Bicep (duo) explained

Bicep
Landscape:yes
Origin:Belfast, Northern Ireland
Years Active:2009–present
Label:Ninja Tune
Current Members:
  • Andrew Ferguson
  • Matthew McBriar

Bicep are an electronic music production and DJ duo from Belfast, Northern Ireland, consisting of Andrew Ferguson and Matthew McBriar.[1] [2]

History

Bicep was formed in 2009 as a production and DJing pair in London. The duo, childhood friends,[3] created a blog called "Feel My Bicep", which was used to post lost and forgotten disco, Chicago house, Detroit techno and Italo disco edits.[4] [5]

They released tracks on labels Throne of Blood, Traveller Records and Mystery Meat before joining Will Saul's Aus Music and setting up their own label Feel My Bicep in September 2012.[6] That year the pair were awarded DJ Mags 'Best of British Breakthrough DJ' award.[7]

After signing to Ninja Tune in 2017, Bicep released their debut album Bicep, which went in at number 20 on the UK Albums Chart,[8] and received support from publications such as Pitchfork, The Guardian, Resident Advisor and Mixmag.[9] The lead single, "Glue", was voted by the public as DJ Mag's (Best of British) Track of the Year.[10] It also reached number 1 on Amazon's Best Electronic of 2017, and came second in Mixmag's 100 Best Tracks of 2017.[11]

Bicep released their second album Isles on Ninja Tune on 22 January 2021. They released the lead single "Apricots" with a music video from BAFTA-winner director Mark Jenkin.[12] "Apricots" scored Top-50 entries in both the UK's Official Singles Chart and Billboard's Dance/Electronic Songs Chart, was named Billboard's #1 dance track of 2020,[13] hit #1 on the UK's Shazam chart, and spent 10 weeks on the BBC Radio 1 playlist.[14]

The album was nominated for Best Irish Album of 2021 for the Choice Music Prize.[15]

Isles was number one on the midweek UK Albums Chart for the week beginning 25 January 2021,[16] before debuting at number two on the final chart, scooping a number 1 on the UK Official Vinyl Albums Chart,[17] additionally breaking into multiple Billboard charts including number 12 on the Dance/Electronic Chart.[18]

The duo made a pivot to ticketed streams during the coronavirus pandemic, delivering two shows broadcast across 5 timezones. The shows were watched in over 70 countries worldwide,[19] giving fans new live material ahead of the return of in-person shows. The second global stream was recorded at London's Saatchi Gallery and was awarded four stars by The Guardian,[20] with NME calling it an innovative and boundary-pushing audiovisual show.[21]

Following the release of Isles, Bicep were nominated in two categories at the 2021 BRIT Awards for 'British Group' and 'Breakthrough Artist'.[22]

In August 2024, McBriar received brain surgery for a rare craniopharyngioma tumour on his pituitary gland.[23]

Live performances

Between 2017 and 2018, the duo embarked on a live headline world tour to venues across the world, including the US, Japan and Europe. In the UK, they played shows at Electric Brixton,[24] Roundhouse[25] and three consecutive dates alongside Overmono at Printworks in London,[26] which was filmed by Resident Advisor and one of their final live shows until 2020.[27]

Bicep headlined their first major British festival at Field Day in August 2021.

Discography

Studio albums

TitleDetailsPeak chart positionsCertifications
UK
[28]
AUS
[29]
BEL
(FL)

[30]
GER
[31]
IRE
[32]
NLD
[33]
SWI
[34]
Bicep 20 113 67
Isles
  • Released: 22 January 2021
  • Label: Ninja Tune
  • Format: Digital download, CD, streaming
2 12 3 8 2 28 26

