The last time I spoke with The Octopus Division, our conversation centered around Another Sunset, a song that combined Star Wars imagery, nostalgia, and the pursuit of dreams in a way that immediately resonated with me. It remains one of my favorite tracks from his catalog, and the story behind it offered a glimpse into the imagination and sincerity that fuel his music.
This time, I wanted to step back from a single release and explore the artist behind the songs. What emerged was a conversation about reinvention, creativity, and the winding path that led a lifelong drummer to become a solo synth-driven artist. Along the way, we talked about musical influences, creative habits, nostalgia, and the unexpected lessons that come from building a project entirely on your own.
While many artists chase trends, he seems more interested in capturing a feeling: that moment when a new song becomes part of the soundtrack of your life. It’s a philosophy he calls “new nostalgia,” and it quietly runs through everything he creates.
πΆ You can listen to The Octopus Division here
How would you describe your music to someone who’s never heard it before?
I like to call my music new nostalgia. It’s the feeling of experiencing something new that makes you feel young again. Growing up in the 80’s and finding new music happened at parties, friends sharing a song or listening to the radio. That feeling of hearing a song for the first time was so exciting and you felt it had to become part of the soundtrack of your life. That’s the feeling I try to project in my songs. I could never replace songs that people grew up with, but I want people to feel like my music can create either new experiences or remind them of those enjoyable ones.
What track or project are you most proud of and why?
I think it would be my song Without You because it’s so personal. I wrote that song when I made the tough decision to become a solo artist. Up until then I had been a drummer in numerous bands my whole life. I had never touched a keyboard or done any sort of music production on my own. But the pandemic hit, the band I was in pretty much dissolved and I was at the same crossroads of, “Well, it’s time to find a new band,” that I had been at for most of my life.
This time was different though. I was tired of starting or joining bands, spending years learning other people’s songs only for them to lose interest, quit, and me having to start the process all over again. During the lockdown I began writing original songs, figured out how to play some piano chords, and started learning GarageBand. My old band briefly tried to start up again after the pandemic but had no interest in trying my songs. That weekend I went home and wrote Without You. Ironically, two of the songs I had presented are some of my most popular ones.
Which artists or genres have had the biggest influence on your sound?
It’s not going to be a surprise, but they are 80’s bands. I would have to say immediately A-ha, Depeche Mode, Pet Shop Boys, OMD, New Order, Erasure, Cetu Javu, Alphaville, and Naked Eyes, but there’s so many more! I listened to a lot of bands growing up, so my music now is influenced by many different artists.
Was there a defining moment that made you say, “I want to make music”?
Oh definitely! I remember my friend brought his Metallica cassette tape to school and told me to listen to Master of Puppets. It was after listening to that song that I decided I wanted to be a musician. I immediately asked my parents for guitar lessons and wanted to join a band.
After about three months of guitar lessons, my buddy said he was starting a band. He already had guitars and bass but no drummer. He asked if I would sit behind the kit for practice and the rest was history, as they say. That morning I left for practice with a guitar and came home with a drum set. I never touched a guitar again and played drums ever since. It’s crazy how just one song can affect your entire life like that.
If your sound were a place, color, or emotion, what would it be?
Oh, I like this question a lot! At first I immediately thought of something almost clichΓ© for my genre, like a big city at night after a rainstorm, dark alleyways, and neon lights, but I think my sound is different.
I think it’s more like an animated movie. People tend to quickly judge an animated movie as a kids’ movie or something not serious because it doesn’t follow a specific set of rules. But an animated movie is another way of telling a story. It can have heartbreak, humor, darkness, and happiness. My music, being a niche style, feels like it falls into this. I may not follow the exact rules of my genre, but wow, I am having fun making it.
Do you have a ritual or habit that helps you get into a creative zone?
Most times it’s after listening to other people’s music. A song will instill a feeling or idea and I will dive into why it did. For instance, many of my songs reference a movie or comic book character, so I will write songs while watching or reading them again.
What’s something surprising people don’t usually know about you as an artist?
Because I’m seen with a keyboard in front of me, most people don’t know I’ve been a drummer most of my life. I went to a jam session and they showed me these amazing keyboards to play, but I immediately said, “Oh sweet, there’s a DW kit,” and went to play it.
The people who know me as The Octopus Division were shocked not to see me playing all the keyboards when they showed up. I just love playing drums and will always be drawn to playing them.
How do you handle creative blocks?
Those are tough. I’m not a fast songwriter to begin with, and the one thing I’ve learned that works for me is not to force it. The whole “just write stuff” prescription you hear everywhere just does not work for me. I’ve tried that before and I usually get more frustrated than fulfilled.
So I’ve learned to prepare for when inspiration hits. I have my equipment set up and use voice memos so that when I get a little idea I can save it. I’ve learned never to think, “Oh, I’ll remember that part tomorrow,” because I never do.
Describe your music in three words that aren’t music-related.
Caffeine, Puzzle, Arcade.
Whether he is drawing inspiration from the 80s, animated storytelling, comic books, or simply the excitement of discovering a song for the first time, I can see in The Octopus Division a consistent thread running through his work: a desire to keep wonder alive.
What struck me most is how much joy still seems to be present in the creative process. There is no sense of chasing trends or trying to fit into a particular mold. Instead, there is a genuine curiosity and enthusiasm that comes through in the way he talks about music, stories, and the experiences that continue to inspire him.
Thank you, The Octopus Division, for taking the time to share your story and the experiences that continue to shape your music.
- Read our conversation about ‘Another Sunset’ here.
- Take a look at The Octopus Division’s website here.
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