Bicep On Their Ticketed Livestream Event & New Album Isles
The bloggers-turned-house & techno mainstays talk monetizing livestreams & releasing a dance music album in a pandemic.
There’s no tiptoeing around a pretty simple fact — Bicep are nerds. The obsessive nature and attention to detail of Andy Ferguson & Matt McBriar’s project has been apparent since their introduction to the public by way of their Feel My Bicep blog, launched way back in 2008.
Since the founding of the deep-cut fixated site, their instincts have inarguably served them well, as the Belfast boys are now best known for their own original productions, live performances and rowdy DJ sets than they are for being dedicated writers and crate diggers.
Their ascent to the lofty peaks of the underground (sometimes not-so-underground) dance music world has been propelled by the ambition that is apparent in all of their projects, be they mere dance music blogs, or pioneering live shows.
Breakthrough successes, like 2015’s “Just” and their acclaimed self-titled 2017 album, saw their underground sensibilities pierce through to the mainstream world — something that takes a delicate balance, and is not oft done in the world that they reside.
The painstaking curation behind the duo’s written word and sound extends to their vision as well. Their live performances offer mind-addling visuals, and the imagery of their logo and the nostalgia-filled video for “Glue” have become as integral as the music to the project.
Bicep’s forthcoming sophomore LP, Isles, feels like a natural progression of these ideas and principles. The record was designed to be exactly this dual experience; its ornate production makes for a truly captivating home listen (a line often toed poorly by dance music albums), as well as a contrast against the more punishing versions produced for a live music experience.
Our writer Zach Schlein sat down with the Northern Irish duo to discuss the new album, along with their pioneering pay-to-play livestreamed concert. Read the full article on the Festival Advisor website right now.
