Ibeyi
Naomi (left) and Lisa-Kaindé Diaz
Naomi (left) and Lisa-Kaindé Diaz
Background information
Born (1994-12-13) 13 December 1994
Paris, France
Genres
Years active2013 (2013)–present
LabelsXL
Members
  • Lisa-Kaindé Diaz
  • Naomi Diaz
Websiteibeyimusic.com

Ibeyi is a French musical duo consisting of twin sisters Lisa-Kaindé Diaz and Naomi Diaz. The duo sings in English, French, Spanish and Yoruba,[1] In Yoruba, Ibeyi (Ìbejì) means "twins".[2]

Their music has elements of Yoruba, French and Afro-Cuban, and fuses jazz with beats, samples with traditional instruments.,[3] Lisa, the lead singer,[4] plays the piano;[5] Naomi plays the traditional Peruvian/Cuban percussion instruments cajón and Batá drum.

Early life and career

Ibeyi in concert in 2018

The fraternal[6] twins (born 13 December 1994, in Paris) lived in Havana for the first two years of their lives, then moved to Paris, where they were educated.[7] They visited Cuba yearly on holiday, but were primarily raised in Paris, where they currently reside.[5]

Their father was the famed Cuban percussionist Anga Díaz, who has received a Grammy award for his work with the Latin jazz band Irakere, and was also a member of Buena Vista Social Club ensemble, playing 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.[8] Their mother is French-Venezuelan singer Maya Dagnino, who serves as their manager and encouraged Lisa-Kainde's songwriting.[9][10]

In 2013, they signed to the record label, XL Recordings.[1][11] Label owner Richard Russell is the only other contributor to their self-titled debut album, released in 2015.[5] Released when they were 20, the album 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.[5]

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.[5]

In 2016, the twins appeared in the short film for Beyoncé's album Lemonade as members of Beyonce's farm utopia that offers a safe space for black women. In May 2016, Ibeyi returned to Havana for live performances at the CHANEL 2016 Cruise collection in Cuba and the international music festival MUSICABANA.[12]

Their 2017 album Ash was nominated for IMPALA's European Album of the Year Award.[13]

Influences

As well as their father Anga Díaz, the duo claims Frank Ocean, James Blake, and King Krule among their influences.[14] 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.[15] They also pay tribute to Santería, a syncretism practiced by many Afro-Cubans, and many cubans in general.[16]

Discography

Albums

List of studio albums, with selected details
Title Album details Peak chart positions
FRA
[17]		 BEL
(Fl)
[18]		 BEL
(Wa)
[19]		 GER
[20]		 NED
[21]		 SWI
[22]		 UK
[23]		 UK
Ind.
[24]		 US
[25]		 US
Heat.
[26]
Ibeyi 1528355852203691661
Ash
  • Released: 29 September 2017[28]
  • Label: XL Recordings
  • Format: CD, DL, LP, streaming
 264873——47—49—13
Spell 31
  • Released: 6 May 2022[29]
  • Label: XL Recordings
  • Format: CD, DL, LP, streaming
 98——————37——
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

EPs

Title Details Notes
Oya EP
  • Released: 7 August 2014
  • Label: XL Recordings
  • Format: DL
No.TitleLength
1.""Oya"" 
2.""River"" 
3.""Oya"" (Oya Capella) 
4.""River"" (Oshun Dub) 

Singles

List of singles by main artist
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
FRA
[17]		 BEL
(Fl)
Tip
[18]		 BEL
(Wa)
Tip
[19]
"River" 2014 668449 Ibeyi
"Stranger / Lover" 2015 —1534
"Exhibit Diaz"[30] ——— Non-album single
"Lost in My Mind"[31] 2017 ———
"Away Away" 17448— Ash
"Deathless"
(featuring Kamasi Washington)		 188——
"Me Voy"
(featuring Mala Rodriguez)		 ———
"Recurring Dream"[32] 2021 ——— Music from the film How to Stop a Recurring Dream
"Made of Gold"
(with Pa Salieu)		 ——— Spell 31
"Sister 2 Sister" 2022 ———
"Lavender & Red Roses"
(with Jorja Smith)		 ———
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart

