Owl City – known to his parents as Adam Young – has produced an entire career from his basement, rising from a small online presence to one in the top 40 of the US charts. As well as selling about 115,000 single-song downloads on iTunes, his Ocean Eyes album has sold nearly 100,000 copies since its 28 July release. This month he brings his sweet, innocent voice – which trips over electro pop beats and sings of beaches he’s never seen, dental appointments and the elusiveness of sleep – to Shanghai.

What’s your typical process for creating a piece of music – from its inception to its perfection?

I’m usually lying awake in my hammock, unable to sleep. I literally have a hammock tied between two fake palm trees in the upstairs of my house. It’s then that I have an idea for a new song. I throw off the covers and run down the stairs to the basement, switch everything on and sit down at the keys. I write melodies, then programming, then drum work, then lyrics. It’s a lovely process.

A lot of your lyrics are vivid celebrations of the world – so it seems you’re anything but a hermit. When you’re not in your ‘cave’, what else do you love doing?

Well, not to be contrary, but I’m a total hermit. I love nothing more than being at home by myself. I live alone. Know what else? I love it.

Owl City rose out of your MySpace presence, kind of separate from the physical world stuff. Was it much of a leap to start playing live gigs around the country and now the world?

I was terrified to start playing. Totally scared. Things have gotten better. I am comfortable now. Almost cosy.

So, what would be more comfortable for you? A live on-stage show or a live online performance?

On stage.

Why do you think you’re MySpace site has been so successful?

Because it looks so pretty.

In your new album, Ocean Eyes, a couple of the songs, such as the beautiful ‘Fireflies’, touch on your problems with sleep. How’s your insomnia these days?

It’s ruthless. It gets worse and worse every day.

When you’re trying to sleep, what are some of the thoughts that run through your head?

Sometimes I find myself thinking about Oreo BK sundae shakes from Burger King and then my stomach starts growling. Like a vicious grizzly bear.

Which track is your personal favourite to perform?

This song called ‘Meteor Shower’ is my favourite. It’s about how much I love Jesus Christ. He is my everything.

Owl City is more than an online presence these days – it’s merchandising, it’s touring, it’s photography. Has signing to Universal Republic taken a lot of that out of your hands?

It’s wonderful. I have lots of time to focus on things that need to be focused on as an artist. I couldn’t be happier with the way things are working and I’m tremendously grateful for the opportunity to be involved with this project and those who are helping it grow.

A lot of the things that inspire you are very visual – not only photography, art and video games, but also people such as Kazumi Totaka and Thomas Newman. Any aspirations to one day create a movie score?

Endless aspirations. Scoring films has always been one of my dreams.

Any other particular ambitions you have for your career at the moment?

I really wanna learn how to can. Like, put pickles and beets and cookies and stuff inside glass jars and metal cans and save them in the root cellar for like 30 years and then eat them for Thanksgiving dinner with my wife and our 18 kids. Gonna be awesome.

In five words or less…. What is music to you?

I’ll give it to you in one word: Music is... “fun”.

7pm, 20 November. Supported by Zhong Chi and Ben Houge. Zhijiang Dream Factory, 4F, 66 Yuyao Lu (near Xikang Lu). Tickets: RMB 120 (presale); RMB 160 (door). Dream Factory booking office (Mon–Fri, 12pm–5pm), Tel: 5213 5223; Split Works booking office (Mon–Fri, 10am–7pm), Tel: 136 0164 774