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Ibeyi

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Ibeyi
Ibeyi in 2014
Ibeyi in 2014
Background information
OriginCuba, Venezuela, France;
GenresSoul, R&B, downtempo, electronic, experimental
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriters, musicians
Instrument(s)Vocals, piano, percussion
Years active2013 (2013)–present
LabelsXL Recordings
MembersLisa-Kaindé Diaz
Naomi Diaz
Websiteibeyi.fr

Ibeyi is a French-Cuban musical duo consisting of twin sisters Lisa-Kaindé Diaz and Naomi Diaz.[1] The duo sings in English and Yoruba,[2] — a Nigerian language their ancestors spoke before being brought to Cuba by the Spanish to be made slaves in the 1700s — though Lisa's is the lead voice,[3] Naomi plays traditional Spanish/Cuban percussion instruments cajón and Batá drum, while Lisa also plays piano.[4]

In the Yoruba language, Ibeyi (Ìbejì) translates as "twins".

Their music has elements of Yoruba, French and Afro-Cuban, and fuses jazz with beats, samples with traditional instruments.[5]

Early life and career

The twins were born in Paris but lived in Havana the first two years of their lives. Then, they moved to Paris to pursue their education.[6] They often visited Cuba yearly on holiday, but were primarily raised in Paris, where they currently reside.[4] Their father was the famed Cuban percussionist, Anga Díaz, who has received a Grammy for his work with the Latin jazz band Irakere and was also a member of Buena Vista Social Club played with Ibrahim Ferrer, Rubén González and Máximo Francisco Repilado Muñoz aka Compay Segundo. On his death in 2006, Naomi, then aged 11, learned to play his signature instrument the cajón. Together, the sisters studied Yoruba folk songs.[7] Their mother is French-Venezuelan singer, Maya Dagnino, who serves as their manager and encouraged Lisa-Kainde's songwriting.[8][9] In 2013, they signed to the record label, XL Recordings.[2][10] Label owner Richard Russell is the only other contributor to their self-titled debut album, released in 2015.[4] The album, released when they were 20, pays tribute to their deceased father and the track Yanira immortalizes the duo’s older sister, who died in 2013. The song ends with a synth that sounds like a life support monitor.[4] In 2014, they received attention for the video for their album's second single, "River". The twins appear in a closeup shot throughout, taking turns having their heads forced underwater while the other sings.[4] In 2016, the twins appeared in the short film for Beyoncé's album Lemonade. In May 2016 Ibeyi returned to Havana for live performances at the CHANEL 2016 Cruise collection in Cuba and the international music festival MUSICABANA.[11]

Influences

As well as their father Anga Díaz, the duo claims Frank Ocean, James Blake, and King Krule among their influences.[1] In live shows, they have covered rapper Jay Electronica’s Better in Tune with the Infinite and others.

Their recordings also show a strong and spiritual connection to their Yoruba roots, as do the name and themes. They also pay tribute to Santería, a syncretism practiced by many Afro-Cubans.

Discography

Albums

Year Title Peak positions Certification
BEL
(Fl)
[12] 		BEL
(Wa)
[13] 		FR
[14] 		NED
[15] 		UK
 US
2015 Ibeyi 73 44 14 52 36 166

EPs

Year EP Peak positions Notes
FR
[14]
2014 Oya EP  – Tracklist
  1. "Oya" (3:53)
  2. "River" (4:12)
  3. "Oya" (Oya Capella) (3:30)
  4. "River" (Oshun Dub) (5:03)

Singles

Year Single Peak positions Album
BEL
(Fl)
[12] 		BEL
(Wa)
[13] 		FR
[14]
2014 "River" 84
(Ultratip) 		49
(Ultratip) 		66 Ibeyi
2015 "Stranger / Lover" 15
(Ultratip) 		34
(Ultratip)

References

  1. ^ a b "About". Ibeyi. Retrieved 2015-02-22.
  2. ^ a b Rhick Samadder (2015-02-15). "Sister act: the twins behind Ibeyi". The Guardian. Retrieved 2015-02-16.
  3. ^ Hugh Montgomery (May 9, 2015). "Ibeyi: meet the soul sisters set to stun this year's festival circuit "Music has always been our way to be happy and to heal ourselves"". United Kingdom: Independent. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d e Jay Balfour (2015-02-20). "Half Yoruba spiritual and half electronic R&B, Ibeyi's debut is drenched in rhythm and quirky originality". hiphopdx. Retrieved 2015-02-22.
  5. ^ Betty Clarke (2015-02-20). "Ibeyi review – twin-powered culture-clash charisma". The Guardian. Retrieved 2015-02-22.
  6. ^ "Ibeyi - Full Performance (Live on KEXP)". kexp.org. 13 April 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  7. ^ "New Music from Ibeyi". Irish Times. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
  8. ^ Tim Jonze (October 30, 2014). "Meet Ibeyi: French-Cuban twins with a musical sixth sense". The Guardian. Retrieved 2015-05-01.
  9. ^ Jim Carroll (February 15, 2015). "Ibeyi: the French Cuban teenagers about to take the music world by storm". Irish Times. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  10. ^ "Les morceaux de la semaine de JD Beauvallet". Les Inrocks. Retrieved 2014-04-13.
  11. ^ http://musicabana.com/line-up/. Retrieved 7 May 2016. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  12. ^ a b "Ibeyi discography". ultrato.be/nl/. Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 February 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  13. ^ a b "Ibeyi discography". ultrato.be/fr/. Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 February 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  14. ^ a b c "Ibeyi discography". lescharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 February 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  15. ^ "Ibeyi discography". dutchcharts.nl. Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 February 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
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