* En anglais uniquement
Puerto Rico-based
ÌFÉ is the musical, visual, and spiritual project of American drummer/producer/singer Otura Mun (born
Mark Underwood). Self-described as "future Afro-Caribeña fusion,"
ÌFÉ's sound as evidenced by 2017's
IIII + IIII, is a cross-cultural amalgam that starts with the sonic conversations of Cuban rhumba and adds layers of electronic synth textures, polyrhythmic patterns, and the beating heart of the West African Yoruba religion. A move to New Orleans in 2020 resulted in several new partnerships and a deeping of
ÌFÉ's polyrhythmic approach for 2021's 0000 + 0000.
After answering a spiritual call in 2012, Mun became a priest (or "babalawo") of the Ifa branch, which would become a heavy influence on
ÌFÉ. Fifteen years prior, he was living at home in Hammond, Indiana. He fell in love with Puerto Rico after a chance trip to the island and later relocated in 1999 after the unexpected death of his brother.
Starting anew, he spun for parties as
DJ Nature and became a producer, working with local Puerto Rican musicians like reggae band
Cultura Profética, hip-hop outfit Ciencia Fixion, singer
Mima, and reggaeton artist Young Ragga. Recruiting musicians Rafael Maya, Beto Torrens, Kathy Capeda, Anthony Sierra, and Yarimir Caban, as well as dancers Jorvian Santana Ayala and Walian Sanchez, Mun created
ÌFÉ in 2015.
Named after the ancient Yoruban city,
ÌFÉ's musical blend echoes the rhythms of
Konono No. 1, the experimental reach of
Gorillaz, and the traditional soulfulness of
Amadou & Mariam, bridging Old World and New, the United States and Puerto Rico, the Caribbean and Africa, and the past and the present. Their debut arrived in early 2017.
IIII + IIII -- the first principal in the binary divination system of Ifa -- featured the singles "House of Love" and "Bangah (Pico y Pala)," as well as a cover of
Steve Winwood's "Higher Love."
After moving from Puerto Rico to New Orleans in 2020, he sought to reflect the African diaspora to Europe and the Caribbean, the Crescent City in the U.S. and beyond. To that end, he enlisted NOLA drum and percussion master
Bill Summers, Parisian-Congolese vocalist Robby the Lord, Youruban guitarist Saint Ezekiel, Polish American singer Lavoski and London Lucumi vocal choir to record 2021's 0000 + 0000. ~ Neil Z. Yeung