Sam Battle’s ‘Look Mum No Computer’ Turns Obsolete Tech into UK Eurovision Entry
The Unexpected Path to Eurovision
Sam Battle never set out to be a Eurovision contestant. A casual email to the BBC turned into an invitation to write a song for the contest, and he soon discovered he would be performing it himself as the UK entry.
From Furby Synths to the Megadrone: Battle’s Museum of Resurrected Tech
Battle’s public space, This Museum (Not) Obsolete in Ramsgate, is a labyrinth of repurposed gadgets – Game Boys, Sega Megadrives, even a vacuum‑cleaner‑turned‑flamethrower. Its centerpiece, the Megadrone, is a modular synth built from roughly 1,000 oscillators that fills an entire side of the museum.
- Original project began after his indie band Zibra split in 2016.
- Over 700,000 YouTube subscribers follow his weekly builds.
- The Megadrone was later mini‑scaled into the portable Kosmo synth for the BBC writing session.
Numbers Behind the Noise: YouTube Reach and Eurovision Odds
- 700,000+ YouTube subscribers – a sizable fanbase for a niche creator.
- Song “Eins, Zwei, Drei” selected as the official UK entry after a 12‑hour studio marathon.
- Eurovision betting markets currently list the UK entry at 12th place out of 37, reflecting both curiosity and skepticism.
Why a DIY Synth Maestro Matters for Britain’s Pop Culture
Battle’s win‑or‑lose outcome will signal whether Britain’s music scene can embrace avant‑garde, maker‑culture acts on a mainstream platform. His blend of humor, DIY engineering, and nostalgic synth sounds challenges the formulaic pop that usually dominates Eurovision, potentially inspiring a new wave of “tech‑musician” artists.
What’s Next for Look Mum No Computer After Vienna?
- Tour the Megadrone across Europe as a live‑performance installation.
- Expand the museum with interactive workshops for schools, leveraging the Eurovision spotlight.
- Potential collaborations with major labels seeking fresh, hardware‑centric sounds.