With the dust now settled on his stellar performance at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, Sam Battle - better known as Look Mum No Computer - is set to play a triumphant homecoming show when he closes this year’s Ramsgate Festival of Sound.
Already popular on YouTube for his experiments building wild and wonderful musical instruments, Sam captured the hearts (if not the points) of millions of people around the world in May this year. As the UK’s Eurovision entrant, his song Eins Zwei Drei and the accompanying performance put forward a big budget version of his ongoing work without distilling the joy and enthusiasm at the heart of it.
Back home, he is heavily involved with Ramsgate’s vibrant experimental music scene and is the owner of the treasure trove of old tech that is This Museum Is (Not) Obsolete. He also has an interesting history with Ramsgate Festival of Sound, which returns for its ninth edition of September 10-13.
In 2021, he created the Teletubby Tidal Wave, a pulsating army of 90s toys that formed part of the festival’s annual Sonic Trail. Then in 2024, he composed a mini-album of songs inspired by Ramsgate over the course of a week, before performing them live at the festival’s opening concert.
As he prepares for the Granville Theatre show, he explains how Eurovision fits into his ever growing list of projects and what effect performing in front of an audience of millions has had on his life.
How was your Eurovision experience? Would you do anything differently?
The Eurovision experience was… well, an experience! It taught me a lot of things and was also exceptionally enjoyable. It was like a life check up. I have spent so many years out of the loop and working a lot by myself with music and making things. Being thrust back into such a world was actually quite refreshing. It reminded me of how the world worked out of my odd box of making videos and music and machines. I look back at it as a big checkpoint in my life that I am proud of doing.
Has life changed for you since the contest?
Not really! Not for better or worse. Which is great. I intended to go and do it for the experience of seeing what it was like and that's exactly what I did. It was another project for me. Like making a large music machine, it was something I sunk my teeth into. Then I got home and started working on the next project and plan. People stop me every couple of days with a smile on their faces, which is nice. Especially the kids. They seemed to like the song and it makes me happy that I made them happy!
Andy Malt
How does it feel coming back to perform in Ramsgate after Eurovision?
Yeah, cool! The folk of Ramsgate seemed to really enjoy my involvement in the Eurovision. A lot of folk were proper enthusiastic, so it’s nice to play a show after the fact.
What have you got planned for your Ramsgate Festival of Sound show at the Granville?
Still working out exactly what to do. But people I think are expecting Eins Zwei Drei, so likely a set with a few extra bits and bobs!
You’ve been involved in several editions of RFoS with different projects. What makes the festival special and what have been your highlights?
It’s a good focus point for an excuse to work on a project. It was the impetus to finish the Teletubby Tidal Wave, which I had been collecting Teletubbies for for a couple of years. And making an EP inspired by a week looking about Ramsgate. It's always a kick in the posterior to get some things done you wouldn’t usually do!
What else are you looking forward to seeing at RFoS this year?
I'm on at the end of it. So sod’s law I’ll be fussing and being anxious about getting ready for it. I'll be on work mode until I finish playing - been asked to do something so I gotta do it proper! But I’ll definitely be looking around. Even if my mind will be racing, ha! There is always a silver lining to performing or being programmed at the start of an event. Haha.
Andy Malt
Outside of Ramsgate Festival of Sound, Ramsgate seems to have a vibrant experimental music scene. Is it a good place to try things out?
Yes, there are lots of folk who are involved in doing things and making sounds and sound pieces. The electronic night [Ramsgate Noise Institute] that is on every month and the Synth Club at the museum every month is cool. Nice to see folk getting involved and playing!
Look Mum No Computer closes this year’s Ramsgate Festival of Sound with a headline show at the Granville Theatre on Sunday, September 13.
Support comes from Big Woes, who we interviewed last year. See the full line up for this year’s festival and book tickets at https://www.ramsgatefestival.org/
Sam will also be touring the UK in November, with European dates set to follow in February. Find out more.
Lead image credit: Melanie King
