Nizlopi
| Company type | Musical duo |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2003 in Royal Leamington Spa, England |
| Headquarters | Royal Leamington Spa , England |
| Products | Music albums, singles, live performances |
Nizlopi was a British duo specializing in folk and alternative music, originating from Royal Leamington Spa, England. The group consisted of Luke Concannon (vocals, guitar, bodhrán) and John Parker (double bass, human beatbox, backing vocals).
Origins
Both members grew up in Leamington Spa and attended Trinity Catholic School, where they initially formed their musical partnership. The band's name is said to be inspired by a Hungarian girl admired by Concannon. They cultivated a dedicated following through performances throughout England. Notably, the renowned artist Ed Sheeran worked as their guitar technician in his early career and cites Nizlopi as a significant influence.
Half These Songs Are About You (2003–2006)
Nizlopi’s debut album, Half These Songs Are About You, was released in 2004 under FDM Records. The production was handled by Gavin Monaghan, recognized for his collaborations with Scott Matthews and Robert Plant. In 2007, the album achieved an Impala Platinum certification for its sales across Europe. The lead track, "JCB", which draws on Concannon’s personal experience with dyslexia, initially entered the UK Singles Chart at number 160 in June 2005. Upon re-release in December of the same year, it soared to number one on 18 December 2005, surpassing competitors such as Westlife. The single sold over half a million copies throughout Europe, earning an Impala Platinum award. It enjoyed extensive airplay on BBC Radio 2 through Dermot O'Leary’s show and received heavy rotation on VH1, supported by an animated video created by Laith Bahrani.
Their subsequent single "Girls," released on 3 April 2006, was accompanied by a music video directed by Karni & Saul of Flynn Productions featuring a "Tim Burton-esque" style and marked the first time the duo appeared on screen. Despite being available online, limited radio exposure hindered its ability to break into the UK top 40.
The ExtraOrdinary EP (2006)
On 4 September 2006, Nizlopi unveiled the six-track EP ExtraOrdinary, which included earlier releases such as "Helen" and "Yesterday". This EP sought to strip back the elaborate orchestral arrangements of their previous work to better reflect the dynamic energy present in their live performances.
Among its tracks was "Homage To Young Men", a spoken-word piece delivered by Alastair McIntosh, who collaborated with the band and appeared live on two occasions. McIntosh is known for his contributions to Scottish media and has earned the nickname "The Rapping Reverend".
Make It Happen (2007–2010)
Their sophomore album, Make It Happen, was released on 31 March 2008. Phil Brown, noted for his work with Bob Marley, produced the record which was captured on 2-inch tape to achieve a rawer sound reminiscent of pre-digital recording techniques. The album featured guest artists including Martyn Barker (percussion), Andy Simms (piano), Kadially Kouyaté (kora and vocals), and poet Benjamin Zephaniah.
Ahead of the album launch, the digital single "Start Beginning" was released on 17 March 2008. Following their "Last Nights on Tour" in November, Nizlopi announced a hiatus in 2009 with plans to reconvene in Cuba to explore future creative directions.
The band performed at the Glastonbury Festival in the years 2005, 2007, and 2008.
Intermittent activity and disbandment (2010–2020)
The group officially disbanded on 10 February 2010, concluding their seven-year collaboration. Following this, Luke Concannon revealed intentions to pursue a solo career alongside various new ventures, sharing previews of his work on radio and participating in songwriting workshops.
Nonetheless, the duo came together again in late 2011 for a singular charity performance at London's Union Chapel and maintained occasional appearances at UK concerts, festivals, and philanthropic events, receiving favorable audience responses.
In 2014, they issued a live recording titled Nizlopi: Live in London available on iTunes. The pair embarked on the Get Radical tour in May 2015, covering 10 dates across the UK, and also appeared at both Glastonbury Festival and Secret Garden Party during that year.
June 2019 saw them organize a songwriting retreat in Birmingham. In March 2020, they declared another separation but announced plans to release a "Best Of" compilation later that same year.
After the split, Parker has been active as a freelance session double-bassist, while Concannon has concentrated on traveling and writing, currently living in Boston, Massachusetts.
Live shows
On 14 October 2008, Nizlopi delivered an intimate rendition of "Answers" from a balcony overlooking Camden Lock for the music viral series BalconyTV.
The band performed at Solfest in 2008 and subsequently appeared at 'Lainfest' and 'Barn on the Farm' festivals in August and July of 2013, respectively.
Studio albums
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Certifications | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Half These Songs Are About You |
|
88 |
| ||||||||||||||||||
| Make it Happen |
|
— | |||||||||||||||||||
| "—" indicates an album that did not chart or was not released. | |||||||||||||||||||||
Live albums
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Live |
|
Extended plays
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| ExtraOrdinary |
|
| Looking for Answers |
|
| Ltd Edition UpRise |
|
Singles
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | AUS | IRL | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2005 | "Fine Story" | — | — | — | Half These Songs Are About You | ||||||||||||||||
| "JCB" | 1 | 43 | 1 |
| |||||||||||||||||
| 2006 | "Girls" | 91 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
| "—" indicates a single that did not chart or was not released. | |||||||||||||||||||||