Lyterian have a new single out, and “Terminal 2” is the kind of track that rewards repeat listens. The Limerick-based alternative pop trio, consisting of Samuel O’Shaughnessy on vocals and guitar, Katie O’Shaughnessy on drums, and Brandon Ryan on bass, co-wrote the track with producer Mark Saunders, whose synth-driven production gives the song its distinctly cinematic, 80s-tinged character.
The song was sparked by Samuel watching Lost in Translation, drawing on the film’s melancholy and liminal atmosphere to shape a love story set against the backdrop of an airport. “The general feel and liminal space aesthetic of the movie and soundtrack sparked the fuse for what would become the love story inside ‘Terminal 2’,” he says. “Drawing on personal experiences and intertwining it with the melancholy from the film, we brought it to Mark Saunders, who brought in the cool, robust feel of the 80s, adding his own synthesisers and a whimsical John Hughes nostalgia to the track.”
The result is pulsing basslines, atmospheric synthesisers, and emotionally charged vocals layered with enough textural depth that multiple listens reveal something new each time. Samuel is direct about the importance of that detail: “Textures are such an important element to the sounds within a song. This track is packed with layers of texture that takes multiple replays to pick up on. I’m really proud of that.”
Lyterian emerged in 2022 and have built their sound with collaborators including Neal Avron and Howie Weinberg alongside Saunders. “Terminal 2” positions them as one of Ireland’s most compelling emerging acts heading into the rest of 2026.
“Terminal 2” is out now.