Sometimes, it’s just hard to grow up. It’s difficult to leave the Neverland of childhood behind, trading toys and your imaginary world for textbooks and the hard bite of reality.

That seems to be the case for Adam Young, otherwise known as the man behind Owl City. Yet he didn’t allow that whimsy of childhood to slip away — instead, he seemingly passed it through a synthesizer to translate it into music with twinkling techno beats and soft vocals that glide by upon first listen.

Of course, the process was unconventional. For Young, it would be insomnia that acted as the driving force, the gateway to his own Neverland where it is possible to pour “a heavy dose of atmosphere,” or hug 10 million fireflies. A place where “everything is never as it seems.”

It’s that aura wonder to his music that Young discussed in a recent interview, as well as his unique approach to music and upcoming show at the Majestic Theatre.

Most new fans were introduced to Owl City through “Fireflies,” the hit song that encapsulates Young’s passion for the fanciful. But in the puzzle of ideas and visions Owl City has to offer, “Fireflies” is just one little piece of the big picture. As Young put it, “Owl City’s music may be the sneakiest you’ve ever heard.”

Given the nonsensical nature of his songs, it seems fitting that the inspiration for his dreamy songs crept up on Young when most people are dreaming themselves.

“The middle of the night is when ideas rush over me without warning,” Young said. “I find I become most inspired during those moments in life when I’m totally alone.”

Most musicians are consumed with themes of love lost and love found. But Young is on a mission that veers far left from the priorities of his peers.

“The theory of abstraction interests me as well as idealism and optimism blended with a touch of melancholy.”

A listen to his sophomore album, Ocean Eyes, offers a glimpse into what he means. “Hello Seattle” tells a story from the perspective of a mountaineer, a crescent moon, a lighthouse and an albatross, among others. And “Dental Care” is about exactly that — dental care. Each song tackles a subject from all sides, with the end result being a world within a world that reveals more details with each listen.

Of course, with a foundation in abstraction, each lyric is open to interpretation. But this aligns with Young’s mission.

“Writing and creating to suggest rather than inform is much more interesting to me,” he said. “I’d rather watch a film or listen to a record that challenges me to use my imagination rather than filling my head with a load of junk I already know.”

On tour with Young is fellow synth performer Lights, a Canadian newcomer whose debut album, The Listening, was released last year. Her music offers a whimsical nature similar to what’s found in the music of Owl City, which would explain how Young “foresees greatness” in their pairing.

When looking at the overall picture Owl City offers, what shines through best is the active pursuit of optimism — even when the situation would imply otherwise — that really sets Owl City apart from the rest.

“I want to want to be a better person. I want to reach for higher ground,” Young said. “It’s rare that I feel that way as a listener, so I try to fill the gap as a writer. For myself and for those who care to listen.

It just goes to show Adam Young’s dreams really are “bursting at the seams.”

Owl City will perform Tuesday at the Majestic Theatre at 7 p.m.