Notes

    References

    1. 1 2 Rhick Samadder (15 February 2015). "Sister act: the twins behind Ibeyi". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
    2. ↑ Wagoner, Mackenzie. "Decoding the Beauty Looks of Our Favorite Sister Bands: Haim, Tegan and Sara, and More". Vogue. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
    3. ↑ Betty Clarke (20 February 2015). "Ibeyi review – twin-powered culture-clash charisma". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
    4. ↑ Hugh Montgomery (9 May 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"". The Independent. United Kingdom. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
    5. 1 2 3 4 5 Jay Balfour (20 February 2015). "Half Yoruba spiritual and half electronic R&B, Ibeyi's debut is drenched in rhythm and quirky originality". hiphopdx. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
    6. ↑ "We Skyped with Ibeyi, the French-Cuban Twin Sisters Turning Their Heritage into the Sound of the Future". www.vice.com. 18 November 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
    7. ↑ "Ibeyi – Full Performance (Live on KEXP)". kexp.org. 13 April 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
    8. ↑ Carroll, Jim (20 March 2014). "New Music – Ibeyi, Juce, Akua". Irish Times. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
    9. ↑ Tim Jonze (30 October 2014). "Meet Ibeyi: French-Cuban twins with a musical sixth sense". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
    10. ↑ Jim Carroll (15 February 2015). "Ibeyi: the French Cuban teenagers about to take the music world by storm". Irish Times. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
    11. ↑ "Les morceaux de la semaine de JD Beauvallet". Les Inrocks. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
    12. ↑ "MUSICABANA – CUBA". Musicabana.com. Archived from the original on 10 May 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
    13. ↑ "22 acts in the running for best European independent album". IMPALA. 6 March 2018. Archived from the original on 9 March 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
    14. ↑ "About". Ibeyi. Archived from the original on 27 February 2015. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
    15. ↑ "Ibeyi's Lisa-Kaindé and Naomi Diaz in studio q". q on cbc. 12 August 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
    16. ↑ Tracy, Liz (4 May 2016). "Ibeyi Mixes Music and Santería to Make Something Truly Original". Miami New Times. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
    17. 1 2 "Ibeyi discography". lescharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
    18. 1 2 "Ibeyi discography". ultrato.be/nl/. Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
    19. 1 2 "Ibeyi discography". ultrato.be/fr/. Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
    20. ↑ "Chartverfolgung / Ibeyi / Longplay". musicline.de (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
    21. ↑ "Ibeyi discography". dutchcharts.nl. Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
    22. ↑ "Ibeyi discography". hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
    23. ↑ "Ibeyi | Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
    24. ↑ Peak positions for UK Independent Albums Chart:
    25. ↑ "Ibeyi – Chart History | Billboard" (To access, select "Billboard 200"). Billboard. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
    26. ↑ "Ibeyi – Chart History | Billboard Heatseekers Albums" (To access, select "Heatseekers Albums"). Billboard. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
    27. ↑ "Ibeyi by Ibeyi on Apple Music". iTunes. 17 February 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
    28. ↑ "Ash by Ibeyi on Apple Music". iTunes. 29 September 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
    29. ↑ Spell 31 by Ibeyi, iTunes, 6 May 2022, retrieved 4 February 2023
    30. ↑ "Exhibit Diaz – Single by Ibeyi on Apple Music". iTunes. 28 July 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
    31. ↑ "Lost in My Mind – Single by Ibeyi on Apple Music". iTunes. 10 February 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
    32. ↑ Breihan, Tom (9 March 2021). "Ibeyi – "Recurring Dream"". Stereogum. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
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