Ibeyi Sheds Spells for Offerings on New Album

French-Cuban twin sisters Ibeyi have released their fourth album, "Offering," marking a significant shift in their artistic and spiritual journey. The sisters, daughters of conguero Miguel "Angá" Diaz, attribute this change to an apparition that inspired them to move from casting spells to making offerings. This theme of letting go of control is central to the album's narrative.

"Offering" also signifies a new chapter as it is the first album self-released on their own eponymous label, following their work with XL Recordings. While maintaining their signature multilingual lyrical style, incorporating English, Spanish, French, and Yoruba, the album explores themes of heartbreak, motherhood, and remembrance. It also features collaborations with producer Michaël Brun and percussionist Pedrito Martinez, enriching their sonic palette.

Musically, the album navigates diverse intensities, from invoking the orisha Olokún with heavily processed vocals to grounding spiritual themes with traditional Cuban batá percussion on tracks like "Aset." The sisters explore internal contradictions and affirmations, such as on "Moshpit," while also returning to harmonious unison on other pieces. The visual language of the album, particularly in the "Aset" video filmed in Havana, connects the spiritual core to the island of Cuba and its intrinsic sense of movement and water.