NEW ARTIST FINDS: IBEYI

Ee-bey-yee, say it aloud ee-bey-yee! No, I haven’t lost my marbles freaking out over an eBay deal. It’s just a public service announcement to help you spread the word about today’s featured artist to your friends without feeling like an idiot when you attend their concert and realize your folly. (Thanks to Bitcandy curator Duffster for this awesome find!)

Forged by gorgeous French-Cuban twin sisters Naomi and Lisa-Kainde Diaz, Ibeyi have made a mark with translating their skin-deep beauty into their signature enigmatically addictive tunes and music videos that you just can’t take your eyes away from.

So how did two 19-year old twins develop cultivate a mature soundscape at such an early age without being infected by the zombifying pop-tard virus? Maybe their dad exorcised MTV from their home since we know it’s only useful for situations like this:

But it also helps when your dad is a legendary Cuban percussionist with a dedicated devotion to the Yoruba traditions. In fact, even their group name actually means “twins” in Yoruba culture. Although, we’re not sure if the semi-baptism, semi-drowning theme of their hauntingly beguiling music video for “River” is influenced by that or not. 

The marriage of the wooden-box cajon and double-headed bata instruments is a bassfully blissful one. The depth in their signature percussion groove is cut through beautifully with their sweet vocals. However, the climactic transition from English to a Yoruba paean singing praises of their patron deity Orisha takes you to a whole new dimension hidden in the song, and makes this tryst with serendipity unforgettable.

IBEYI - RIVER

“Oya” is another instant classic that explores their bass-laced, vocally versatile and funk-packed tunes further and leaves you even more intrigued with the enigma that is Ibeyi. 

IBEYI - OYA

With a promising collaboration with XL producer Richard Russell who has worked with superstars like Vampire Weekend, The Weeknd, and Adele, limits of success are only a matter of imagination for Ibeyi. We can’t wait to hear more of their unique, culturally magnificent tunes in the future.