SXSW: Ibeyi

Ibeyi
Waterloo Records
SXSW
March 20, 2015

For several years in my childhood, I pretended that I had a long-lost twin. I read one of those stories about twins separated at birth who meet later in life and found they led similar lives. That seemed so cool that I liked believing that somewhere out there was another version of me, living a similar life just different enough that it might be only one parallel universe over. Sometimes I still like to imagine this is the truth and will one day run into myself in the grocery. And, this song will be playing:

History is full of awesome twins. Castor and Pollux. Zan and Jayna. And, of course these two.

In the music world, my favorite twins have been Aaron and Bryce Dessner. Of course, they're still up there. But, they face some competition from Lisa-Kainde and Naomi Diaz, the French-Cuban twins behind the duo, Ibeyi. These two received a lot of attention and accolades from SXSW goers as they played a Waterloo Records in-store (where I saw them), the Bungalow, and a set I wish I'd seen at Central Presbyterian Church.

You know you're a crowd pleaser when it's raining steadily outside Waterloo Records and no one is leaving, in spite of no umbrellas or ponchos. 

Ibeyi means "twins" in Yoruba, a language these twins sing in, along with English. Lisa (on the left) is a vocalist and plays piano. Naomi is the percussionist and a vocalist. They use some looping and overlays throughout this set. Minimal, yet gorgeous. 

Lisa and Naomi are the daughters of Cuban percussionist, Anga Diaz. Both he and their older sister have passed away in the past ten years, so tragedy is familiar to them. Yet hauntingly beautiful music still flows from these women. Family seems to be important to them as one of the best parts of this set was seeing their mother is part of their set-up crew.

Behind every great musician, there is usually a family member or friend who tirelessly supported them in multiple ways. They are a huge chunk of the encouragement who brought musicians this far, even when that path isn't always easy. 

Ibeyi is finishing up a US tour leg, but are heading out internationally in April. Now is the time to see them because they have the potential to be headliners. And, while I wish them success, their music favors an intimate setting. 

Wonder Twin powers activate? They already have.