Ibeyi Drop A Breathtaking Debut

Ibeyi

Nashville – The buzz is just beginning for Lisa-Kainde and Naomi Diaz, the twin sister and French-Cuban duo that makes up Ibeyi. With the recent release of their debut self-titled album (via XL Recordings), the sister act has garnered high marks and high praise for their sultry, transcendent sound.  Thanks to recent success from similar acts such as FKA Twigs, Ibeyi is certainly striking while the iron’s hot—avant-garde as they are. Though the pair aims to integrate a variety of disparate sounds and instruments into their work, their music is nothing if not incredibly addictive.

For all the myriad influences running through the album’s 13 songs, trepidation isn’t one of them, and nothing obscures the sisters’ flawless incorporation of their heritage. Ibeyi sing in both English and Yoruba—a native Nigerian language that migrated to Cuba—and the percussive, experimental elements of the vocals are stunning. There’s an apparent harmony between twins that can’t be faked, and the Diaz sisters have captured it perfectly. In terms of instrumentals, the twins’ Cuban roots are also present in the bongo drums and salsa-like piano notes.

But a simple run-down of the twins’ unique, rhythmic interpretation of Yoruba doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of Ibeyi. The album is built on different layers of sounds and feelings—rhythmic, disjointed, mournful, celebratory—and no one could really carve out a genre to properly fit the band. In “River,” the electronic beat is peppered with those native Cuban components and the song winds with a lyrical flow reminiscent of hip-hop. Beneath that, there are little clicks and claps that subtly move everything along. There’s nothing predictable about this song, and it ends in a place that is far different from where it began.

It’s hard to believe that the sisters are only 20-years-old, as the depth of feeling present in their music communicates an experience that reaches far beyond their present youth. Though the album’s songs are entirely different and distinct, they are all united in an apparent sense of longing—one that seems to accompany the hindsight of age. Like the duo’s incredible harmony, this level of emotion can’t be manufactured, only felt and experienced. Expertly translated into “Oya,” the mournful sound is supported by a power that simmers just beneath the surface, breaking free for the chant-like chorus, only to be carefully contained again.

Steeped in emotion, culture, intelligence, and harmony, Ibeyi appears to be one of 2015’s more formidable releases thus far. With so much repetition that saturates contemporary music, there’s no denying that Lisa-Kainde and Naomi are shifting the tide with their undeniable originality and unique beauty. But beauty is only part of the equation—the twins’ debut is not only a tour-de-force, but also a triumph of inventive arrangements and songwriting. If this debut is a sign of things to come, Ibeyi is on the cusp of something huge. Regardless of any predictions, however, this latest album is truly stunning—a gem in its own right.

Ibeyi Album

Following the release of Ibeyi, the duo has dates planned for a European tour before arriving stateside for SXSW. And there are plenty of opportunities to catch the sisters live on both sides of the Atlantic, with dates planned well into May 2015.
Amaryllis Lyle

Amaryllis Lyle

After a brief but dreamy stint in NYC, Amaryllis Lyle returned to her native Nashville to continue her writing career from a slightly warmer climate. She earned her BA in English Literature and Creative Writing from Rhodes College in 2012, and has penned works from poetry to screenplays ever since. Not so secretly, she fosters an all-consuming love for music despite the fact that she can't play an instrument or carry a tune. Growing up in a musically rich and accessible Nashville helped Amaryllis develop tastes in everything from Bluegrass to Electro-Indie Pop, and when she's not writing, she's spending way too much time cultivating her growing collection of vinyl. Her previous work has appeared in Chapter 16, the Nashville City Paper, and The Apeiron Review.
Amaryllis Lyle