Ibeyi — Sisterhood

May 9, 2022
Culture & Music
Photography:
Laura Bailey
Styling:
Cathy Kasterine
Words:
India Hendrikse

In a chapter of chaos and near-constant pain in the world, the music of Afro- Cuban French twins Ibeyi is like a remedial potion. The powerful energy of the Parisian duo is reflected in their latest album, Spell 31; the lyrical genius of each track, whilst cocooned in the mask of stuck-in-your-head, mainstream catchiness, would rouse anyone who took the time to intently listen. The pair sends a poetic plea for us all to stand up and care, to embrace the intricacies of our identities and to let art course through us and heal a world divided. Joy is at their core, and I can’t help but feel invigorated after speaking to them. And also jolted to dance.

Left: Christopher Kane dress, Coco Crush hoop earrings & ring in 18K beige gold by CHANEL Fine Jewellery, Naomi’s own rings Right: Christopher Kane dress, Extrait de Camélia hoop earrings in 18K pink gold & diamonds by CHANEL Fine Jewellery, Lisa’s own top, necklaces, earrings & rings

Left: Roksanda oversized dress, Coco Crush hoop earrings in 18K beige gold by CHANEL Fine Jewellery
Right: Roksanda oversized dress, Extrait de Camélia hoop earrings in 18K pink gold & diamonds, Coco Crush hoops in 18K white & beige gold by CHANEL Fine Jewellery

     “I feel triple my size,” says Lisa-Kaindé Diaz, describing the magnifying sensation she gets performing as one half of musical duo Ibeyi. Smiling, she then corrects herself: “I am triple my size. I feel limitless.”
Since 2015, Afro-Cuban French twins Lisa-Kaindé and Naomi Diaz have been releasing music as Ibeyi, a word translated to “twins” in their ancestral Yorùbá. The 27-year-olds grew up in Paris with their Venezuelan mother, but frequently visited their dad’s native Cuba – their lineage being as rich and complex as the inimitable music they make. “If people try to put Ibeyi in a box, they will have a hard time,” says Naomi. “They can try as much as they want, but good luck.”
She’s right; Ibeyi’s style of music is difficult to define and their new 10-track album, Spell 31, is no different. The pair have become known for their ability to seamlessly weave Yorùbá, French, Spanish and English words into their tunes, sprinkling ancient wisdom in a deep cauldron of genre-bending, jazz-pop-electronic-experimental pizzazz.
The new album, out May 6, takes its name from conversations Naomi and Lisa-Kaindé had with their longtime producer Richard Russell whilst creating the first song of the album – the magical piece of art that is Made of Gold. Working on a beat Naomi and Richard had created, the three were attempting to pair lyrics to it – a backwards approach to their normal routine. Conversations then followed about erasure and imperialism.
“We were talking about the idea of knowledge lost when the witches were burned but also how much knowledge we lost when our ancestors were shipped from Africa to Cuba,” says Lisa-Kaindé. “When the colonisers refused our ancestors the right to pray in their own language, to continue talking about their own culture and history.”

Left: Stella McCartney jumper, Extrait de Camélia hoop earrings in 18K pink gold & diamonds by CHANEL Fine Jewellery, Lisa’s own earrings & rings Right: Stella McCartney jumper, Les Boys Les Girls tracksuit bottoms, Coco Crush hoop earrings & mini ring in 18K beige gold by CHANEL Fine Jewellery, Naomi’s own rings

Alex Eagle Suit, Re/Done T-shirt, Extrait de Camélia hoop earrings in 18K pink gold & diamonds by CHANEL Fine Jewellery, Lisa’s own earring

     As it happened, the ancient Egyptian Book Of The Dead – a collection of spells and magic formulas used in a funerary set- ting – was lying on the floor in the studio. Picking it up, the page they opened it on was ‘Spell 31’. Instantly, Lisa-Kaindé knew this should be the name of the album and that an interpretation of the spell should be stated at the end of the song Made of Gold. So that’s what they did.
“It was like fate,” says Lisa-Kaindé. “I knew that it was not a song about love, it was a song about reconnecting to that ancient power, to that knowledge that we lost, and the idea that we could, through our own bodies, reconnect to that, all of us. It was incredibly exciting and we felt protected by the spell.”
Perhaps by fate, the pair’s producer bumped into British rapper Pa Salieu’s manager at the record- ing studio. A beautiful collaboration followed, which saw Salieu add a poetic verse to Made of Gold, alluding to enslavement and colonisation. The words he sings, “When they thought they cleared that spirit away, we are the reincarnation,” send shivers, a reminder that people – and the stories we carry with us – cannot be erased.
As Canadian activist and founder of Black Lives Matter Toronto, Janaya Future Khan, puts it in their heartfelt essay on the album, the music is an “antidote to apathy in a divided world”. The track finishes on this note, with a version of the Egyptian book’s spell 31. “Oh you with a spine, who would work your mouth against this magic of mine. It has been handed down in an unbroken line. The sky encloses the stars, I enclose magic,” say Ibeyi. Magic is a word the pair use frequently, but it’s a concept with a multitude of connotations. It’s literal and also colloquial. To Ibeyi, magic stems from connection.
To others, to self, to their craft. “Listening to music can be one of the most trans- formative, magical moments you will ever experience,” says Lisa-Kaindé. “For us, it’s a way to connect to our- selves, to connect to each other as twins, but also connect to our father who passed away, our sister who passed away, our ancestors.”

