Some songs feel like worlds in miniature, they hold memory, imagination, and emotion all at once. “Another Sunset” by The Octopus Division is one of those songs: a nostalgic, cinematic tribute that reaches from a galaxy far, far away to the quiet reflections of a musician still chasing dreams. It’s my favorite track of his, one that always makes me feel nostalgic each time I listen. In our conversation, The Octopus Division opens up about the inspirations behind the track, from Luke Skywalker’s gaze on Tatooine to the enduring pull of creativity and youth.
What was the first spark or idea that inspired this track?
I write my songs with two different directions. One is always a real-life emotion or topic, and the other is a fun topic. This song, Another Sunset’s fun topic is a nostalgic tribute to Star Wars. I call it my “ballad of Luke Skywalker” song. All the lyrics have something to do with episodes 4, 5, and 6. I’ve been a huge Star Wars fan since I was young. In fact, the first movie I ever saw in theaters was 1977’s Star Wars. Granted, I was only 2 years old, but it made an impact on me.
The more serious topic deals with being a dreamer. As you age, especially being a musician, people always ask when you’re going to be done with music and grow up. Life also keeps pushing the newest and greatest, and nostalgia can be looked upon as immature. But I feel it’s kept me young at heart. There are animations and movies I still enjoy as an adult that influenced me as a kid. I don’t look at that as a bad thing.
Did you start with a melody, a rhythm, or a concept?
I started with a melody. I usually start with a chord progression that flows with the idea I want to convey. I ask myself what tension or emotional feel I want to accompany the lyrics. Then from there, I build it up layer upon layer with each part contributing something to the story.
Was there a specific emotion or scene you wanted to capture?
I think foremost I wanted something that felt hopeful but a little bit cinematic. I wanted it to feel like the music in itself is telling a story.
Which sounds or instruments are most central to this track?
Star Wars has an iconic orchestra and horn sound. I wanted to include that in the music but still keep that 80’s synth-pop feel. By blending instruments with pads and synths, I feel that I was able to capture it, even if it’s subtle. I also wanted to include a fun bass pattern for the bridge that helped build some tension before the last chorus.
Did you experiment with any new techniques or plugins while making it?
I use Logic Pro, so I really dug into the Alchemy sound engine part of it. Being able to have a general sound and then tweak it was exactly what I wanted. I spend a lot of time in that section when writing a song. Sometimes I’ll get carried away when trying to place it in the song and have to start over. It’s an amazing tool though.
What was the most challenging part of producing this?
Probably limiting myself with what I put in the song. It’s so easy to just add layer upon layer until it’s overdone. This was the song where I really started focusing on sound frequencies. I asked myself what stories I want the lower, mid, and higher frequencies to tell. If I look at it that way, it really helps me restrain myself and let frequencies breathe and let other sounds make the statement they need—almost like characters in a movie having different roles.
Is there a story behind the title?
The title Another Sunset is 100% from the scene of Luke Skywalker looking at the twin suns setting on Tatooine. That scene to me always felt like he looked at that same sunset every evening, hoping that tomorrow would be the chance to follow his dream. It felt like it perfectly reflected the story I wanted to tell.
What do you hope listeners feel when they hear this track?
I always like this question because no matter what emotion I try to invoke into a song, it’s not always going to land. For this song, I wanted to invoke a nostalgic, youthful, and hopeful feel, almost like a climactic song at the end of a movie where you walk out feeling like the main character. But I love hearing what others feel when they hear my songs. Sometimes when someone says they like a specific song, I’ll ask them how it made them feel. I asked that question to an older gentleman at a bar once, and he said listening to my music made him feel like he was in college again. I like asking that question because there is no wrong answer.
How do you see this track fitting into your broader discography?
I think Another Sunset is probably my most “80’s” sounding song. I think that’s why so many like it. It’s funny, but performing it live usually gets the least amount of reaction. I mostly play it as an opening song, almost as a warm-up. But the recorded version gets the most positive response. To me, that just leans into the idea that live and recorded music can be very different.
Do you imagine it being heard in a specific setting (club, headphones, car ride)?
This may sound funny, but I’ve always imagined playing this song at a big music festival. Something about the horns and synth at the introduction almost announcing the song always gave me that feeling. But until that happens, I think it’s a fun driving song.
Did you change direction during production, or did it stay close to the original idea?
The original bridge was extremely different. If you remember the end of The Empire Strikes Back, it was the camera drawing away from the heroes standing on the Nebulon-B medical frigate with a beautiful string chorus playing. The original bridge was going to have almost a cinematic string feel to it, building up to the last chorus. This is a perfect example of spending hours on an idea but then placing it in the song and realizing it just doesn’t work. It took the energy away from the song and almost felt out of place. So instead, I went with a bass-line lead. I let the one instrument that sometimes gets left in the background have its moment. At least that’s how I describe it.
How do you know when a track is truly finished?
Isn’t the answer always “it’s never done”? Haha. I had this conversation with a fellow musician who’s a really close friend. I was telling her that when I can listen to one of my songs and be easily distracted by things around me, I know it’s done. That may sound weird, but for me, if I listen to my song and something like an out-of-place sound or volume level takes me out of the moment, then I know I need to make an adjustment. We’ve all seen movies where they throw in a scene that just doesn’t feel needed or takes you out of the story. I listen to my songs like that.
Do you see this track as more of an escape, or a mirror of reality, or anything else?
I definitely think an escape. It really is a reflection of me always having a desire to be a musician my entire life. It hasn’t been easy, but every time I think of giving it up, I always think, what if? What if this sunset today is the last sunset I see? What if this sunset starts the beginning of something new? To me, sunsets are beautiful and a perfect opportunity to stop and take a breath and think, “How can I enjoy life till the next one?”
Every artist builds their own mythology, and Another Sunset captures The Octopus Division’s mix of imagination and sincerity beautifully. It’s cinematic, filled with warmth and a quiet sense of wonder. Somewhere between twin suns and shimmering synths, he reminds us that the pursuit of a dream isn’t something we leave behind.
Thank you, The Octopus Division, for sharing the story behind this luminous track.
You can listen to Another Sunset on Spotify, Bandcamp, Youtube and other streaming platforms.
Follow The Octopus Division on Instagram here.
— Spacey Panda
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