XL Recordings recently reflected on their past 25 years as an independent label with the release of a compilation album, titled Pay Close Attention, late last summer. Beyond looking back at their game-changing releases (from Tyler, the Creator, M.I.A., ADELE, Radiohead, and more), XL continues to look ahead with impressive new artist signings from FKA Twigs to Jungle and Kaytranada.
An exciting new name on their roster is Ibeyi. The 19-year-old French-Cuban sisters make music influenced by their Yoruban roots, the directness of hip-hop, and the experimentation of electronic music. Last October, they put up a captivating video of themselves covering Jay Electronica's "Better In Tune With the Infinite," showing their incredible vocal abilities, passionate musicianship, and sisterly chemistry. In discussing the melting pot of their sound, Ibeyi told Pigeons and Planes, "It is hard for us to describe our music. If we had to, we’d say we do contemporary Negro Spiritual, since our music is based on prayer."
Since releasing mesmerizing videos for the songs "Oya," "River," and "Ghosts," Ibeyi have announced that their debut album will be out Feb. 17. In advance of the album, they've shared a mixtape with us that includes songs by Jay Electronica, Childish Gambino, and Kendrick Lamar, showing just how much they love and are influenced by hip-hop, soul, and R&B.
Richard Russell, founder of XL Recordings and producer of the Ibeyi album, says, "The thread of music Lisa and Naomi chose for their mixtape, from Yoruban chants to Nina Simone, Lauryn Hill, and Earl Sweatshirt, is deep but very listenable." Enjoy the EE-BEY-EE mixtape below.
Tracklist:
Le Mystere Des Voix Bulgares - "Pritouritze Planinata"
Ibeyi - "Mama Says"
Kate Bush - "Wuthering Heights (instrumental)"
Ibeyi - "Think of You"
Don Blackman - "Holding You, Loving You"
James Blake - "Retrograde"
Sacred Rhythms Of Cuban Santeria - "Ellegua"
Ibeyi - "River"
Jay Electronica - "Better In Tune With The Infinite"
Ibeyi - "Better In Tune With The Infinite (Jay Electronica cover)"
Ibeyi - "Singles (instrumental)"
Yoruba Andabo - "Yoruba Ellegua"
Lauryn Hill - "Black Rage (Sketch)"
Ibeyi - "Ibeyi"
Erykah Badu - "Soldier"
D'Angelo - "Brown Sugar (bootleg)"
Ibeyi - "I’m On My Way (instrumental)"
Childish Gambino - "Sweatpants"
Jon Wayne ft. Scoop De’Ville - "The Come Up Pt. 1"
James Blake - "Life Round Here"
Yoruba Ellegua - "ibeyi "
Ibeyi - "Ellegua"
Claire Diterzi - "Zubrowka"
Kid Atlaas - "Winter Is Coming"
Earl Sweatshirt - “Chum”
Rejjie Snow - "Lost In Empathy"
Kendrick Lamar - "Cut You Off"
Ibeyi - "River"
Ibeyi - "Oya"
Nina Simone - “Tell Me More and More and Then Some”
Billie Holliday - "I’m A Fool To Want You"
Meshell N'Degeocello - "Deutoronomy N***erman"
