Owen Pallett Drops Final Fantasy Moniker

There’s an old southern saying: “Dance with the one what brung ya.” Owen Pallett, the bard of string and song who went by the stage name Final Fantasy, lives by no such code. Yes, the Japanese RPG nerds he brought with him to the dance are going to be left standing at the punchbowl, bitter tears spilling down their cheeks and onto their Dragon Quest t-shirts. Final Fantasy is Final Fantasy no more; he has gone back to name his mother gave him, Owen Pallett.

Fortunately for the ranks of JRPG faithful, Pallett’s upcoming LP Heartland is still coming out on Jan. 10, and it will still be a fantasy concept album. Pallett has issued the following statement to explain the name change:

Friends,

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

Salud!

Owen

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