Glasgow-based songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Lukas Clasen returns as Sulka with Bute, a tender, back-to-basics collection of lo-fi alt-pop songs rooted in love, community and quiet transformation. Written largely during a stay overlooking the Firth of Clyde on the island from which it takes its name, the album captures a sense of openness and reflection — a shift away from introspection towards a more outward-looking connection with the world. Across its nine tracks, Bute balances melodic warmth with a subtle undercurrent of melancholy, drawing comparisons to artists like Sparklehorse, MJ Lenderman and Horse Jumper of Love.

Following the fuller studio approach of 2023’s Distractions, Bute marks a return to Sulka’s DIY origins. Recorded at home in Glasgow, the album embraces the immediacy and vulnerability of self-production, with contributions from a close circle of collaborators. Field recordings of wind, rain and birdsong weave through the songs, alongside fragments of radio and found audio, creating a textured, atmospheric sound world that feels both intimate and expansive.

Lead single ‘All Bets Off’ sets the tone with crisp drums, glassy keys and distorted guitar washes, pairing an upbeat energy with a darker narrative — a reflection on power imbalance and emotional complexity, inspired by a storyline from The Sopranos. Throughout Bute, moments of personal change, fading memory and seasonal stillness unfold in understated, poetic detail, resulting in a record that feels grounded, honest and quietly immersive.