long time no see!
things are good right now. mocks are finally over! so I'm currently enjoying an extremely lazy Sunday (which feels like a Monday bc i had most of Friday off).
I saw Ibeyi in November, which feels like years ago now. They were absolutely magical, and apart from standing right next to the speaker (and therefore having a loud-music-hangover the next day), the night was perfect. We were right by the front, so got an amazing view of the sisters the whole night. The opening act was pretty bad but it was worth the wait - i think Ibeyi sound better live than on recording, which isn't always the case.
something about their set was just so natural, as they dissolved one song into the next. there were beautiful lighting effects/projections behind them, enhancing the eerily gorgeous sound. the vibe was so mystical and organic - technology makes it super difficult sometimes, but it felt really present. their sisterly connection ('ibeyi' means twins in Yoruba) made it even more special. for example, one moment really stuck with me; Lisa-Kaindé dropped her water bottle, and Naomi immediately offered her own, in such a natural way. maybe being an only child makes twins especially intriguing/magical in my eyes, but that moment was really warming.
one great thing about technology, though, is the freedom it gives in terms of music. Ibeyi couldn't exist without it! their experimentation and mixing of traditional Yoruba songs with jazz, soul and electronic music makes their sound so unique. basically it was a great night! I would very much recommend seeing them live if you ever have the chance...
with all the free time I'm about to have, i'm hoping for more blogging/creative time. so watch this space!
-hannah