Bicep are an electronic music production and DJ duo from Belfast, Northern Ireland, consisting of Andrew Ferguson and Matthew McBriar."Bicep interview". Time Out London, Oliver Keens, 7 May 2013"BICEP". Freq, 2 March 2013
History Bicep was formed in 2009 as a production and DJing pair in London. The duo, childhood friends,"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."Bicep's Essential Mix debut is a must-listen for house heads". In the Mix, 29 September 2014, Krystal Rodriguez"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."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.
After signing to Ninja Tune in 2017, Bicep released their debut album Bicep, which went in at number 20 on the UK Albums Chart, and received positive reviews from publications such as Pitchfork, The Guardian, Resident Advisor and Mixmag. The lead single, "Glue", was voted by the public as DJ Mag's (Best of British) Track of the Year. It also reached number 1 on Amazon's Best Electronic of 2017, and came second in Mixmag's 100 Best Tracks of 2017.
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. "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, hit #1 on the UK's Shazam chart, and spent 10 weeks on the BBC Radio 1 playlist.
The album was nominated for Best Irish Album of 2021 for the Choice Music Prize.Isles was number one on the midweek UK Albums Chart for the week beginning 25 January 2021, before debuting at number two on the final chart, scooping a number 1 on the UK Official Vinyl Albums Chart, additionally breaking into multiple Billboard charts including number 12 on the Dance/Electronic Chart.
The duo made a pivot to ticketed streams during the coronavirus pandemic, delivering two shows broadcast across 5 timezones. The shows were watched in more than 70 countries worldwide, 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, with NME calling it an innovative and boundary-pushing audiovisual show.
Following the release of Isles, Bicep were nominated in two categories at the 2021 BRIT Awards for 'British Group' and 'Breakthrough Artist'.
In August 2024, McBriar received brain surgery for a rare craniopharyngioma tumour on his pituitary gland.
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, Roundhouse and three consecutive dates alongside Overmono at Printworks in London, which was filmed by Resident Advisor'' and one of their final live shows until 2020.
Bicep headlined their first major British festival at Field Day in August 2021 and were the Sunday headliners on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury in 2022. They returned to Glastonbury's IICON stage in 2024, performing their audio visual set CHROMA.
Discography Studio albums Title Details Peak chart positions Certifications UK AUS BEL(FL) GER IRE NLD SWI Bicep Released: 1 September 2017 Label: Ninja Tune Format: Digital download, CD, streaming 20 — 113 — 67 — — BPI: Silver Isles Released: 22 January 2021 Label: Ninja Tune Format: Digital download, CD, streaming 2 12 3 8 2 28 26 BPI: Silver
Compilation albums Title Details UK AUS BEL(FL) GER IRE NLD SWI Certifications CHROMA 000 Released: 14 November 2025 Label: CHROMA Format: LP, digital download, streaming — — — — — — —
Extended plays 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 TAKKUUK (Original Soundtrack) Released: 25 July 2025 Label: EarthSonic / Ninja Tune Format: Digital download, streaming
Singles Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album 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""INTERVIEW: Bicep". The Quietus, Eden Tizard, June 10th, 2016 — — — Just "Aura" 2017 — — — Bicep "Glue" — 11 — BPI: Platinum "Vale" — — — "Rain" 2018 — — — "Atlas" 2020 91 — 90 BPI: Silver Isles "Apricots" 42 25 54 BPI: Gold "Saku"(featuring Clara La San) — — — "Sundial" 2021 — — — "Meli (II)"2022 — — — rowspan=2 "Water"(featuring Clara La San) — — —"Chroma 001 HELIUM"2024 — — — CHROMA Series"Chroma 002 L.A.V.A" — — —"Chroma 003 Bi83" — — —"Chroma 004 ROLA" — — —"Chroma 005 A.L.O.E" — — —"Chroma 007 STEALL" — — —"Chroma 008 TANGZ"2025 — — —"Chroma 009 KR36" — — —"Chroma 010 BRILLO" — — — "—" denotes a recording that did not chart.
Other charted songs Title Year Peak chart positions Album BEL(FL)Tip "Cazenove" 2021 46 Isles
Awards and nominations +YearAssociationCategoryNominated workResultRef 2020 DJ Mag Best of British Awards Best Track "Atlas" 2021Brit AwardsBest British GroupThemselves Best New Artist Berlin Music Video Awards Best Experimental "Apricots" Best Editor"Saku" UK Music Video Awards Best Cinematography in a Video Best Editing in a Video Best Visual Effects in a Video Choice Music PrizeBest Irish AlbumIsles 2022 Libera Awards Marketing Genius Isles 2023 Libera Awards Best Dance Record "Water"
References
External links
http://thisismusicltd.com/artist/bicep/