IBEYI
Electro, traditional, soul, trip-hop… It’s kind of hard to describe which style prevails in the songs of French-Cuban duo Ibeyi (you want to pronounce that ‘ee-bey-ee’), so for the sake of not labelling great music, let's say they are just the perfect mix of something we can hardly describe.
Granted, I’d never heard of them before I stumbled upon ‘River’ a week ago, but it may simply mean that I haven’t been paying enough attention. Because twin sisters Lisa-Kaindé and Naomi are indeed getting more and more attention on both sides of the Channel. Singing both in English and Yoruba – the Nigerian language of their African ancestors – they have created their own universe, mixing modern, heavy beats with the gospel-like quality of their music. So they can sing, write down soulful lyrics, have tremendous style and oh, yes, I’d almost forgotten: they are the daughters of famous Cuban percussionist Anga Diaz.
You may think it’s a lot for 19-year-old girls but the truth is that in spite of it all, their songs remain magically simple. Now you listen and tell me it doesn’t stay stuck in your head afterward. You’ve been warned.
Links:
River
Ghosts
Barasu Ayo