With their enchanting blend of electronica, art pop, Afropop, saudade and alternative Latin influences, Ão have grown into one of the most exciting acts on the Belgian music scene. The quartet have developed into a distinctive, boundary-pushing voice that defies genre labels, much like Stromae, Rosalía and C. Tangana before them.
Drawing on her Mozambican-Portuguese roots, Brenda Corijn sings in both Portuguese and English. Her warm vocals intertwine with the sun-drenched guitar work of Siebe Chau, the layered electronics of Jolan Decaestecker and the eclectic percussion of Bert Peyffers. On stage, Ão deliver an immersive live experience that captivates audiences across Europe. Their dynamic sound, ranging from delicate melodies to irresistible dance rhythms, draws listeners into a spellbinding world where influences blur and origins become impossible to trace.
On 13 February 2026, Ão will release their new album, Malandra. Each track on the record is given a face: a character that takes centre stage in the artwork and accompanying music videos. Thirteen songs that have gradually taken shape as personalities over the past few years, travelling alongside the band. There is Orgulho, filled with pride and longing. The stirring uncertainty of Talvez. Cinza, which critically portrays suffering in a landscape of ash. Or Cada Vez, forever slipping away to the whimsical steps of a milonga. Then there are the sleepless, ecstatic beats of Aren't You Tired and the loyal Volta, patiently asking you to return. The album opens with the "drums of judgement" of Me Condena, in which the malandra puts herself on trial: "Condemn me" - inviting listeners to join her throughout the album in doing just that.
Malandra was born on the road, between tours, countries and different versions of the self. For Ão, the creative process is never linear. Songs emerge from forgotten chords, hidden jams, fragments of lyrics, happy accidents and iPhone footage. The band continue to search hungrily for new sounds, resulting in a rich production and the use of instruments such as the charango, bandoneon, tiple, brass, synthesisers and cuíca. Serendipity and emotional impact remain the fertile ground from which everything grows and, like the Malandra herself, the band stay true to who they are. With Malandra, Ão have created an ode to complexity, multiplicity and the act of searching in all its forms. An ode to shame and brilliance, chaos and calm, love and escapism.
