Belfast-born/London-based duo Bicep (Matt McBriar and Andy Ferguson) are childhood friends who bonded over a shared love of dance music. In the decades since first meeting, aged 8, Bicep have become curators and producers of electronic music. Today, the duo have unveiled the second release on their new CHROMA label imprint, which serves as both a home for their own more underground club focused productions, and also a platform to share their wider music styles. Bicep’s new CHROMA project — which comprises a record label, a series of curated events, a brand new and constantly evolving Bicep AV/DJ show, and a visual identity created in collaboration with David Rudnick and his Terrain studio — launched last month with the single “CHROMA 001 HELIUM”.

“CHROMA 002 L.A.V.A” is a collaboration between the duo and fellow electronic producer and stalwart of the UK/ Berlin techno scene Benjamin Damage. On “L.A.V.A”, fans are given a glimpse of the harder, faster, club-ready sounds that were promised from the new label, which was formulated with an ethos to cover everything “from Acid to Alkaline”.

Appearing under their B.D.B alias, the release is the product of a long and fruitful friendship between the three artists. Having existed in each others orbit for many years — and exchanging unreleased music from 2013 onwards — Benjamin damage invited Bicep to contribute a track to his 2015 single release on Modeselektor’s 50Weapons label/project, with the trio also teaming up for a B.D.B release on Bicep’s own FeelMyBicep label in 2019.

“This is one of several tracks we’ll be releasing with Ben this year,” explain Bicep. “It was recorded over several jam sessions last year with Ben at our studio in London. For us it is always exciting to come together with zero preconceived ideas, free to experiment and see what comes out of the sessions. At first this track was initially a much tougher and straighter tune which over time slowly developed into ‘L.A.V.A’, with addition of Clara’s killer vox! Lots more to come!”

Following their recent takeover of London’s 15,000 capacity Drumsheds, the duo have also announced a number of “Bicep Presents CHROMA” takeovers, at London’s Finsbury Park and Brighton Beach later this year. Though billed as an AV/DJ performance, the ‘Bicep presents CHROMA’ shows are actually more of a hybrid between DJ and live. The pair have several pedals and a drum machine they can use on stage, and there is a connection between the decks and the visuals team which allows the latter to see what is being played in real-time adapting their visuals accordingly. This in turn gives Bicep the freedom to experiment with each performance, keeping the visuals and music working in tandem, no matter the direction they decide to take things.

Bicep 2024 Tour Dates

Thu 11th Apr – Snowbombing – Mayrhofen, AT
Fri 12th Apr – Radius – Chicago, US
Sun 14th Apr – Coachella – Indio, US
Sun 21st Apr – Coachella – Indio, US
Fri 3rd May – DGTL – Santiago, CL
Sat 4th May – Timewarp – São Paulo, BR
Fri 31st May – AVA Festival – Belfast, UK
Sat 1st Jun – Forbidden Fruit – Dublin, IE
Sun 2nd Jun – The Marquee – Cork, IE
Sat 22nd Jun – TNMK – Katowice, PL
Sun 23rd Jun – Hideout – Pag, HR
Fri 19th Jul – Brighton Beach – Brighton, UK
Sat 20th Jul – Dour Festival – Dour, BE
Fri 26th Jul – Dekmantel – Amsterdam, NL
Fri 2nd Aug – Finsbury Park – London, UK
Sat 3rd Aug – Wilderness Festival, UK
Fri 9th Aug – Boardmasters – Cornwall, UK
Sun 25th Aug – Creamfields Festival, UK
Sat 2nd Nov – C2C Festival – Turin, IT

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