Reading · Michael Brandmeier

In my last newsletter, I shared a demo of the “Brother’s Version” of my song, “The Setting Sun.”

I’m excited to focus here on the “Universal Version,” which explores why sunsets resonate so profoundly.

Maybe it’s because they mark time’s passage, reminding us of our inevitable sunsets, while nature wraps the message in beauty, never repeating the same scene.

Rewriting a song is like making a movie sequel—it’s tricky. Often, it doesn’t hit as hard because the head takes over where the heart used to lead.

Aruba Sunset

That’s when I called in my songwriting friend Dan Lavery, a talented musician who’s played with The Frey and Tonic and helped manage some big-name artists. More importantly, he’s a great person, fun to work with, and someone I knew would understand the message I was trying to convey.

I like to start any creative session with a prayer. If it’s a collaboration, I might say it quietly or give a shout-out to God and the Angels: “Bless our session!”

Dan was in a zone that day in his Los Angeles pad. And when a collaborator is on a roll, you let them roll. We follow the creative mantra, “Leave your ego at the door.” I chimed in as needed to keep the energy going—like when Dan got to the pre-chorus line:

“Battles lost,”
I responded, “And battles won,”
Dan took it home and said,
“And another setting sun.”

We laughed and continued until the setting sun was all set to record.

Turkish Sunset

Afterward, I silently thanked the creative ether—God—because we’re just taking dictation, a realization shared by many artists over time.

Northern Wisconsin Sunset

Best served at sunset, 🌅😄 this is one of my most proud creations, perhaps because of its powerful theme.

Thanks for reading!

Let’s “make this journey a smoother ride.”

Michael

IRISH CREDIT: A big bow to composer Paul J. Cecchetti, from Dublin, Ireland, whose arrangements breathed life into the track. I hummed a few melodies to Paul, who took it from there.

The Setting Sun (Single)

Streaming everywhere: SmartLink • Spotify, Apple, YouTube, etc.