88. Single Review of Look My Way by The Octopus Division
Originally Published on February 5th, 2025
About the Artist
There is a moment in every artist’s life that they can look back to and reference to say, “that’s what made me want to be an artist.” In some way, we have to be inspired. We don’t just wake up and say, “I’ve decided to become singer. A songwriter. An actor. A painter. Something puts pen to paper.
We continue to pull inspiration from all places throughout our lives. I’ve released music that has been inspired by films I’ve seen, moments I’ve witnessed, reflections of my upbringing or important moments in my life. Love. These things keep me going as an artist. If I think about it though, I can remember the very first time I was inspired.
His name was Bastian. He was a geeky little kid that grew up under the duress of bullies, having just lost his mother, and he suffered the affliction of being a “daydreamer.” One day, while evading the neighborhood bullies, he hid in a bookstore, found a book he simply had to read, and was introduced to a world of Rock Biters, Childlike Epresses, heroes on horseback, assassin wolves, talking turtles, sphinxes, and The Nothing.
It was my love for The Neverending Story that would compel me to dream, to fantasize, and to create alternate universes that existed within the confines of my mind. That was the 80’s; full of inspiring art. I’m not the only person who pulled inspiration from this time. There is an entire generation of us. Like, for instance, synth-pop artist The Octopus Division.
From San Diego, California, The Octopus Division is a musician who draws his inspiration from comic books, sci-fi, and other 80’s movies. Listening to his music is so nostalgic. I’m instantly transported back to the era of my life where I would dream about going on quests with Atreyu, or fly on my bicycle with E.T., time-travel on a space ship, like in Flight of the Navigator, or just lift my arms and soar over the houses in my neighborhood and suddenly be transformed from being the weird kid to the kid with an extraordinary ability like The Boy Who Could Fly.
With songs like The Last Chance; synth-driven, percussive, motivational pieces talking about facing enemies, racing time, and inter-galactic conflict, I can recognize that The Octopus Division is also a “frequent flier.” He has been charting his travels since June of 2024, when The Last Chance released.
Since his debut, he’s released uptempo songs like A Step Behind, Shine, Without You, and most recently, in January he released his most recent synth-heavy, dream-scape, Games.
The Octopus Divisions 6 releases have all been epic tales; beacons of light, and they play like memories. None are more true, however than the synth-pop, power ballad, Look My Way.
About the Song
Look My Way is a pop song that was released by The Octopus Division on October 11th, 2024. Rounding out at around 4 minutes, Look My Way is comprised of layered synthesizers, artificial percussion, and vocals all performed by The Octopus Division.
About the Music
Look My Way opens with an airy synth keyboard followed by a lead synth part and percussion. This followed by lead vocals. As the verse progresses, more synth parts are layered into the track, both as chord progressions and arpeggiated parts.
The chorus follows the same progression as the verse, offering a more resolved melody performed by the vocalist.
The atmosphere of the entire song is very positive and performed as a sort of dreamscape. The melodies are very pleasant sounding and appealing from the listener’s perspective.
About the Lyrics
Lyrically, the theme of this song leans towards the abstract storytelling that would be most applicable for the music’s muse.
“From the rising sun, I saw a ship without an ocean. Lines that crossed a page and figure it with the same emotions. I see you, I know that I can’t stay silent. I see you, you are more than just a moment.”
This sounds like the author is experiencing an initial attraction to the object that is being referenced in the song. Using analogy pieces like “a ship without an ocean,” this could be interpreted differently but, in the context of the rest of the verse, I took it to mean it was “sailing” in midair, maybe. Achieving impossible things. Being something extraordinary.
“The only reason that I want to wake up every day. Just so I can call for you in another way. When you look my way.”
This seems to support my initial interpretation (at least from my own perspective) that the subject of the story has a strong fixation for the object of their attraction. They are trying to think of ways to seek the attention of their crush.
I think this is a very endearing song, lyrically, and it is perfectly themed for February, the month of love. It is very well written, I really like some of the metaphors that have been used. It is a very passionate song.
