After a strong debut with their self-titled 2015 release, Ibeyi are back to announce their second album, Ash. The new record tackles subjects from womanhood to racism and spirituality to activism. And as no surprise to fans, the duo will continue their genre-bending and blending sound incorporating pop, hip-hop/trap and electronic flavors.
Their first LP dealt heavily with the two’s past, but now, the group is focusing on the present, with a more “visceral and potent political statement, while firmly rooted in Afro-Cuban culture and history,” a press release says. “Who Lisa-Kainde and Namoi are, what’s important to them, and how they lie today, especially given that the spheres, both personally and politically, are entirely different rom when Ibeyi was recorded,” will be the driving forces behind the new LP.
Along with the announcement, the two drop off visuals for their second single, “Deathless.” With the saxophone maestro Kamasi Washington assisting, the two premiere a bouncing and soulful new track. The new track was written following an experience of Lisa-Kainde’s where she was unjustly arrested by the French police. “I was writing “Deathless” as an anthem for everybody,” she says.
“For every minority. For everybody that feels that that they are nothing, that feels small, that feels not cared about and I want them to listen to our song and for three minutes feel large, powerful, deathless.” Lisa-Kalinde also feels inspired and empowered by the work of others who fought for similar issues. “I have a huge amount of respect for people who fought for, what I think, are my rights today and if we all sing together ‘we are deathless,’ they will be living through us into a better world.” This concept of deathlessness and continuity are pretty blatant in the new video, as the two are seen crawling out of (from natural and unnatural places) over and over throughout the video.
Check out the new video and tracklist below and check out their other single, “Away Away,” once you’re done.
Ash
1. I Carried This For Years
2. Away Away
3. Deathless feat. Kamasi Washington
4. I Wanna Be Like You
5. No Man Is Big Enough For My Arms
6. Valé
7. Waves
8. Transmission/Michaelion feat. Meshell Ndegeocello
9. Me Voy feat. Mala Rodriguez
10. When Will I Learn feat. Chilly Gonzales
11. Numb
12. Ash
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