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Bicep (duo)

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

Bicep
OriginBelfast, Northern Ireland
Genres
Years active2009–present
LabelsNinja Tune
Members
  • Andrew Ferguson
  • Matthew McBriar
WebsiteOfficial website Edit this at Wikidata

History

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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 Mag's '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 positive reviews 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,[11] and came second in Mixmag's 100 Best Tracks of 2017.[12]

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.[13] "Apricots" scored Top-50 entries in both the UK's Official Singles Chart[14] and Billboard's Dance/Electronic Songs Chart, was named Billboard's #1 dance track of 2020,[15] hit #1 on the UK's Shazam chart, and spent 10 weeks on the BBC Radio 1 playlist.[16]

The album was nominated for Best Irish Album of 2021 for the Choice Music Prize.[17]

Isles was number one on the midweek UK Albums Chart for the week beginning 25 January 2021,[18] before debuting at number two on the final chart, scooping a number 1 on the UK Official Vinyl Albums Chart,[19] additionally breaking into multiple Billboard charts including number 12 on the Dance/Electronic Chart.[20]

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,[21] 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,[22] with NME calling it an innovative and boundary-pushing audiovisual show.[23]

Following the release of Isles, Bicep were nominated in two categories at the 2021 BRIT Awards for 'British Group' and 'Breakthrough Artist'.[24]

In August 2024, McBriar received brain surgery for a rare craniopharyngioma tumour on his pituitary gland.[25]

Live performances

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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,[26] Roundhouse[27] and three consecutive dates alongside Overmono at Printworks in London,[28] which was filmed by Resident Advisor and one of their final live shows until 2020.[29]

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

Discography

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Studio albums

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Title Details Peak chart positions Certifications
UK
[14] 		AUS
[30] 		BEL
(FL)
[31] 		GER
[32] 		IRE
[33] 		NLD
[34] 		SWI
[35]
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

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Title Details
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

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Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
UK
[14] 		BEL
(FL)
Tip
[31] 		IRE
[33]
"Darwin" 2010 — — — EP 1
"313" / "The Winter" — — — Non-album single
"Vision of Love" 2012 — — — Vision of Love
"Getcha Boi" — — —
"Make Love in Public Places" — — — Non-album single
"Vision of Love" 2013 — — — Vision of Love
"Sacrifice"
(with Simian Mobile Disco) 		— — — Non-album singles
"D-Mil (Club & Dub)"
(with Midland) 		2014 — — —
"Lyk Lyk"
(with Hammer) 		— — — Lyk Lyk
"Satisfy" — — — Non-album single
"Dahlia"
(with Hammer) 		2015 — — — Dahlia
"Just"[37] — — — Just
"Aura" 2017 — — — Bicep
"Glue" — 11 —
"Vale" — — —
"Rain" 2018 — — —
"Atlas" 2020 91 — 90 Isles
"Apricots" 42 25 54
"Saku"
(featuring Clara La San) 		— — —
"Sundial" 2021 — — —
"Meli (II)" 2022 — — — Non-album singles
"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

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Title Year Peak chart positions Album
BEL
(FL)
Tip
[31]
"Cazenove" 2021 46 Isles

Awards and nominations

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Year Association Category Nominated Work Result Ref
2020 DJ Mag Best of British Awards Best Track "Atlas" Won [38]
2021 Brit Awards Best British Group Themselves Nominated [24]
Best New Artist Nominated
Berlin Music Video Awards Best Experimental "Apricots" Nominated [39]
Best Editor "Saku" (featuring Clara La San) Nominated [40]
UK Music Video Awards Best Cinematography in a Video Nominated [41]
Best Editing in a Video Nominated
Best Visual Effects in a Video Won
Choice Music Prize Best Irish Album Isles Nominated [17]
2022 Libera Awards Marketing Genius Isles Nominated [42]
2023 Libera Awards Best Dance Record "Water" Won [43]

