At pointblank music school, we regularly host masterclasses, workshops, and live music events that connect our students directly with innovators and industry leaders. These sessions go far beyond the classroom, offering real-world insight into music production, creative workflows, and sustainable music careers. Explore our award-winning courses: whether you’re a music producer chasing chart-topping releases, a sound engineer crafting records, a vocalist or songwriter writing the next hit, or a software engineer building the next generation of plugins. Wherever your ambition leads, there’s a course to help you make it real.
Back in 2017, we welcomed Sam Bartle, better known as Look Mum No Computer, to our London campus for a playful, hands-on modular synthesis masterclass and live performance.
Blending a short history of analogue synthesis with live demonstrations, Sam brought his DIY modular synth setup to life. Homemade oscillators, filters, envelope generators, and analogue drum circuits were patched in real time, breaking down how waveform shape, resonance, voltage control, and signal flow sculpt sound from the ground up.
The session culminated in a full track built live on the spot, followed by a detailed walkthrough of how his modular system was constructed. By demystifying modular synthesis, Sam showed that bold sonic ideas don’t require impossible budgets; just curiosity, experimentation, and individuality.
Fast forward eight years, and Sam Bartle has been selected to represent the UK at the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest. From building his own synths and designing original sounds to stepping onto one of Europe’s biggest music stages, his journey is a powerful reminder of what passion, originality, and persistence can achieve. It’s a full-circle moment that highlights the creative possibilities of modular synthesis, independent music production, and fearless self-expression.
Massive congratulations, Sam. We’re supporting you all the way.
