Oldham 'low life' brothers take music industry by storm

Callum, 30, and Danny Connor, 32, who go by the name 'The Two Connors', said they've been writing music since they were just young boys living on their Derker estate.

Though the pair began writing raps from the age of 11, it took them almost two decades before they started thinking about making music seriously.

Callum explained: "We've done it since we were kids.

"People around Oldham have always said me and Danny should do a song together, so it's only recently that we sat down and done it - and it's just gone mint since then.

The brothers have been writing songs together since they were children (Image: Two Connors)

"If we had done it a long time ago, I don't think it would have had as much of an impact because we needed some life experience.

"We needed to be a bit more humble, grow up and do something with our lives because when you get older, you've not got your ego attached to you.

"It's all happened at the perfect moment."

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Now, the indie pop duo are taking the world by storm, having dropped their first track in April this year it has since snowballed from Derker to catching the eye of big studio producers, Sony Entertainment, and even DJ Semtex in London.

The song that kickstarted it all, Oldham Lowlife, has amassed more than 50,000 views on YouTube at the time of writing - and is being spread far and wide on TikTok, too.

Explaining the lyrics and meaning behind the song, the 30-year-old said: "People ask us why we're calling ourselves low lives, but we're not.

"What we're doing is writing it in the perspective of what people's opinions are of you when you've got no money or when you sign on at the job centre.

"People deem you as a lowlife when you're unemployed and you're just trying to get by."

The singer said the takeaway message of the song is saying "I'm not bothered" by what people perceive or say, "because I can make something out of myself".

The Two Connors have since entered a contract after a meeting in London, meaning all their studio time is now pre-paid for and fans can anticipate more catchy tunes being released about their hometown.

Two Connors met DJ Semtex after Oldham Low Life took off in London - and signed a contract (Image: Two Connors)

Reflecting on their trip to London for the big day, Callum said it was "crazy" to meet professionals who "really believed in us".

"We're just two brothers from Derker - two low lives that have finally had something go our way.

"It's really humbling but we're also really thankful.

"I'm not religious but I believe that we do deserve it - maybe it's our moment now.

"They say you have one moment in your life, and maybe it's just our moment now."

The exciting news comes as Callum said he forked out thousands for the Oldham Lowlife music video, which was filmed by Aux Media who came from London to Derker to shoot the video.

Danny (left) and Callum (right) are on a mission to inspire the next generation away from a life of crime (Image: Two Connors)

He continued: "People call me a bit of a madman because I put all my pennies together - it took me ages to save up and I had to pay it last Christmas.

"But my partner, Ashley, believes in me and it didn't bother her one bit that it left us broke.

"I did say to her that if the song doesn't do anything for us, I'm going to call it a day.

"Well, I'm glad I didn't."

The brothers said they are now overjoyed and surprised by the positive outpouring of support for their music.

"I can't explain how happy we are. We know that we deserve it, we deserve a good reaction, but the support from people in our hometown is just beyond anything.

"People are sharing the video and saying that they love these brothers from Oldham and it's just warming because people were never interested before.

"We grew up in a busy household with a single mum, so music is just something that people don't do around our estate.

"It's a bit out of the blue. People are normally working in warehouses or are a bricklayer or joiner and things like that - we know no one really who is going into music", Callum added.

The music video itself involved the duo borrowing an old Capri car from Derker - which failed to start when the film crews turned up for the big day.

"We were thinking these guys are going to think we are actually low lives", Callum joked, before a friend with jump leads came to the rescue.

The pair are proud to be from Oldham - and here they are walking through the town's cobbled streets (Image: Two Connors)

Talking more broadly about the estate they grew up on, Callum said their community is close-knit but plagued by crime and poverty.

"Nobody's got any money or any pennies to rub together - but everyone's in the same boat.

"People are in and out of trouble, but people are also so loving as well and kind. We help each other out.

"Nobody's really got anything but there's plenty of love to go around and there's that side of it which people don't see."

While the pair hope to put Oldham on the map, write lyrics which relate to people who face hardship, as well as sign off from the job centre and pack in parcel deliveries further down the line, the Two Connors said their main aim is to inspire the next generation away from a life of crime and 'drill music'.

The singers draw inspiration for their songs from their estate, their own experiences and the people they meet (Image: Two Connors)

Callum continued: "I don't want kids growing up listening to that music - where they're flashing cars and there's naked women twerking and all that.

"These young 'uns now, who are wearing tracksuits and balaclavas, flying around and stabbing each other is massive on my estate, the violence is huge, and I do believe it's stemming from the music that's been created.

"We want to show them that you can have positive, uplifting music that you can have a laugh to and bop your head to and that your grandma can listen to.

"We want to show them that's cool as well and tell them, don't worry mate, you don't have to put a bally on and stand on the street corner and say you're going to stab someone and talk about your time in prison.

"You don't have to do that - anything is better than that.

"I want to try and change the way music is going right now for the youth.

"Drill music, it is an issue. It is a problem.

"We want to try and change the world for better, even if it's just a little fraction.

"This is the time for the tide to change. It's needed right now."

The next tune the brothers have teased is a song called Oldham Cobbled Roads which Callum explained is about wanting to escape the 'rat race' of life at work.

"It's about feeling as though your normal 9-to-5 normal job, in the warehouse or digging up roads or whatever, can be soul-draining.

"It's about wanting to go home to your loved ones and escaping that little rat race where you're stuck in the system.

"It feels like enslavement in a way when there's more to life than this.

"I want to go home, I want to go home back to Oldham cobbled roads."

The pair also have another big plan up their sleeves for their next video where they want "as many people as possible" from Oldham to walk through the cobbled streets.

But in the immediate future, the Two Connors have announced their first live gig will take place at Whittles at Tokyo on Friday, July 14 - during which they hope to raise money for a homeless man who will also stand on stage with them when they perform their top hit.

"Sometimes you just need to feel you're a part of something - so let's give him a good night", they said in a post online.

Doors open at 7pm and tickets can be bought in advance for £10 on Eventbrite.

If you have a story, I cover all things Oldham from food reviews and local business news to music and events, pubs, education, crime, property, health, community concerns and much more. Please email me at Olivia.bridge@newsquest.co.uk or send me a message on Twitter @Livbridge with your news.