Left: Chanel shirt, Comète earring in 18K white gold & diamonds, Coco Crush hoops in 18K beige gold by CHANEL Fine Jewellery Right: Chanel dress, Coco Crush hoops in 18K white & beige gold, Extrait de Camélia hoop earrings in 18K pink gold & diamonds by CHANEL Fine Jewellery

Alex Eagle suit, Re/Done T-shirt, Nike trainers, Coco Crush hoop earrings & ring in 18K beige gold, Étoile Filante necklace in 18K white & yellow gold & diamonds by CHANEL Fine Jewellery, Naomi’s own bracelets, necklaces & rings

Hillier Bartley shirt, Extrait de Camélia hoop earrings in 18K pink gold & diamonds, Coco Crush ring, large version, in 18K yellow gold by CHANEL Fine Jewellery, Lisa’s own earrings & rings

Left: Chanel shirt, Coco Crush hoop earrings & ring in 18K beige gold by CHANEL Fine Jewellery Right: Chanel dress, Extrait de Camélia hoop earrings in 18K pink gold & diamonds, Coco Crush hoops in 18K white & beige gold by CHANEL Fine Jewellery

     Connection as twins is a crucial ingredient in their musical potion, exemplified powerfully in the song Sister 2 Sister – another track from the new record. Lyrics such as “sister, hold me close, swear you won’t let go” are paralleled by “sister, you’re too close, sister, let me go.” It’s the perfect encapsulation of the push and pull, closeness and claustrophobia of sisterhood.
And whilst entering the world together doesn’t always equate to connected paths, the chemistry be- tween the pair is obvious. They lis- ten intently to each other, Lisa-Kain- dé wide-eyed and curious, Naomi more quietly confident with a touch of cheeky sarcasm. Lisa-Kaindé is vulnerable, her words spilling from heart to conversation without falter, sometimes cutting Naomi off, but in a way that feels more like a warm, intuitive hug than an unheard interruption. Their pace is in contrast, too; Naomi speaks sparingly while Lisa-Kaindé is a constant stream of consciousness.
Whilst different from each other in many ways, a common thread is that their inspiration comes from human connection. Despite not being as talkative as her sister, Naomi is deeply present during our conversation – intently listening with strong eye contact. “I’m a really social person,” she says. “One of my good qualities is intelligence of the heart, so I learn a lot from talking to people and I love listening to people and their experiences. This is how you learn: the school of life.”
In an often gruelling industry, the pair are thankful to have each other. “I don’t think we could do this without each other,” says Naomi. “I can’t see myself at 18 when we started, being alone.
     The journey of an artist is hard, it’s a strength to be two.” Lisa agrees, saying, “When I meet a solo artist I’m like, ‘Wow, I don’t know how you do it!’ But I think there’s something about destiny with us making this music together and having to live our lives in such shared ways and making art that wouldn’t be at all the same if one of us was not there. There’s something magical about that, this equilibrium.” Naomi laughs, adding: “I think Lisa would make melancholic, depressing songs and with me it would be too much party. So yeah, it’s a balance.”
Art and other artists are also a pillar for the pair. Frida Kahlo is a constant muse and symbolism from her art is seen in Made of Gold. “First of all, our mother looks exactly like her. And we also grew up with Frida Kahlo everywhere on all the walls,” says Naomi. “Frida Kahlo was one of the first artists I saw transform pain into beauty,” adds Lisa-Kaindé.
This appreciation for the works of other artists drives their desire to collaborate. The new re- cord includes a collaboration with the aforementioned Salieu, but also with English R&B singer Jorja Smith and rapper Berwyn. Their Made of Gold music video, directed by Daniel Sannwald, includes Nigerian performance art dance duo the Ebinum Brothers. Ibeyi hope collaboration will continue to unfold in the future, but they’ll never force it. “If it has to happen, the universe knows and makes it happen,” says Lisa-Kaindé. “But it’s important to put the wish out there. Always send the email and always ask, because you never know.”
When I ask who they’re creating music for, Naomi answers quickly, “I think it’s for us first,” she says. Then, with a playful smile, “And then it’s for everybody be- cause we want world domination. We want everybody to listen to our music and everyone to connect to what we’re saying.” Lisa-Kaindé adds, “I think we need our songs; we sing them because we need them and they’re like a mantra, we repeat them and every night we sing them. They help us feel better and heal us first.”
Since touring has been off the cards during the pandemic, Ibeyi are looking forward to taking to the stage again with their new creations. Playing music on stage is where they feel most present. “You’re in the moment,” explains Naomi. “You don’t think about two minutes before or two minutes after. Just like having good sex.” Lisa-Kaindé says the audience is a crucial part of the magic, “It’s the only place in the world where I experience a feeling of ‘We’re exactly where we’re supposed to be, doing exactly what we’re supposed to be doing right now’. That, you can’t build on your own. That needs to be built with an audience.”

Left: Chanel shirt, Comète earring in 18K white gold & diamonds, Coco Crush hoops in 18K beige gold by CHANEL Fine Jewellery Right: Chanel dress, Coco Crush hoops in 18K white & beige gold, Extrait de Camélia hoop earrings in 18K pink gold & diamonds by CHANEL Fine Jewellery

Left: Alex Eagle shirt, Re/Done printed t-shirt, Chanel Coco Crush Hoops, Plume De Chanel Necklace
Right: Hillier Bartley striped shirt, Chanel Bouton De Camélia Earrings

Order your copy of issue 15 here
Photographer: Laura Bailey
Styling: Cathy Kasterine
Makeup: Porsche Poon
Hair: Zateesha Barbour at  LMC Worldwide
Nails: Amy Hide
Photographers assistant: Mark Arrigo & George Read
Stylist assistant: Jessica Sharp
Interview by: India Hendrikse
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