Owen Pallett
A composer and violinist who weaves intricate, orchestral pop fantasies, earning an Oscar nod for a sci-fi love story.
Born 1979 (age 47)·Canadian composer, violinist, keyboardist, and vocalist·Birthday: September 7·Generation X
Biography
Owen Pallett builds worlds with a violin and a loop pedal. Emerging from Toronto's art-rock scene under the name Final Fantasy, Pallett immediately stood apart, constructing dense, beautiful tapestries of sound live on stage, one layer at a time. Winning the Polaris Music Prize for the album 'He Poos Clouds' announced a major new voice, one that blended classical training with video game music influences and lyrical wit. Their collaboration with Arcade Fire, providing the soaring string arrangements that became a signature of the band's anthems, brought their work to stadium audiences. This skill in cinematic composition led to their greatest mainstream recognition: an Academy Award nomination for the lush, melancholy score of Spike Jonze's 'Her.' As a solo artist, Pallett continues to craft ambitious, emotionally complex records that defy easy genre labels.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Owen was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Owen Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Owen's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the 2006 Polaris Music Prize for the album 'He Poos Clouds' under the pseudonym Final Fantasy.
- Received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Score for the film 'Her' (shared with Arcade Fire's William Butler).
- Provided string arrangements and toured as a member of the acclaimed rock band Arcade Fire for several years.
- Composed and performed the score for the video game 'The Last of Us: Left Behind' DLC expansion.
Did You Know?
They have composed arrangements for other artists including The National, The Last Shadow Puppets, and Linkin Park.
They came out as gay in 2008 and later as non-binary, using they/them pronouns.
The 'Final Fantasy' pseudonym was a reference to the popular video game series, which led to a temporary legal challenge.
They studied music composition at the University of Toronto.
“I'm not interested in writing songs that are about my life. I'm interested in writing songs that are about the world.”
