007
Type: Movie
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Title: Saturday Night Live
Character: Self - Musical Guest
Released: October 11, 1975
Type: TV
A late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels. The show's comedy sketches, which parody contemporary culture and politics, are performed by a large and varying cast of repertory and newer cast members. Each episode is hosted by a celebrity guest, who usually delivers an opening monologue and performs in sketches with the cast, and features performances by a musical guest.