Although the word Ão has no meaning, it still evokes adventure, wonder, beauty, and a touch of sadness. Saudade, perhaps. Brenda Corijn, the frontwoman of this genre-defying Belgian band, sings in English and Portuguese and draws inspiration from her Mozambican-Portuguese roots. Everything goes into the mix with Ão: you could call it alternative Latin or electronic art pop. On their second album, Malandro, the sound is even more layered and rhythmic than on their 2023 debut Ao Mar. Ão’s creative process is never straightforward; songs spring from forgotten chords, obscure jams, snippets of lyrics, and iPhone footage. The band eagerly seeks out new sounds and uses new instruments like the charango, tiple, and cuica. With a solid backbone of guitar, electronics, and percussion, the band draws you into their own universe, from ecstatic club sounds to wistful melodies and mesmerizing rhythms.