References

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  1. ^ "Bicep interview". Time Out London, Oliver Keens, 7 May 2013
  2. ^ "BICEP". Freq, 2 March 2013
  3. ^ "Q&A with Bicep". Anthem Magazine, Cooper Saver, 22 October 2012
  4. ^ "Bicep's Essential Mix debut is a must-listen for house heads". In the Mix, 29 September 2014, Krystal Rodriguez
  5. ^ "Bicep: the bloggers who became house music heroes". The Guardian, Sam Richards, 12 August 2016
  6. ^ "Bicep Interview: Fit to flexBicep Interview: Fit to flex". Skiddle, Becca Frankland, 13 January 2016
  7. ^ "Bicep Interview: At DJ Mag's Best of British -". Point Blank's Online Magazine. 14 January 2013. Archived from the original on 9 January 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  8. ^ "Bicep | Biography & History | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  9. ^ "Bicep make it 'Rain' in trippy new music video". Mixmag. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  10. ^ "Here's all the winners from the Best of British Awards 2017". DJMag.com. 18 December 2017. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  11. ^ Best Electronic of 2017, retrieved 27 April 2021
  12. ^ "The 10 best music videos of 2017". Fact Magazine. 5 December 2017. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  13. ^ "Bicep explore 'Isles' on new album". Mixmag. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  14. ^ a b c "BICEP | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  15. ^ "The 25 Best Dance Songs of 2020: Staff Picks". Billboard. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  16. ^ "Ninja Tune flex their marketing muscles for Bicep's second album". www.musicweek.com. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  17. ^ a b "2021 Album of the Year Shortlist". Choice Music Prize.
  18. ^ "Official Albums Chart Update Top 100 | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  19. ^ "Bring Me The Horizon score second Number 1 album with Post Human: Survival Horror". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  20. ^ "Bicep Muscles Its Way to the Forefront of the Dance World (And Beyond): Emerging Artist Spotlight". Billboard. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  21. ^ "BICEP LIVE GLOBAL STREAM II AT SAATCHI GALLERY (8:30PM GMT) at Livestream, Streamland ⟋ RA". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  22. ^ "Bicep: Live Global Stream II review – 90 minutes of pure throwback pleasure". the Guardian. 6 March 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  23. ^ "Bicep live in London: Irish dance duo raise the bar for live streams". NME. 1 March 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  24. ^ a b "Brits 2021: Full list of award nominees". BBC News. 31 March 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  25. ^ "Bicep's Matt McBriar treated for 'large and pretty rare' brain tumour". The Independent. 14 August 2024. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  26. ^ "Bicep - Live + Special Guests". Resident Advisor.
  27. ^ "Bicep (Live) -". Roundhouse.
  28. ^ "Bicep (Live) + Overmono (Live) + Moxie". Resident Advisor.
  29. ^ "RA Live: Bicep at Printworks 2018". Resident Advisor.
  30. ^ "Discography Bicep". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  31. ^ a b c "Bicep – Isles". ultratop.be. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  32. ^ "Discographie Bicep". offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  33. ^ a b "Discography Bicep". irish-charts.com. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  34. ^ "Discografie Bicep". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  35. ^ "Bicep – Isles". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  36. ^ a b c "British certifications – Bicep". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 16 August 2024. Type Bicep in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  37. ^ "INTERVIEW: Bicep". The Quietus, Eden Tizard , June 10th, 2016
  38. ^ "DJ Mag's Best Of British Awards 2020: the winners". DJMag.com. 20 December 2020. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  39. ^ Berlin Music Video Awards (30 April 2021). "2021 Nominees". www.berlinmva.com. Archived from the original on 5 April 2021.
  40. ^ Berlin Music Video Awards (30 April 2021). "2021 nominees". www.berlinmva.com. Archived from the original on 5 April 2021.
  41. ^ "UK MUSIC VIDEO AWARDS 2021: NOMINATIONS REVEALED AHEAD OF RETURN OF LIVE SHOW ON NOVEMBER 4th" (PDF). UK Music Video Awards. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  42. ^ Aswad, Jem (23 March 2022). "Japanese Breakfast, Jason Isbell, Arlo Parks Lead Indie-Music Collective A2IM's 2022 Libera Awards Nominees". Variety. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  43. ^ Garcia, Thania; Okusanya, Emanuel (16 June 2023). "Wet Leg, Sudan Archives and More Win Big at 2023 A2IM Libera Awards". Variety. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
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