Experimentation with different devices and instruments shapes the songs on Night Owl. A process that grew from apps on my phone to fully mastered tracks, it is my most ambitious project so far. Beginning in my dorm room with an looping app, "Trouble" is a series of vocal harmony loops that a melody glides above(and sometimes in between). It is a song about leaving behind what doesn't matter, and straightening out priorities at the expense of comfort, and sometimes to the chagrin of others. No matter how many times I listened to an unfinished version of "Puddles" (then titled "Deep Pockets"), I couldn't find a melody that added anything of value. Moreover, I had little chance of finding better words to express the piano and guitar conversation, held together by a strong, thick drum and bass. Probably my favorite track on the album, I think the lack of a clear message that vocals tend to contribute fits well with the title. "Too Many Long Nights" began with a drum loop, upon which the entire track is heavily reliant. Attempting a kind of jazz-inspired groove, the piano leads the way for a groove with many moving parts that sometimes collide with each other. As the song is more or less about reassessing expectations, I believe this dissonance is appropriate. Of course, the drum and bass groove at the end brings some resolution, along with being just fun. Bringing the album around to the title, "I'm Still Here" is about being a natural night owl in a world that requires daytime work. A struggle for compromise in this circumstance is rather offset by a heavy disco groove, which holds the song together and keeps it moving. "Run, Run Away" is nothing without the guitar parts that come in and out throughout the song. With lyrics about being a fool to give up the chance to do something great, this song is about as frustratingly grungy as I would feel comfortable putting online. As over-used as the happy ending trope may be, not often do I find myself in the mood for an uneasy close to an album. "Islands" is beach music, and as such has a way of calming and relaxing the frustration built up earlier. A sort of vacation from the rest of the album, it also benefits from being instrumental.