Music

Final Fantasy Changes Name to Owen Pallett

by Michael Joffe

In a note to his fans Pallett explained the reason for the moniker change as being influenced by the trademark of the Japanese role-playing game held by Square/Enix, which had originally inspired the band name. Beginning in the new year and with the release of Heartland, Final Fantasy will go by Owen Pallett. There are also plans to reissue and repackage Pallett’s previous releases. 

Final Fantasy Owen Pallett is January’s X3 Artist of the Month which for the uninitiated means AUXTV (that’s us) Exclaim! and CBC Radio 3 will be bringing you a month of Owen Pallett music, performances and interviews. Heartland (which does not infringe on the awkward CBC melodrama of the same name) comes out January 12’th – a free download of the first single Lewis Takes Action is available here. We’re meeting up with Owen next week and will be sure to get more details for you on the name change.

Read the full letter:

I began playing solo violin shows in 2004. Although it was essentially a solo project, I named the band Final Fantasy, as the experience–and the tone of the material–was reminiscent of the hours and hours I had spent as an adolescent playing those epic JRPGs.

But the laws of trademark infringement exist for good reason, and so I am voluntarily retiring my band name. In the new year, my record Heartland is coming out, and it is my first to be released in many territories, including Japan. With this in mind, I feel it is in my own best interests to definitively distinguish my music from Square/Enix’s games.

So, I am no longer playing shows as Final Fantasy. Subsequent releases, including Heartland, will be issued under my own name, Owen Pallett. Prior releases will sometime soon be re-packaged and re-issued.

I thank Square/Enix for their kindness and support, and I thank you all for your understanding.

Salud!

Owen Pallett