Delphic (band)

Delphic

Company type	Music group
Industry	Music
Founded	2009
Headquarters	Manchester , England, United Kingdom
Products	Alternative dance music, albums, singles, EPs

Delphic was an alternative dance group originating from Manchester, England, and was signed under Polydor Records. Their first single, "Counterpoint," produced by Ewan Pearson, debuted in April 2009 through R&S Records.

During 2009, the band performed at prominent UK music festivals such as T in the Park, Reading and Leeds Festivals, and Creamfields.

The EP titled "This Momentary" was released on 31 August 2009 via Kitsuné. Its accompanying music video received three nominations at the UK Music Video Awards, including categories for Best Cinematography, Editing, and Telecine. In November 2009, Delphic appeared on television for the first time on Later... with Jools Holland, showcasing performances of "Doubt" and "Halcyon".

Delphic was shortlisted among 15 contenders for the BBC Sound of 2010 list, ultimately securing third place behind Ellie Goulding and Marina and the Diamonds.

Their debut album, Acolyte, was released in Australia and New Zealand on 22 January 2010 through Modular Recordings, followed by a US release on 29 June 2010 via Dangerbird Records. The band’s sophomore album, Collections, came out on 28 January 2013.

In July 2013, Delphic collaborated with the Manchester International Festival for a three-night residency called 'Our Worldly Collections,' where they reimagined their album Collections using global instruments performed by UK-based musicians.

After Delphic disbanded, Richard Boardman established The Six, a Manchester-centered songwriting collective that contributed to tracks including Louis Tomlinson and Bebe Rexha's single "Back To You."

Acolyte (2010)

Announced on their official website on 2 November 2009, Delphic’s debut album Acolyte was released through Polydor under their own label Chimeric Records on 11 January 2010. BBC Music hailed it as "potentially the first outstanding album of 2010," while Simon Price from The Independent praised it as "nearly magnificent." The album featured singles such as "Doubt", "Halcyon", and "Counterpoint," which was subsequently reissued on Chimeric.

The track "Counterpoint" served as the theme for Sky Sports’ Premier League broadcast during the 2010–11 season and was included in the soundtrack of Pro Evolution Soccer 2010. "Red Lights" was utilized in an E4 commercial promoting 90210, while "Halcyon" featured nationwide in Samsung Monte mobile phone advertisements.

The album’s opener, "Clarion Call," appeared in video games such as F1 2010 by Codemasters and Saint's Row: The Third, additionally functioning as theme music for Sky Sports’ International Cricket highlights.

Following a sold-out UK tour in January 2010 alongside pop noir act Mirrors, Delphic planned further UK tours for March and May. The group also received a nomination for "Best UK & Ireland New Act" at the 2010 MTV EMAs held in Madrid.

Collections (2013)

In April 2012, Boardman disclosed that the band had devoted a year and a half to crafting their sophomore album, working alongside producers Ben Allen (known for his work with Bombay Bicycle Club) and DFA Records co-founder Tim Goldsworthy. Both producers shared an enthusiasm for modern R&B, hinting at a possible evolution in the band's sound.

By May 2012, Boardman confirmed plans for forthcoming singles and a follow-up to their 2010 release Acolyte, although specific titles were not yet revealed. In June 2012, BBC News announced that Delphic would contribute one of five official tracks for the 2012 Summer Olympics, joining acts such as Muse and The Chemical Brothers. Their track "Good Life" premiered on BBC Radio 1 in July 2012 as Zane Lowe’s "Hottest Record in the World" and was officially released by Polydor on 23 July. The band later explained that their management submitted the demo without their awareness before it was selected for Olympic promotion.

James Cook, the band's singer and bassist, remarked that "Good Life" conveyed the atmosphere rather than the musical style of the upcoming album. In August 2012, Delphic announced a UK tour featuring previews of new songs including "Baiya," "Memeo," "Atlas," and "Changes."

Information about Collections surfaced in November 2012 as the tour wrapped up. A preview was uploaded to VEVO showcasing tracks like "Baiya," "Memeo," and "Atlas." The album’s lead single, "Baiya," was released later that month.

Get Familiar (mixtape) (2014)

Delphic unveiled a seven-track mixtape titled Get Familiar on SoundCloud on 22 April 2014.

The Six (2014)

In 2014, Rick Boardman established The Six, a songwriting collective based in Manchester. They featured on Gorgon City's single "Take It All" and supported their UK tour. Boardman has over thirty registered compositions and contributed to Clean Bandit and Jess Glynne’s 2014 hit "Real Love," which peaked at number two in both UK and German charts. He remains at the helm of The Six, who have penned songs for artists such as Louis Tomlinson and Bebe Rexha ("Back to You") as well as Galantis ("Love on Me").

Studio albums

Year	Details	Peak chart positions
		UK	AUS	IRL	FRA	BEL
2010	Acolyte Released: 11 January 2010 Label: Polydor, Dangerbird Formats: CD, Vinyl, digital download	8	66	64	151	90
2013	Collections Released: 28 January 2013 Label: Polydor Formats: CD, Vinyl, digital download	77	—	—	—	—

Singles

Year	Single	Chart Rankings		Album
		UK	UK Dance
2009	"Counterpoint"	—	—	Acolyte
2010	"Doubt"	79	—
	"Halcyon"	143	16
	"Counterpoint" (re-release)	—	—
2012	"Good Life" (official Olympics single)	—	—	—
2013	"Baiya"	—	—	Collections

Promotional singles

Year	Single	Album
2009	"This Momentary"	'Acolyte'
	"Sanctuary"

Notes:

• "This Momentary" was featured as an iTunes Single of the Week concurrent with the release of Acolyte.
• "Sanctuary" served as a buzz track in November 2009 but was not included on Acolyte. Prior to this, the band members performed under the name Snowfight in the City Centre.

External links

• Official website