 | Parts of this article (those related to Early life and career) need to beupdated. The reason given is: No prose on their third album (nor very much for the first two). Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(September 2022) |
Ibeyi | |
|---|---|
 Naomi (left) and Lisa-Kaindé Diaz | |
| Background information | |
| Born | (1994-12-13)13 December 1994 (age 30) Paris, France |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2013 (2013)–present |
| Labels | XL |
| Members |
|
| Website | ibeyimusic |
Ibeyi is a French musical duo consisting of twin sisters Lisa-Kaindé Diaz and Naomi Diaz. The duo sings in English, French, Spanish andYoruba,[1] In Yoruba, Ibeyi (Ìbejì) means "twins".[2]
Their music has elements of Yoruba, French andAfro-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 instrumentscajón andBatá drum.
Thefraternal[6] twins (born 13 December 1994, in Paris) lived inHavana 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 percussionistAnga Díaz, who has received aGrammy Award for his work with the Latin jazz bandIrakere, and was also a member ofBuena Vista Social Club ensemble, playing withIbrahim Ferrer,Rubén González andMáximo Francisco Repilado Muñoz aka Compay Segundo. On his death in 2006, Naomi, then aged 11, learned to play his signature instrument, thecajón. 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 ownerRichard Russell is the only other contributor to theirself-titled debut album, released in 2015.[5] Released when they were 20, the album pays tribute to their deceased father and the trackYanira 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 forBeyoncé's albumLemonade 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 albumAsh was nominated forIMPALA's European Album of the Year Award.[13]
In 2021, Ibeyi released a new ethereal song for the soundtrack of the filmHow to Stop a Recurring Dream. The track continues their exploration of soulful and otherworldly sounds.
As well as their fatherAnga Díaz, the duo claimsFrank Ocean,James Blake, andKing Krule among their influences.[14] In live shows, they have covered rapperJay Electronica'sBetter 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 toSantería, asyncretism practiced by many Afro-Cubans, and many Cubans in general.[16]
| 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 |
| 15 | 28 | 35 | 58 | 52 | 20 | 36 | 9 | 166 | 1 |
| Ash |
| 26 | 48 | 73 | — | — | 47 | — | 49 | — | 13 |
| Spell 31 |
| 98 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 37 | — | — |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||||||
| Title | Details | Notes | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oya EP |
|
|
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FRA [17] | BEL (Fl) Tip [18] | BEL (Wa) Tip [19] | |||||||||
| "River" | 2014 | 66 | 84 | 49 | Ibeyi | ||||||
| "Stranger / Lover" | 2015 | — | 15 | 34 | |||||||
| "Exhibit Diaz"[30] | — | — | — | Non-album single | |||||||
| "Lost in My Mind"[31] | 2017 | — | — | — | |||||||
| "Away Away" | 174 | 48 | — | Ash | |||||||
| "Deathless" (featuringKamasi Washington) | 188 | — | — | ||||||||
| "Me Voy" (featuringMala Rodriguez) | — | — | — | ||||||||
| "Recurring Dream"[32] | 2021 | — | — | — | Music from the film How to Stop a Recurring Dream | ||||||
| "Made of Gold" (withPa Salieu) | — | — | — | Spell 31 | |||||||
| "Sister 2 Sister" | 2022 | — | — | — | |||||||
| "Lavender & Red Roses" (withJorja Smith) | — | — | — | ||||||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart | |||||||||||
| International | |
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| National | |
| Artists | |
| Other | |
