Ibeyi Go Vinyl Shopping w/ Okayafrica TV For Record Store Day
If you've never heard of Ibeyi, get familiar. Comprising French-Cuban twins Naomi and Lisa-Kaindé Díaz, the 19-year old signees to XL Records (think M.I.A., Adele, SBTRKT, Bobby Womack...) combine their roots in Yoruba music with a heavy modern sound that's been described as 'doom soul' with mezmerising results. In honor of Record Store Day, Okayafrica TV took the twins vinyl shopping in NYC for this special episode of out 'A Day Out With..." series. Inspired by some of the wax on hand (ranging from Tranzlatorz-era Fugees to Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson's brilliant Guerilla, the sisters held forth on the way their musical foundation connects with more recent influences and dream collaborations (Jay Electronica, call them. Hell, call us). Get more background on their relation to Afro-Cuban royalty below via Okayafrica and then scroll down to watch the full webisode.
Mixing Yoruba culture with downtempo electronic and hip-hop music, [Ibeyi] have already released a stunning two-song EP (in addition to their interpretation of Jay Electronica‘s “Better In Tune With The Infinite“) and will make their full-length debut next year on XL Recordings. The 13-track album, which was co-produced by XL boss Richard Russell, is dedicated to the twin’s late sister and father (celebrated Cuban jazz percussionist Miguel “Anga” Diaz from Buena Vista Social Club). Ahead of their first ever show in New York City, and just in time for Record Store Day, Okayafrica TV had the chance to spend the day out digging for vinyl with Ibeyi at A-1 Records in the East Village, where the sisters shared insight on their musical heroes— from Roy Ayers, Erykah Badu and their “goddess” Nina Simone to Miriam Makeba and Angélique Kidjo (who they recently opened for in London).
Producer: Allison Swank
Videographers:
Jake Remington, and Lance Steagall
(Collabo!)What do you think?
Editor: Jake Remington
