SOUNDTRACK: IBEYI-Tiny Desk Concert #703 (February 7, 2018).
I have been fascinated with Ibeyi since I first heard them a couple years ago. Their more recent song “Deathless” is just outstanding. I’d also heard they put on a great show.
So I was looking forward to this Tiny Desk.
But just who are they?
They come by their connection to the Afro-Cuban culture by way of their late father, Miguel “Anga” Diaz, an in-demand Cuban percussionist who was part of a vanguard musicians who reinvigorated Cuban music before he died prematurely at age 45 in 2006. The sisters, Lisa-Kaindé (in blue) and Naomi (in orange) Díaz, carry that calling in their DNA, and how they’ve manifested it into their own art is nothing short of amazing.
The show begins with the sisters singing a capella: an invocation of a West African Yoruba deity called “Oddudua.”
The first song they play is “Deathless.” “This song is dear to our hearts. It’s made for you; for us. Whatever happens, this moment is deathless. We made it for you to feel for three minutes and believe it.” Naomi hits a sampler to get the horns going and then Lisa-Kaindé plays the nifty buzzy keyboard melody and vocal samples. Then Naomi starts playing the batá, which is really fun to watch. Lisa-Kaindé sings lead (her voice breaks on one of the high notes)
The twins (Ibeyi means ‘twins” in Yoruban) perform their music with the batá drums associated with Yoruban sacred music and their elaborate vocal arrangements channel the call-and-response of traditional African music. The melding of their voices when they harmonize can be breathtaking, but the same can be said about the messages behind their songs, themes that inspire both inward introspection and celebrations of life.
The drums are such a cool percussive element that I didn’t expect. The chorus is so uplifting and joyful even as it has a tinge of menace. They get he audience to sing along in a rather inspiring call and response of the chorus.
“Valé” is a lullaby written for their niece–she sings frozen and she’s really into it. Naomi sings leads while Lisa-Kaindé plays the pretty piano melody. It is a delicate, quiet song (a lullaby, duh). Then Lisa-Kaindé sings lead and Naomi plays cool percussion on a box drum which include lap-slapping as well.
Lisa-Kaindé says “Transmission” is the heart of their album. It’s nearly seven minutes long and goes through several changes throughout. They are both by the keys for the start of this one, with Naomi playing bass notes and both of them singing out of the same microphone.
The audience sings the gentle “Transmission” chorus as Naomi speaks in Spanish and then she adds the batá and sings some lovely harmonies. It’s quite moving.
[READ: February 6, 2018] “Stanville”
I’ve been meaning to read one of Kushner’s novels for a while now because of great reviews. But in the meantime, I have these short stories.
I’m not sure if this is an excerpt or not. It feels pretty full on its own, but I coud easily see it going much further.
This story is done from two points of view. A third person POV for the one main character, Gordon Hauser. And then, later, a first person point of view for another major character Romy Hall.
Gordon Hauser is teaching G.E.D. classes in a women’s prison. He was surprised to find that people would much rather teach in men’s prisons. Indeed, no guard wanted to work in a women’s prison “female prisoners bickered with the guards and contested everything, and the guards seemed to find this more treacherous than having to subdue riots.” (more…)
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I first heard of Ibeyi quite some time ago. They are sisters Lisa-Kaindé and Naomi Diaz. They were born in Cuba but moved to France as small kids. Both of their parents are musicians, and the sisters have a great musical connection.
I Just Read About That... 