Ibeyi

Ibeyi (pronounced ee-bey-ee) is the Parisian musical duo of Lisa-Kaindé and Naomi Diaz, twin sisters with a cosmopolitan sound mixing left-field pop and alternative R&B with Afro-Cuban roots music. Their name comes from the Yoruba language and translates as "twins." The two were born in Cuba and raised primarily in France, and they sing in English, Spanish, French, and Yoruba. Ibeyi (2015), Ash (2017), and Spell 31 (2022), their three albums for XL Recordings, have been met with major critical acclaim.

The Diaz sisters are the daughters of the late conguero Miguel "Angá" Diaz (Buena Vista Social Club), who passed away while they were still in their teens. Their mother, Maya Dagnino, insisted that the pair compose and perform. They were in their early teens when they began to perform together in and around their neighborhood, and then in Paris at large. In 2013, XL Recordings boss Richard Russell saw a YouTube video of the pair singing "Mama Says" and brought them to London. He signed the duo and began producing their debut (while helping out on synths). In 2014, the singles "Oya" and "River" were released, Ibeyi appeared on Later...With Jools Holland on BBC 2, and a third single, "Mama Says," arrived after that. Their self-titled debut long-player was issued on XL in February 2015. In addition to global touring, the duo found time to guest on jazz composer and multi-instrumentalist Alfredo Rodriguez's celebrated Tocororo album the following year as well as appearing in the short film for Beyoncé’s album Lemonade. They also landed on the cover of Fader and returned to Havana for triumphant live performances.

In June 2017, Ibeyi issued a pre-release single, "Away Away," and followed it with the political album Ash in September. The record is drenched in a meld of electro-acoustic and Afro-Cuban and Yoruba sounds with contemporary influences ranging from Kendrick Lamar, Jay Electronica, and Erykah Badu to Nina Simone. Produced by Richard Russell, it featured guest spots by Kamasi Washington, Meshell Ndegeocello, and Chilly Gonzales. The twins would not release another album for five years; their third full-length, Spell 31, finally arrived in 2022, heralded by the promo track "Sister 2 Sister." It featured production by Russell and guest spots from Jorja Smith, Pa Salieu, and Berwyn, the latter of whom contributed to the duo's radical update of Black Flag's defiant 1981 punk anthem "Rise Above." ~ Thom Jurek