Bicep (duo)
{{Short description|Northern Irish electronic dance duo}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Bicep
| image =
| caption =
| image_size =
| landscape = yes
| origin = Belfast, Northern Ireland
| genre = {{hlist|Electronic|breakbeat}}
| years_active = 2009–present
| label = Ninja Tune
| current_members = * Andrew Ferguson
- Matthew McBriar
| website = {{homepage}}
}}
Bicep are an electronic music production and DJ duo from Belfast, Northern Ireland, consisting of Andrew Ferguson and Matthew McBriar.[http://www.timeout.com/london/clubs/bicep-interview "Bicep interview"]. Time Out London, Oliver Keens, 7 May 2013[http://www.freqmagazine.com/bicep/ "BICEP"]. Freq, 2 March 2013
History
Bicep was formed in 2009 as a production and DJing pair in London. The duo, childhood friends,[http://anthemmagazine.com/qa-with-bicep/ "Q&A with Bicep"]. Anthem Magazine, Cooper Saver, 22 October 2012 created a blog called "Feel My Bicep", which was used to post lost and forgotten disco, Chicago house, Detroit techno and Italo disco edits.[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"]. In the Mix, 29 September 2014, Krystal Rodriguez[https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/aug/12/feel-my-bicep-bloggers-house-music-stars "Bicep: the bloggers who became house music heroes"]. The Guardian, Sam Richards, 12 August 2016
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.[https://www.skiddle.com/news/all/Bicep-Interview-Fit-to-flex/27446/ "Bicep Interview: Fit to flexBicep Interview: Fit to flex"]. Skiddle, Becca Frankland, 13 January 2016 That year the pair were awarded DJ Mag's 'Best of British Breakthrough DJ' award.{{Cite web|url=https://plus.pointblankmusicschool.com/bicep-interview-at-dj-mags-best-of-british/|title=Bicep Interview: At DJ Mag's Best of British -|date=2013-01-14|website=Point Blank's Online Magazine|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-09|archive-date=9 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109220942/https://plus.pointblankmusicschool.com/bicep-interview-at-dj-mags-best-of-british/|url-status=dead}}
After signing to Ninja Tune in 2017, Bicep released their debut album Bicep, which went in at number 20 on the UK Albums Chart,{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bicep-mn0002596465/biography|title=Bicep {{!}} Biography & History {{!}} AllMusic|website=AllMusic|access-date=2017-12-07}} and received positive reviews from publications such as Pitchfork, The Guardian, Resident Advisor and Mixmag.{{Cite web|url=https://mixmag.net/read/bicep-are-back-with-a-new-ep-complete-with-a-trippy-music-video-news|title=Bicep make it 'Rain' in trippy new music video|website=Mixmag|access-date=2019-09-09}} The lead single, "Glue", was voted by the public as DJ Mag's (Best of British) Track of the Year.{{Cite web|date=2017-12-18|title=Here's all the winners from the Best of British Awards 2017|url=https://djmag.com/news/best-british-awards-2017-all-winners-our-annual-celebration-uk-underground|access-date=2021-04-27|website=DJMag.com}} It also reached number 1 on Amazon's Best Electronic of 2017,{{Citation|title=Best Electronic of 2017|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B078HBCK3L/ref=dm_dp_pl_rdr|access-date=2021-04-27}} and came second in Mixmag
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.{{Cite web|title=Bicep explore 'Isles' on new album|url=https://mixmag.net/read/bicep-isles-album-ninja-tune-apricots-news|access-date=2021-04-27|website=Mixmag}} "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,{{Cite magazine|title=The 25 Best Dance Songs of 2020: Staff Picks|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/list/9495640/best-dance-songs-2020-top-25/|access-date=2021-04-27|magazine=Billboard|language=en}} hit #1 on the UK's Shazam chart, and spent 10 weeks on the BBC Radio 1 playlist.{{Cite web|title=Ninja Tune flex their marketing muscles for Bicep's second album|url=https://www.musicweek.com/labels/read/ninja-tune-flex-their-marketing-muscles-for-bicep-s-second-album/082445|access-date=2021-04-27|website=www.musicweek.com|language=en}}
