"We used to roll up socks in our shoes to give us an extra inch." The childhood friends talk about coming of age in Belfast and their label and event series, CHROMA.

Bicep—the Irish duo Andrew Ferguson and Matthew McBriar—have been winning over the hearts of fans with trance-inflected, melancholic dance music since 2009. In this interview with RA editor Gabriel Szatan, the childhood friends talk about how they got where they are, unpacking their creative process and the abiding musical influence of their hometown, Belfast, a city where emotional trance reigned supreme. 

They also discuss their ongoing multidisciplinary project, CHROMA—a record label, event series and evolving live audiovisual show. Ferguson and McBriar say that the idea for CHROMA came from a sense that their DJ sets were becoming too "sugary," so they buckled down with a renewed focus on creating dynamic new productions made specifically for the dance floor and their sets. The result is a string of hard-hitting EPs which you can find online now. Listen to the episode in full.

EX.722 Bicep

I. JORDAN B2B MICHELLE MANETTI - 17 May 2025

Live @ FÜNK CLUB, Mexico City

On this weeks Feel My Bicep mixtape, we welcome Marla Kether, the bassist, producer, DJ and founder of Kilengi Dance Party, born in London to Congolese parents. She’s been taking her high-energy sets around the world to Glastonbury, supporting Loyle Carner on his US tour. The diverse selections feature a bass-led blend of Kuduro, Dembow, Afro House and Global Bass. Lets catch up…

Recently I’ve been playing a bunch of really great shows with my band, and working on a few remixes that’ll be out this summer. I’ve also been enjoying a (slight) lull in my tour schedule which has meant more time with friends!

Last Friday, I DJed at Outra Cena in Lisbon for a Numa High party. The Tascam recording is being mastered at the moment so—just for you—I’ve re-recorded part of my set, from the comfort of my lovely bedroom.

The party was a celebration of people and music from the African diaspora, so I featured a lot of Batida, Kuduro, Baile Funk and Afro House. Just serving up my usual mix of global dance sounds really—giving people a taste of what to expect at my upcoming shows, as well as showing off tunes I heard during my trip to Brazil earlier this year.

Up Next…

So, I have quite a lot coming up! I’ve got 2 remixes and a track on Somewhere Soul’s new compilation coming out in June-July; a heap of live bookings, including Cross The Tracks, The Great Escape and SXSW London; and I’ll be DJing at Glasto, We Out Here, Outlook and Little Simz’s Meltdown Festival to name a few!

FMB MIXTAPE 260 | MARLA KETHER

Gui Scott at Gop Tun Festival 2025

DIJON FM 001 | Remixia

London-based DJ duo REMIXIA, made up of Emilia and Rebecca, brings a fresh take on Afro-electronic music, blending Afro House, Afro Tech, and 3-step with elements of melodic tech and house to craft high-energy, unforgettable sets.

Over the past year, they’ve played globally in cities like Ibiza, Mykonos, Paris, LA, New York, Cape Town, Accra, and more, sharing stages with some of the biggest names in Afro house and tech like Black Coffee, Shimza, Rampa, and Major League. From iconic venues like Pacha and KOKO Electronic to Paris Fashion Week and BFA parties, REMIXIA are known for creating vibrant, genre-blurring musical experiences that move crowds everywhere they go.

@remixia

 https://www.instagram.com/remixia_/

Dijon FM 001 | REMIXIA

Free Download

Flosstradamus - Soundclash [ALPHA ROSA DUB] [FREE DOWNLOAD]

"We're trying to show more of who we are." The Belgian brothers unpack their decades-long career and first album in more than seven years.

There are some songs that have become pervasive, nearly universally recognisable features of pop culture. And my guess is that even if you don't know the Belgian duo Soulwax (AKA 2Manydjs) by name, you'll know their biggest hits, like early 2000s indie electronic anthems "E Talking" or "NY Excuse."

In this interview with Resident Advisor editor Gabriel Szatan, the brothers David and Stephen Dewaele talk about their decades-long career and writing their first album in more than seven years, All Systems Are Lying, which they road tested for ages before deciding to put it out. They also unpack bigger thematic arcs in their work and lives: the abiding influence of New Order's Power, Corruption and Lies LP; their creative philosophy ("If it sounds too simple, leave it alone);" and the nature of musical trends and revivals, which have fluctuated intensely since they began performing and releasing records. Listen to the episode in full. -Chloe Lula


EX.776 Soulwax

Dave Antony & Chris Gresswell - I Like It

Bandcamp

Men I Trust - Billie Toppy (Ben van Kuringen Edit)

My Essential Mix for BBC Radio 1, originally aired Aug 2018. Here it is without the radio drops.

I’m usually not much of a preplanned mix person, I massively prefer playing to a crowd and interacting with the atmosphere. Combine that with the extremely not insignificant fact that this is one of the most important and longest running mix series around, this was quite a challenge!

I spent a long time gathering these 40 songs and playing with the arrangement (even made a couple new edits). I included songs that have been staples in my sets, plus old favorites from before I was a DJ. Eternal shouts to Nathan Micay, Aurora Halal, Overmono, E-Talking and Koehler for letting me include your dope as hell unreleased new music (plus two unreleased songs from myself). 

The last song is by Oakland band Them Are Us Too and this mix is dedicated to those who lost their lives in a diy music space a year and a half ago. Your music and love lives on. FUCK technocrat capitalist greed in the bay. One of Ghost Ship’s spiritual predecessors, Ghost Town in Oakland, was one of the first gigs I ever played, back in 2011 right around the time when I was realizing that I loved making music and DJing. 

If someone told me then that I’d eventually make an Essential Mix and be touring around the world, I’d be incredulously curious to see just how that would unfold. It’s been wild. Thank you to everyone who has listened and danced with me since then. 

recorded on two cdjs and an xdj, xone 92 & extra help from the teil1 delay and blue sky reverb

Avalon Emerson Essential Mix

Bassist, producer and DJ based in London

Spinning a variety of dance and electronic music genres from all over the globe <3

FMB MIXTAPE 260 | MARLA KETHER

Marla Kether

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