Look Mum No Computer Eurovision mega-synthesizer fuels UK show

Look Mum No Computer Eurovision mega-synthesizer featured as the self-built centrepiece of the United Kingdom’s performance at this year’s Eurovision final by Sam Battle. Battle, 37, built the instrument and assembled most of the electronics and control systems himself, and much of the visible staging was fabricated by hand, reflecting a DIY electronics ethos in both design and construction.

The BBC did not trust his welding, and adjustments were made to accommodate that limitation during the build and installation process. The project combined large-format hardware with bespoke control and signal-routing work completed by Battle as part of the live presentation.

The stage floor for the performance is an LED screen made of glass with a firm weight limit of 500kg for all props, and the production abandoned a planned car prop because of that restriction. Battle became a new father at the same time as preparing for Eurovision, balancing fatherhood with the final technical preparations for the show.

The United Kingdom finished last with the entry “Eins, Zwei, Drei”, while Bulgaria won the contest with DARA’s “Bangaranga” on 16 May. The introduction places emphasis on the build, control systems and practical staging constraints that shaped the presentation.

Sam Battle, performing as Look Mum No Computer, built a self-built mega synthesizer that served as the centrepiece of the United Kingdom’s Eurovision performance. He assembled most of the electronics and control systems himself and fabricated much of the visible staging by hand, reflecting a DIY electronics approach to the build. The construction involved extensive mechanical work on large-format hardware and bespoke control and signal-routing systems created by Battle for the live presentation. Battle described intensive drilling during fabrication as part of the assembly process.

The stage floor for the performance is an LED screen made of glass, and the production faced a firm weight limit of 500kg for all props on that surface. A planned car prop was abandoned because it would have exceeded that load constraint, and the glass-floor specification directly influenced what could be deployed on stage. The staging therefore combined lightweight custom elements and hand-built structures to meet the glass-floor loading constraint while incorporating the mega synthesizer as the visual and functional centrepiece. The visible fabrication was completed by hand by members of the team involved in the build.

Technical challenges noted during preparation included concerns about structural welding, with the BBC not trusting Battle’s welding and adjustments made to construction responsibilities during installation. Battle reported physical strain related to repetitive mechanical work, including drilling many holes, and managed those final build tasks while becoming a new father during the preparation period. He said overall the process had been enjoyable and that he was proud of the assembled result, reflecting a hands-on, DIY ethos in both electronics and stagecraft.

“Many holes were drilled,” Battle says with a laugh. “I drilled so many holes that my nipples chafed,” Battle says. “the BBC didn’t trust my welding,” Battle says. “I had the idea of using a car as well, but because the floor [of the stage] is an LED screen made of glass, there’s a solid weight limit of 500kg for all the props, so we had to abandon that,” he tells the BBC. “But overall, it’s been a lot of fun – I’m really proud of what we’ve pulled together and can’t wait to put it into practice,” Battle says.

Sam Battle represented the United Kingdom at this year’s Eurovision final with the entry “Eins, Zwei, Drei.” The UK finished in last place with that entry. Battle performed with a self-built mega synthesizer as the centrepiece of the show, and he assembled most of the electronics and control systems himself while much of the visible staging was fabricated by hand. The preparation for the performance coincided with Battle becoming a new father during the final technical preparations.

Bulgaria won the contest with DARA’s “Bangaranga” on 16 May. The MusicTech article reporting these results is dated 18 May 2026. The performance staging included an LED screen floor made of glass that imposed a strict weight limit of 500kg for all props, and a planned car prop was abandoned because it would have exceeded that constraint. These reported results and staging constraints were included in the coverage of the event.

Sam Battle became a new father during the same period that he was preparing for the United Kingdom’s Eurovision performance, a timing noted in the coverage of his participation. He was 37 years old at the time and represented the UK at this year’s Eurovision final. The reporting records that this personal circumstance coincided with his duties on the show, including assembling most of the electronics and control systems for the performance and fabricating much of the visible staging by hand. The MusicTech article that includes these details was published on 18 May 2026.

Sam Battle, performing as Look Mum No Computer, built and presented a self-built mega synthesizer as the centrepiece of the United Kingdom’s Eurovision performance, assembling most of the electronics and control systems himself and fabricating much of the visible staging by hand. During construction and installation, practical staging constraints included an LED screen floor made of glass with a 500kg weight limit for all props, which led the production to abandon a planned car prop and to assign some structural welding duties away from Battle when organisers judged his welding unsuitable. Battle carried out extensive mechanical work during the build, including intensive drilling, and the preparation period coincided with him becoming a new father while finalising technical and control systems for the live presentation. In the Eurovision final the United Kingdom finished last with the entry “Eins, Zwei, Drei”, and Bulgaria won with DARA’s “Bangaranga” on 16 May; these outcomes and the staging details were reported in the MusicTech coverage dated 18 May 2026.