The album was nominated for Best Irish Album of 2021 for the Choice Music Prize.{{cite web |title=2021 Album of the Year Shortlist |url=http://www.choicemusicprize.ie/2021-shortlist/ |website=Choice Music Prize}}
Isles was number one on the midweek UK Albums Chart for the week beginning 25 January 2021,{{Cite web|title=Official Albums Chart Update Top 100 {{!}} Official Charts Company|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart-update/20210125/7502u/|access-date=2021-04-27|website=www.officialcharts.com|language=en}} before debuting at number two on the final chart, scooping a number 1 on the UK Official Vinyl Albums Chart,{{Cite web|title=Bring Me The Horizon score second Number 1 album with Post Human: Survival Horror|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/bring-me-the-horizon-score-their-second-number-1-album-with-post-human-survival-horror-it-feels-like-a-really-exciting-time-for-us-__32332/|access-date=2021-04-27|website=www.officialcharts.com|language=en}} additionally breaking into multiple Billboard charts including number 12 on the Dance/Electronic Chart.{{Cite magazine|title=Bicep Muscles Its Way to the Forefront of the Dance World (And Beyond): Emerging Artist Spotlight|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/dance/9523094/bicep-interview-emerging-artists-spotlight-isles/|access-date=2021-04-27|magazine=Billboard|language=en}}
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,{{Cite web|title=BICEP LIVE GLOBAL STREAM II AT SAATCHI GALLERY (8:30PM GMT) at Livestream, Streamland ⟋ RA|url=https://ra.co/events/1437761|access-date=2021-04-27|website=Resident Advisor|language=en}} 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,{{Cite web|date=2021-03-06|title=Bicep: Live Global Stream II review – 90 minutes of pure throwback pleasure|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/mar/06/bicep-live-global-stream-ii-2-live-stream-saatchi-gallery-london-review-isles|access-date=2021-04-27|website=the Guardian|language=en}} with NME calling it an innovative and boundary-pushing audiovisual show.{{Cite web|date=2021-03-01|title=Bicep live in London: Irish dance duo raise the bar for live streams|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/live/bicep-live-in-london-irish-dance-duo-raise-the-bar-for-livestreams-2891269|access-date=2021-04-27|website=NME|language=en-GB}}
Following the release of Isles, Bicep were nominated in two categories at the 2021 BRIT Awards for 'British Group' and 'Breakthrough Artist'.{{Cite news|date=2021-03-31|title=Brits 2021: Full list of award nominees|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-56595220|access-date=2021-04-27}}
In August 2024, McBriar received brain surgery for a rare craniopharyngioma tumour on his pituitary gland.{{Cite web |date=2024-08-14 |title=Bicep’s Matt McBriar treated for ‘large and pretty rare’ brain tumour |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/bicep-matt-mcbriar-brain-tumour-b2596037.html |access-date=2024-08-19 |website=The Independent |language=en}}
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,{{Cite web|url=http://ra.co/events/982260|title=Bicep - Live + Special Guests|website=Resident Advisor}} Roundhouse{{Cite web|url=http://roundhouse.org.uk/whats-on/2018/bicep-live/|title=Bicep (Live) -|website=Roundhouse}} and three consecutive dates alongside Overmono at Printworks in London,{{cite web |title=Bicep (Live) + Overmono (Live) + Moxie |url=http://ra.co/events/1145518 |website=Resident Advisor}} which was filmed by Resident Advisor and one of their final live shows until 2020.{{Cite web|url=http://ra.co/features/3368|title=RA Live: Bicep at Printworks 2018|website=Resident Advisor}}
Bicep headlined their first major British festival at Field Day in August 2021.