Extended plays

TitleDetails
EP 1
  • Released: 6 December 2010
  • Label: Throne of Blood
  • Format: Digital download
EP 2
  • Released: 13 June 2011
  • Label: Throne of Blood
  • Format: Digital download
Silk
  • Released: 15 June 2011
  • Label: Throne of Blood
  • Format: Digital download
Vision of Love
  • Released: 24 September 2012
  • Label: Feel My Bicep
  • Format: Digital download
You/Don't
  • Released: 16 July 2012
  • Label: Aus Music
  • Format: Digital download
Stash
  • Released: 15 April 2013
  • Label: Aus Music
  • Format: Digital download
Circles
  • Released: 19 May 2014
  • Label: Aus Music
  • Format: Digital download
Lyk Lyk
  • Released: 29 September 2014
  • Label: Feel My Bicep
  • Format: Digital download
Just
  • Released: 19 June 2015
  • Label: AUS Records
  • Format: Digital download
Dahlia
  • Released: 25 September 2015
  • Label: Feel My Bicep
  • Format: Digital download
Aura
  • Released: 15 June 2017
  • Label: Ninja Tune
  • Format: Digital download
Glue
  • Released: 3 November 2017
  • Label: Ninja Tune
  • Format: Digital download
Vale
  • Released: 2017
  • Label: Ninja Tune
  • Format: Digital download
Rain
  • Released: 11 April 2018
  • Label: Ninja Tune
  • Format: Digital download

Singles

TitleYearPeak chart positionsCertificationsAlbum
UK
BEL
(FL)
Tip
IRE
"Darwin" 2010 EP 1
"313" / "The Winter"
"Vision of Love" 2012 Vision of Love
"Getcha Boi"
"Make Love in Public Places"
"Vision of Love" 2013 Vision of Love
"Sacrifice"
(with Simian Mobile Disco)
rowspan="2"
"D-Mil (Club & Dub)"
(with Midland)
2014
"Lyk Lyk"
(with Hammer)
Lyk Lyk
"Satisfy"
"Dahlia"
(with Hammer)
2015 Dahlia
"Just"[36] Just
"Aura" 2017 Bicep
"Glue" 11
  • BPI: Platinum
"Vale"
"Rain"2018
"Atlas" 2020 91 90Isles
"Apricots" 42 25 54
  • BPI: Gold
"Saku"
(featuring Clara La San)
"Sundial" 2021
"Meli (II)"2022rowspan=4
"Water"
(featuring Clara La San)
"Chroma 001 Helium"2024
"Chroma 002 L.A.V.A"
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart.

Other charted songs

Awards and nominations

!Year!Association!Category!Nominated Work!Result!Ref
2020DJ Mag Best of British AwardsBest Track"Atlas"[37]
2021Brit AwardsBest British GroupThemselves
Best New Artist
Berlin Music Video AwardsBest Experimental"Apricots"[38]
Best Editor"Saku" [39]
UK Music Video AwardsBest Cinematography in a Video[40]
Best Editing in a Video
Best Visual Effects in a Video
Choice Music PrizeBest Irish AlbumIsles
2022Libera AwardsMarketing GeniusIsles[41]
2023Libera AwardsBest Dance Record"Water"[42]

