“Ibeyi” is the Yoruba term for the divine spirit that exists between twins. It is also the name of the 20-year-old French-Cuban duo Naomi and Lisa, currently based in Paris. The twins grew up on both sides of the Atlantic. Daughters of the famous Cuban percussionist (“Buena Vista Social club”) Anga Diaz and the French-Venezuelan singer Maya Dagnino, they continue their musical path increasingly attractively and undeniably beautifully in the vast art.
photo: Ibeyi
At the age of 11, Naomi Diaz began playing the Afro-Peruvian traditional instrument, the Cajon. It is a percussion musical instrument that is struck with the hands, fingers, and sometimes with brushes, sticks or sticks. It is used mostly in Afro-Cuban music, but also in contemporary flamenco, jazz, etc. Lisa Cainde Diaz is a pianist and songwriter who has developed particularly with the help of her mother. The two sisters began with their debut album, dedicated to their father and their third sister, Yanira, who died seven years after their father. Their music incorporates styles from Cuban traditional music, electronic, French jazz, R&B, Hip-Hop and pop music. The result is their deeply emotional self-titled debut album, "Ibeyi".
Tracklist
| Number | First Name | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Eleggua" | 1:16 |
| 2. | "Oya" | 3:52 |
| 3. | Ghosts | 3:31 |
| 4. | "River" | 4:12 |
| 5. | "Think of You" | 3:40 |
| 6. | "Behind the Curtain" | 4:13 |
| 7. | "Stranger/Lover" | 4:11 |
| 8. | "Mama Says" | 4:09 |
| 9. | "Weatherman" | 4:02 |
| 10. | "Faithful" | 3:27 |
| 11. | "Yanira" | 3:37 |
| 12. | "Singles" | 3:59 |
| 13. | "Ibeyi" | 1:48 |
| 14. | "Fly (Bonus)" | 3:32 |
| 15. | "Chains" (Bonus) | 3:01 |
photo: Ibeyi
In many ways, “Ibeyi” is an extended ritual—a dedication to life and love, both past and present. Fittingly, the album begins with a Yoruba prayer to Eleggua, a deity who blesses “crossroads” and “paths” of the earthly and the otherworldly path. The presence of Eleggua and other mythical beings saturates the album thematically and musically. On “River,” for example, Lisa-Kainde and Naomi pray to the deity Oshun for full-flowing rivers and fertility. The song feels monumental. Yet it’s an invitation to rebirth. Stripping down the vocals, it’s clear that the only other instruments are a MIDI controller (or two) and a knack for piano. And that’s what makes “Ibeyi” so remarkable. Instrumentally, their music is sparse. But it always feels full of emotion and a spirituality that’s as emotionally profound as the people and circumstances that create it.
Participations followed in Australia, Europe and America.
photo: Ibeyi
photo: Ibeyi