Discography
=Studio albums=
=Extended plays=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col" style="width:10em;"| Title
! scope="col" style="width:16em;"| Details |
|---|
| scope="row"| EP 1
|
|
| scope="row"| EP 2
|
|
| scope="row"| Silk
|
|
| scope="row"| Vision of Love
|
|
| scope="row"| You/Don't
|
|
| scope="row"| Stash
|
|
| scope="row"| Circles
|
|
| scope="row"| Lyk Lyk
|
|
| scope="row"| Just
|
|
| scope="row"| Dahlia
|
|
| scope="row"| Aura
|
|
| scope="row"| Glue
|
|
| scope="row"| Vale
|
|
| scope="row"| Rain
|
|
=Singles=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:22em;"| Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:1em;"| Year ! scope="col" colspan="3"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Certifications ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album |
|---|
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| UK ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| BEL ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| IRE |
| scope="row"| "Darwin"
| rowspan="2"| 2010 | — || — || — | | EP 1 |
| scope="row"| "313" / "The Winter"
| — || — || — | | {{n/a|Non-album single}} |
| scope="row"| "Vision of Love"
| rowspan="3"| 2012 | — || — || — | | rowspan="2"| Vision of Love |
| scope="row"| "Getcha Boi"
| — || — || — | |
| scope="row"| "Make Love in Public Places"
| — || — || — | | {{n/a|Non-album single}} |
| scope="row"| "Vision of Love"
| rowspan="2"| 2013 | — || — || — | | Vision of Love |
| scope="row"| "Sacrifice" (with Simian Mobile Disco) | — || — || — | | rowspan="2" {{n/a|Non-album singles}} |
| scope="row"| "D-Mil (Club & Dub)" (with Midland) | rowspan="3"| 2014 | — || — || — | |
| scope="row"| "Lyk Lyk" (with Hammer) | — || — || — | | Lyk Lyk |
| scope="row"| "Satisfy"
| — || — || — | | {{n/a|Non-album single}} |
| scope="row"| "Dahlia" (with Hammer) | rowspan="2"| 2015 | — || — || — | | Dahlia |
| scope="row"| "Just"[http://thequietus.com/articles/20397-bicep-interview "INTERVIEW: Bicep"]. The Quietus, Eden Tizard , June 10th, 2016
| — || — || — | | Just |
| scope="row"| "Aura"
| rowspan="3"| 2017 | — || — || — | | rowspan="4"| Bicep |
| scope="row"| "Glue"
| — || 11 || — | |
| scope="row"| "Vale"
| — || — || — | |
| scope="row"| "Rain"
| 2018 | — || — || — | |
| scope="row"| "Atlas"
| rowspan="3"| 2020 | 91 || — || 90 | | rowspan="4"| Isles |
| scope="row"| "Apricots"
| 42 || 25 || 54 | |
| scope="row"| "Saku" (featuring Clara La San) | — || — || — | |
| scope="row"| "Sundial"
| 2021 | — || — || — | |
| scope="row"| "Meli (II)"
| rowspan=2|2022 | — || — || — | | rowspan=4{{n/a|Non-album singles}} |
| scope="row"| "Water" (featuring Clara La San) | — || — || — |
| scope="row"|"Chroma 001 Helium"
|rowspan=2|2024 | — || — || — | |
| scope="row"|"Chroma 002 L.A.V.A"
| — || — || — | |
| align="center" colspan="7" style="font-size:90%" | "—" denotes a recording that did not chart. |
=Other charted songs=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album |
|---|
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| BEL (FL) Tip |
| scope="row"| "Cazenove"
| 2021 | 46 | Isles |
Awards and nominations
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{homepage}}
- {{discogs artist}}
- {{allmusic|artist/bicep-mn0002596465}}
- http://thisismusicltd.com/artist/bicep/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150828084117/http://thisismusicltd.com/artist/bicep/ |date=28 August 2015 }}
{{authority control}}
Category:Musical duos from Northern Ireland
Category:Electronic music groups from Northern Ireland
Category:British electronic dance music duos