Lennon Gallagher on His Band, Automotion, and His Modeling Career
The post-punk band, while still in its infancy, has the ambition of innovating music with the same incisiveness as John Cage and Marcel Duchamp in art. Their new EP will soon be released on Spotify.
Text by SIMONE VERTUA
Photography ALAN GELATI
Styling KIERA LIBERATI
With his British allure, thick dark eyebrows that contrast with his light eyes, and a grunge attitude that at first glance may seem arrogant, Lennon Gallagher, a photocopy of his father Liam Gallagher—the ex-frontman and co-founder of Oasis—bands together with his brother Noel Gallagher, who shares the same expressions as his mother, the actress, singer, and television personality Patsy Kensit. Lennon Gallagher was the face of Burberry's Spring/Summer 2024 campaign and Saint Laurent's Spring/Summer 2018 campaign, and over the years he has modeled for MSGM, Ami Paris, Lanvin, Saint Laurent, Kenzo, and Burberry. But his primary interest is in music, as he is the voice and guitarist of the post-punk band Automotion, together with Jesse Hitchman, drummer Otis Eatwell-Hurst, and Finton Hurst, the bassist. The literary matrix of their lyrics is that of William S. Burroughs and Charles Bukowski, while their sounds are influenced by the krautrock influences of Neu! and the style of Robert Fripp. After the release of EPs “In Motion," “Ecstatic Oscillations,” and “Artificial Ascent,” the band is looking to work on the next one.
L'OFFICIEL HOMMES ITALIA: How did you start your modeling career?
LENNON GALLAGHER: At sixteen I was walking down the streets of Brick Lane wearing an army jacket and was stopped by a scouter from an agency. When I got home I told my mum what had happened to me and she gave me some contacts and before long I signed a contract with Models 1 who I still work with.
LOHI: What fascinates you about fashion?
LG: Both of my parents are passionate about fashion, and I was certainly influenced by their style.
LOHI: Your favorite designers?
LG: I really liked Daniel Lee's creative direction at Bottega Veneta and, in general, also the work he is doing now with Burberry . I think Demna is a fantastic designer, even if he is controversial and divisive for many.
LOHI: Is there something you hate about the fashion system?
LG: Casting sucks, but that's all you have to put up with. They're not particularly funny.
LOHI: And if you had to choose a photographer, who would you like to have your portrait taken by?
LG: I would like to work with David Bailey again (who shot it for a Zara Man campaign, ed.).
LOHI: Knowing all the passion for football of your father Liam Gallagher and your uncle Noel, I imagine you are a fan too...
LG: Yes, I support Manchester City too and I try to watch as many games as possible like them.
LOI: What are your favorite bands?
LG: I grew up with The Beatles and they will always be a staple. I've always loved Swans, Godspeed You! Black Emperor because they are mind-blowing. Slint were a fundamental band for my education and I believe also for all the other Automotions.
LOHI: What do you do in your free time?
LG: I like reading, walking in parks and looking at the sky, butterflies and birds. Most of all I sleep a lot and work hard with my band, we rehearse every week, several days a week.
LOHI : Speaking of Automotion, how did you start?
JESSE HITCHMAN (Automotion vocals and guitar): Lennon and I went to school and started playing together. Then we met our drummer Otis Eatwell-Hurst, while for bass we had a couple of other bass players in our journey who were equally good, but finally now we have Finton Hurst who is a great bass player.
LOHI: You mentioned your references to the experimental works of Marcel Duchamp and John Cage. What fascinates you most about these names?
JH: The interest in Cage and Duchamp is a derivative of the ambition to create something new. We asked ourselves how we could do it, and the idea of relying on experimental practice where the result obtained is territory that is unknown or never charted before is fascinating. Today we cannot really say what is new, and to say it we must insert it into a language that has already been consolidated. What we have done so far has not been successful and is nothing new. What Cage and Duchamp did is on another level. They redefined the possibility of what matters in art in Duchamp's case and the role of the artist in Cage's case. We try to work in our direction and at a lower level of novelty, which we have not yet achieved at the moment.
LOHI: And do you have an inspirational band instead?
JH: I think we can all agree on Radiohead.
LOHI: What are you working on right now?
JH: We have an EP coming out, it's quite similar to the previous one “Artificial Ascent”, but it's more refined. Let's hope there is more change with the next one.
LOHI: What does it mean to work in a band and combine so many personalities?
LG: It's a nightmare but fantastic. We are all friends and in any case we spent some unforgettable moments together.
"I wouldn't change anything about my life. I've been lucky and I am aware of it."
LOHI: At one point you also studied acting in London.
LG: I took an intensive course with one of the professors at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, but I didn't go to that school. I tried, but I realized that my aspirations have changed over the years, at the moment I'm not thinking about it and I'm no longer acting.
LOHI: What are your goals for the future?
LG: As a band we want to play as much as possible and make good music. Anyone else want to add anything?
JH: “Making good music” is maybe wrong, trying to make new music is the right answer.
OTIS EATWELL-HURST (drummer): I would like to play live often and let our music travel to reach new audiences. We would also like to come to Italy, it would be scary!
LOHI: Lennon, in an old interview, you said: “I aspire to have a stable life without regrets” but if you really had to change something about your life, what would you change?
LG: Years later, I still confirm it one hundred percent. I wouldn't change anything at all, you know I've been quite lucky and I'm aware of it.
FINTON HURST (bassist): Maybe in life you should change your guitar…
LG: Oh yes I would change my guitar! It's shit! And maybe even a few pairs of socks that would have to be thrown away.
TALENT: Lennon Gallagher and Automotion
GROOMING : Paul Rodgers using YSL Beauty and Oribe
PHOTO ASSISTANT: Stephen Young
STYLIST ASSISTANTS: Jennifer Eleto and Collene Weeks
