Ibeyi’s Mixtape Memoir:
Catching Magic
I was really excited to record this episode. Not only because I am a massive fan, but because for the first time since we began creating these Mixtape Memoirs, the story would told by two voices. Not just bandmates, and not just siblings, but twins. Afro-Cuban, French twin sisters, Lisa-Kaindé and Naomi Díaz are the duo Ibeyi - a Yoruba word that means twins. Raised between Paris and Havana, Cuba, Lisa and Naomi's parents were both musicians, and music and dancing infused their household. Their father was a well-known cuban percussionist who earned a Grammy award for his work with the Latin jazz band Irakere, and worked with Buena Vista Social Club among many others, and their mother was a French-Venezuelan singer and composer, who went on to work as a music publicist, and eventually became her daughters’ manager. Lisa and Naomi went to music conservatory as young children - Lisa studied classical piano and Naomi percussion. Their father passed away suddenly in 2006 when the twins were just 11 years old, and music became a means to keep their father’s spirit alive. By their teens, Naomi and Lisa formed Ibeyi, fusing traditional Yoruba folklore and Afro-Cuban rhythms with electronic beats and neo soul, singing in Yoruba, Spanish, English and French. Tragedy struck again when their elder sister, Yanira, passed away in 2013, so it was natural that their stunning 2015 self titled debut would touch on family history, grief, love and loss, paying tribute to their father and sister. Their powerful follow up, Ash, was released in 2017. And this spring brought Ibeyi’s anticipated return with their third album Spell 31, an apt title for a duo whose approach to making music is, as Lisa phrases it, like “catching magic”.
LISTEN HERE:
Episode Credits:
Host/creator/creative director - Carmel Holt @carmelholt
Editor/Mixing/Mastering - Phoebe Wang @feebswang
Theme music - Lucius @ilovelucius
Cover art - Merle Cooper @m.c.cooper
Art direction - @carmelholt
Guest: Ibeyi / @ibeyiofficial
Label: XL Recordings / @xlrecordings
Bâta drums since they were born
With late sister Yanira
Dancing in front of the mirror like “Sister 2 Sister“ says
Pretending to sing with microphones
First ibeyi show in Africa ( Benin ) in 2014 they were 19 years old
Filming the video RIVER
Spell 31 - credit Suleika Muller