Analogue Appreciation: lullahush

A man playing a guitar whilst a horse stands beside him in a rocky, moonlit landscape.

Ithaca — In an ever more digital, online world, we ask our favourite artists about their most cherished pieces of physical culture. Today, it’s Irish retro-futurist lullahush.

Ireland’s music scene is absolutely thriving right now. Fontaines D.C.’s Romance was an easy contender for 2024’s album of the year, while Kneecap’s politically charged rap has seen them become some of hip-hop’s most provocative pioneers. Beyond them, the likes of Gilla Band have consistently pushed noise-punk forwards over the past decade and a half, while Bricknasty are perhaps the next act up, with creativity that’s hard to label.

And running through all these artists, there’s a thread that connects them all – distinct senses of Irishness that’s explored in their own ways via their work. With lullahush’s impending album Ithaca, set to release via Future Classic tomorrow, April 11, he adds his own spin to the growing canon of the country’s contemporary music.

Blending traditional Gaelic folk sounds that include Sean-nós singing and twanging guitars with experimental electronics, it’s an eye-widening clash between past and future, with very little in-between. Ithaca’s lead single ‘Maggie na bhFlaitheas’ serves as an introduction to the project, opening with glittering plucked strings that quickly descends into hectic, heads-down techno workout topped by a rapidly evolving flute motif. To celebrate the album’s release, lullahush joins us for Analogue Appreciation – our series celebrating the power of physical culture in a world dominated by screens – and picked out five of his most cherished items.

“The objects I chose are suffused with my own personal history, there are ghosts in each of them. They say: ‘This is me, this is my life, this is what I’ve done, this is what I’m doing, I am here,’” he explains of his picks. “The permanence of objects rejects the transience of the digital. All we have in this life is time and physical objects express that accumulation of a life. That can’t be felt digitally. All of the screen’s pixels will eventually dissolve.”

My granny's miraculous medal

A gold oval-shaped pendant on a gold chain, featuring religious symbols like a cross and the initials 'A.M.'

The miraculous medal is one of the nicer symbols of Catholic Ireland. It’s supposed to protect you. Wearing my granny’s medal is a simple but powerful connection I can carry around with me. I feel very uneasy without it.

Granular Convolver

Vintage audio component with various buttons and knobs, grey metal casing.
Granular convolver for Lullahush, Red Bull Music Academy Berlin, 2016. Designed and engineered by Tatsuya Takahashi, Morchiller Rest, and Christoph Hamann.

We were given these as part of the Red Bull Music Academy. Numbered and names engraved on the back, pretty special. You can only have 20 samples on it which is cool, forces you to let go and move on. Although there’s some I can’t let go of.

Leather Wallet from a prisoner of war camp

Ornate leather-bound book with embossed religious symbols, framed religious icon, decorative trinkets, and art prints on a wooden shelf.

This was made for my grandad by a relative while interned in Magilligan Prisoner of War Camp during the war with Britain in the ’70s. It’s absolutely beautiful hand crafted leather – pride of place on my work shrine.

Ta Leloulda Diorama

Vintage paper dolls and accessories on a colourful background with red and orange tones.

My friend Kelvin (who designed the artwork for Ithaca) and I did our first show in a very nice DIY space called Lelouda which recently closed. We made this as a parting gift for Katina and Nefeli who ran it. It was a vital space in Athens – its closing is a real loss to the community.

Yaeltex Midi Controller

Control panel with 4 large blue and orange buttons, 3 smaller black buttons, and a background image of a field of pink flowers.

This was made by Argentinian legends Yaeltex for an installation I did. The cover plate is a film photo of sea pinks on Inis Oírr taken by my friend Emil. I think the nicest part of what I've been able to do so far has been collaborating with my friends and bringing all these things straight from our lives into the art.

Ithaca by lullahush is out April 11 via Future Classic.

Buy your copy of Huck 81 here.

Enjoyed this article? Follow Huck on Instagram and sign up to our newsletter for more from the cutting edge of sport, music and counterculture.

Support stories like this by becoming a member of Club Huck.

Latest on Huck

A punk rock band performing on stage, with a female lead singer belting into a microphone. Behind them, a colourful mural with graffiti-style text.
Music

Meet the hair-raised radical women of Berlin’s noise punk scene

Powertool — In his new zine, George Nebieridze captures moments of loud rage and quiet intimacy within the German capital’s female-only bands, while exploring the intersections between music, community and anti-establishment politics.

Written by: Miss Rosen

Group of people dancing at a live music performance, with a large "Spaces Beats" sign in the background.
Music

Amid tensions in Eastern Europe, young Latvians are reviving their country’s folk rhythms

Spaces Between the Beats — The Baltic nation’s ancient melodies have long been a symbol of resistance, but as Russia’s war with Ukraine rages on, new generations of singers and dancers are taking them to the mainstream.

Written by: Jack Styler

A person's face surrounded by colourful flowers. The flowers include orange, red, and yellow dahlias, as well as smaller yellow blooms. The person's expression is serious.
Music

Uwade: “I was determined to transcend popular opinion”

What Made Me — In this series, we ask artists and rebels about the about the forces and experiences that shaped who they are. Today, it’s Nigerian-born, South Carolina-raised indie-soul singer Uwade.

Written by: Uwade

Taxidermy alligator with a small monkey sitting on its head, displayed on a wooden shelf with other items.
Culture

Inside the obscured, closeted habitats of Britain’s exotic pets

“I have a few animals...” — For his new series, photographer Jonty Clark went behind closed doors to meet rare animal owners, finding ethical grey areas and close bonds.

Written by: Hannah Bentley

Muscular man with arms crossed in a dark setting, 'Hard Feelings' text overlay.
Sport

Frazer Clarke: “I had a hole in my leg, I’m very lucky to be alive”

Hard Feelings — For our interview column on masculinity and fatherhood, the Olympic boxing medallist speaks to Robert Kazandjian about hard graft, the fear and triumph of his first fight, and returning to the ring after being stabbed on a night out.

Written by: Robert Kazandjian

Close-up view of a woman in a vintage pose, with flowing hair and an outstretched hand, set against a hazy, scenic background.
© Peter Palladino, courtesy of the Peter Palladino Archive.
Culture

Remembering Holly Woodlawn, Andy Warhol muse and trans trailblazer

Love You Madly — A new book explores the actress’s rollercoaster life and story, who helped inspire Lou Reed’s ‘Walk on the Wild Side’.

Written by: Miss Rosen

Signup to our newsletter

Sign up to our newsletter to informed with the cutting edge of sport, music and counterculture, featuring personal takes on the state of media and pop culture from Emma Garland, former Digital Editor of Huck, exclusive interviews, recommendations and more.

Please wait...

Accessibility Settings

Text

Applies the Open Dyslexic font, designed to improve readability for individuals with dyslexia.

Applies a more readable font throughout the website, improving readability.

Underlines links throughout the website, making them easier to distinguish.

Adjusts the font size for improved readability.

Visuals

Reduces animations and disables autoplaying videos across the website, reducing distractions and improving focus.

Reduces the colour saturation throughout the website to create a more soothing visual experience.

Increases the contrast of elements on the website, making text and interface elements easier to distinguish.