Final Thoughts
The thing I appreciate most about The Octopus Division is that I feel like I can really relate with him. As a child of the 80’s, I find his music to be nostalgic in all the right ways. The musicality is just complex enough to remove itself from some of the simplicities of 80’s synth pop, but it doesn’t lose the reference. In other words, it feels like 80’s synth pop that has evolved from its primitive nature to something that can exist in today’s culture. Kinda like what happened between Tron and Tron: Legacy.
I love the 80’s! I get the feeling that The Octopus Division also loves the 80’s and he’s found the most perfectly eloquent way to pay tribute to the influence that period had on him. Not only musically, but he has fun with it in some of his content too.
So, to all those nerdy 80’s kids out there, if you’re feeling down in the dumps about what has been going on in our country for the last (I’m struggling to land on a stopping point here) then, you should probably check out The Octopus Division! Before you know it, you’ll be cheering and yelling, “Falkor, it's like The Nothing never was!”
Make sure to follow The Octopus Division on Spotify, Instagram, Threads, and Facebook!
Go listen to Look My Way and you can also stream his latest single, Games which released January 10th, 2025!
Since his debut, he’s released uptempo songs like A Step Behind, Shine, Without You, and most recently, in January he released his most recent synth-heavy, dream-scape, Games.
The Octopus Divisions 6 releases have all been epic tales; beacons of light, and they play like memories. None are more true, however than the synth-pop, power ballad, Look My Way.
About the Song
Look My Way is a pop song that was released by The Octopus Division on October 11th, 2024. Rounding out at around 4 minutes, Look My Way is comprised of layered synthesizers, artificial percussion, and vocals all performed by The Octopus Division.
About the Music
Look My Way opens with an airy synth keyboard followed by a lead synth part and percussion. This followed by lead vocals. As the verse progresses, more synth parts are layered into the track, both as chord progressions and arpeggiated parts.
The chorus follows the same progression as the verse, offering a more resolved melody performed by the vocalist.
The atmosphere of the entire song is very positive and performed as a sort of dreamscape. The melodies are very pleasant sounding and appealing from the listener’s perspective.
About the Lyrics
Lyrically, the theme of this song leans towards the abstract storytelling that would be most applicable for the music’s muse.
“From the rising sun, I saw a ship without an ocean. Lines that crossed a page and figure it with the same emotions. I see you, I know that I can’t stay silent. I see you, you are more than just a moment.”
This sounds like the author is experiencing an initial attraction to the object that is being referenced in the song. Using analogy pieces like “a ship without an ocean,” this could be interpreted differently but, in the context of the rest of the verse, I took it to mean it was “sailing” in midair, maybe. Achieving impossible things. Being something extraordinary.
“The only reason that I want to wake up every day. Just so I can call for you in another way. When you look my way.”
This seems to support my initial interpretation (at least from my own perspective) that the subject of the story has a strong fixation for the object of their attraction. They are trying to think of ways to seek the attention of their crush.
I think this is a very endearing song, lyrically, and it is perfectly themed for February, the month of love. It is very well written, I really like some of the metaphors that have been used. It is a very passionate song.
Final Thoughts
The thing I appreciate most about The Octopus Division is that I feel like I can really relate with him. As a child of the 80’s, I find his music to be nostalgic in all the right ways. The musicality is just complex enough to remove itself from some of the simplicities of 80’s synth pop, but it doesn’t lose the reference. In other words, it feels like 80’s synth pop that has evolved from its primitive nature to something that can exist in today’s culture. Kinda like what happened between Tron and Tron: Legacy.
I love the 80’s! I get the feeling that The Octopus Division also loves the 80’s and he’s found the most perfectly eloquent way to pay tribute to the influence that period had on him. Not only musically, but he has fun with it in some of his content too.
So, to all those nerdy 80’s kids out there, if you’re feeling down in the dumps about what has been going on in our country for the last (I’m struggling to land on a stopping point here) then, you should probably check out The Octopus Division! Before you know it, you’ll be cheering and yelling, “Falkor, it's like The Nothing never was!”
Make sure to follow The Octopus Division on Spotify, Instagram, Threads, and Facebook!
Go listen to Look My Way and you can also stream his latest single, Games which released January 10th, 2025!
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