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.timeout.com/london/clubs/bicep-interview "Bicep interview"
  2. http://www.freqmagazine.com/bicep/ "BICEP"
  3. http://anthemmagazine.com/qa-with-bicep/ "Q&A with Bicep"
  4. http://www.inthemix.com.au/news/59079/Biceps_Essential_Mix_debut_is_a_mustlisten_for_house_heads "Bicep's Essential Mix debut is a must-listen for house heads"
  5. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/aug/12/feel-my-bicep-bloggers-house-music-stars "Bicep: the bloggers who became house music heroes"
  6. https://www.skiddle.com/news/all/Bicep-Interview-Fit-to-flex/27446/ "Bicep Interview: Fit to flexBicep Interview: Fit to flex"
  7. Web site: Bicep Interview: At DJ Mag's Best of British -. 2013-01-14. Point Blank's Online Magazine. en-US. 2019-09-09. 9 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210109220942/https://plus.pointblankmusicschool.com/bicep-interview-at-dj-mags-best-of-british/. dead.
  8. Web site: Bicep Biography & History AllMusic. AllMusic. 2017-12-07.
  9. Web site: Bicep make it 'Rain' in trippy new music video. Mixmag. 2019-09-09.
  10. Web site: 2017-12-18. Here's all the winners from the Best of British Awards 2017. 2021-04-27. DJMag.com.
  11. Web site: 2017-12-05. The 10 best music videos of 2017. 2021-04-27. Fact Magazine. en-US.
  12. Web site: Bicep explore 'Isles' on new album. 2021-04-27. Mixmag.
  13. The 25 Best Dance Songs of 2020: Staff Picks. 2021-04-27. Billboard. en.
  14. Web site: Ninja Tune flex their marketing muscles for Bicep's second album. 2021-04-27. www.musicweek.com. en.
  15. Web site: 2021 Album of the Year Shortlist . Choice Music Prize.
  16. Web site: Official Albums Chart Update Top 100 Official Charts Company. 2021-04-27. www.officialcharts.com. en.
  17. Web site: Bring Me The Horizon score second Number 1 album with Post Human: Survival Horror. 2021-04-27. www.officialcharts.com. en.
  18. Bicep Muscles Its Way to the Forefront of the Dance World (And Beyond): Emerging Artist Spotlight. 2021-04-27. Billboard. en.
  19. Web site: BICEP LIVE GLOBAL STREAM II AT SAATCHI GALLERY (8:30PM GMT) at Livestream, Streamland ⟋ RA. 2021-04-27. Resident Advisor. en.
  20. Web site: 2021-03-06. Bicep: Live Global Stream II review – 90 minutes of pure throwback pleasure. 2021-04-27. the Guardian. en.
  21. Web site: 2021-03-01. Bicep live in London: Irish dance duo raise the bar for live streams. 2021-04-27. NME. en-GB.
  22. News: 2021-03-31. Brits 2021: Full list of award nominees. en-GB. BBC News. 2021-04-27.
  23. Web site: 2024-08-14 . Bicep’s Matt McBriar treated for ‘large and pretty rare’ brain tumour . 2024-08-19 . The Independent . en.
  24. Web site: Bicep - Live + Special Guests. Resident Advisor.
  25. Web site: Bicep (Live) -. Roundhouse.
  26. Web site: Bicep (Live) + Overmono (Live) + Moxie . Resident Advisor.
  27. Web site: RA Live: Bicep at Printworks 2018. Resident Advisor.
  28. Web site: BICEP full Official Chart History. Official Charts Company.
  29. Web site: Discography Bicep. australian-charts.com. 5 October 2021.
  30. Web site: Bicep – Isles. ultratop.be. 5 October 2021.
  31. Web site: Discographie Bicep. offiziellecharts.de. 5 October 2021.
  32. Web site: Discography Bicep. irish-charts.com. 5 October 2021.
  33. Web site: Discografie Bicep. dutchcharts.nl. 5 October 2021.
  34. Web site: Bicep – Isles. hitparade.ch. 5 October 2021.
  35. United Kingdom. Bicep. 16 August 2024.
  36. http://thequietus.com/articles/20397-bicep-interview "INTERVIEW: Bicep"
  37. Web site: 2020-12-20. DJ Mag's Best Of British Awards 2020: the winners. 2021-04-27. DJMag.com.
  38. Web site: Berlin Music Video Awards. 30 April 2021. 2021 Nominees. live. www.berlinmva.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20210405103040/https://www.berlinmva.com/2021-nominees-full/ . 5 April 2021 .
  39. Web site: Berlin Music Video Awards. 30 April 2021. 2021 nominees. live. www.berlinmva.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20210405103040/https://www.berlinmva.com/2021-nominees-full/ . 5 April 2021 .
  40. Web site: UK MUSIC VIDEO AWARDS 2021: NOMINATIONS REVEALED AHEAD OF RETURN OF LIVE SHOW ON NOVEMBER 4th. UK Music Video Awards. 30 September 2021.
  41. Web site: Japanese Breakfast, Jason Isbell, Arlo Parks Lead Indie-Music Collective A2IM's 2022 Libera Awards Nominees. Variety. March 23, 2022. March 25, 2022. Jem. Aswad.
  42. Web site: Wet Leg, Sudan Archives and More Win Big at 2023 A2IM Libera Awards. Variety. Thania. Garcia. Emanuel. Okusanya. June 16, 2023. June 17, 2023.