A Dirty Dozen with BANDA AL9 – March 2026

Photo credit: Serginho Massa

According to a recent press release: “Formed in 2017 and led by brothers Matheus Khouri (vocals, lead guitar) and Thiago Khouri (vocals, bass), Banda AL9 first gained traction through acoustic covers before exploding online with viral original material — amassing millions of streams and over 2 million followers across social platforms. Now signed to Wicked Cool Records, founded by Little Steven Van Zandt, Banda AL9 are channeling their Beatles-meets-early-Who energy through a distinctly Brazilian lens — fusing classic 60’s-inspired melodies with contemporary indie drive. “She Can Do It All” is the first taste of the band’s forthcoming album, Hey! Hey! We’re Banda AL9, due July 17. With their U.S. debut behind them, radio momentum building, and industry tastemakers firmly in their corner, Banda AL9 are stepping confidently into their biggest chapter yet — bringing a global rock ’n’ roll revival straight to American shores.” We get brothers Matheus and Thiago to discuss new music, influences, and more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release. What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through? Are there any hidden nuggets you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

With “She Can Do It All,” we really wanted everything to feel immediate and impactful from the very first listen. We’re the kind of band that likes the details — especially in the instrumentation and the vocals — to be noticeable without feeling overcomplicated or buried. There are definitely subtle moments that more attentive listeners might catch — a slight vocal lift here, a harmony note tucked into the background, or small nuances in the arrangement. But nothing is hidden on purpose. We actually enjoy letting fans in on those details, because discovering them is part of what makes the song more exciting and fun to revisit.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

Rock music was always around us growing up. Our parents are huge rock and roll fans, so there was always a lot of that playing at home. They also loved going to concerts, and we grew up watching a lot of live DVDs from different bands, which had a big impact on us. Our dad plays guitar as a hobby, and he was the one who first showed us how to play. Since we’re brothers, we both ended up learning together and spending a lot of time experimenting with the instrument. From the moment we started playing, something just clicked. Even when we barely knew how to play — maybe just one chord — we were already trying to write songs and come up with lyrics on top of it. Matheus was about 11 and Thiago was around 9 when we started, and from that moment on we never really considered doing anything else.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

One moment that really stayed with us was the first concert we ever went to. In 2010 we saw Paul McCartney live in São Paulo, Brazil. Thiago was 10 and Matheus was 12, and it was a huge experience for us. Watching that show made everything feel very real. Seeing someone like Paul McCartney on stage, performing those songs and connecting with the audience, made a big impression on us. We already loved music and knew we wanted to play, but that concert gave us even more certainty about the path we wanted to follow. It reinforced the feeling that being musicians and playing in a band was what we truly wanted to do with our lives.

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

There are honestly many artists we’d love to collaborate with, but if we had to choose just one, it would probably be Paul McCartney. Besides being one of the first major concerts we ever saw live, his work — especially with The Beatles — has been one of our biggest musical inspirations. The songwriting, the melodies, and the timeless quality of those songs have had a huge influence on the way we think about music. Collaborating with someone like him would be incredible, not just because of the legacy, but because of how naturally his style connects with the kind of melodic rock and pop we love to make.

5. What is your favorite activity when out of the studio and/or not on tour? What do you like to do to unwind?

We actually spend a lot of time writing songs, but outside of music we have some different hobbies. Matheus is really into superhero comic books and also loves playing old-school video games. Thiago, on the other hand, is a big fan of Pokémon and really enjoys playing chess. So even though music takes up a big part of our lives, we definitely have other interests that help us relax and have fun when we’re not working on the band.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

We usually describe our music as something uplifting and energetic. Our goal has always been to make music that makes people feel good — songs that bring a sense of joy, excitement, and positivity. If someone listens to our music and ends up feeling happier than before, then we feel like we’ve done our job. As for criticism, we’ve honestly never focused too much on that side of things. We respect constructive feedback, of course, but we’ve always preferred to concentrate on making music and connecting with listeners rather than worrying about reviews or comparisons. Because of that, we don’t really keep track of negative comments or criticisms. Our focus has always been on the music and on the people who enjoy what we do.

7. When your band is hanging out together, who cooks, who gets the drinks in, and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

Since we’re brothers and also roommates, everything happens pretty naturally. We spend a lot of time together, so music is almost always around. Sometimes one of us will start playing guitar and the other joins in, and before we know it a new idea — or even a new song — starts coming together. We also have a home studio, so many times we go straight from that moment into recording demos or experimenting with arrangements. Living together definitely makes the whole creative process easier. We’re not just bandmates — we’re really good friends too, and that connection helps a lot when it comes to making music.

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

That definitely happened recently when we met Steven Van Zandt. We just signed with his label, Wicked Cool Records, and it’s been an incredible experience for us. We grew up watching him perform with Bruce Springsteen, so meeting him in person was already surreal. But what made it even more special was actually getting the chance to work with him — rehearsing, talking about the songs, and having him involved in the creative process. We’re also releasing a new album on July 17, 2026, and Steven even wrote a song specifically for us that will be part of the record. That’s something that still feels pretty surreal to say. For musicians who grew up admiring his work, having that kind of collaboration is truly an amazing experience.

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

The best part of being a musician is getting to do what we love every day — writing songs, playing together, and sharing our music with people. But beyond that, one of the most special things is knowing that our music can actually have a positive impact on someone’s day. Sometimes we receive messages from listeners saying they weren’t feeling great, but after listening to one of our songs or watching a video of us, they started to feel better. Being able to bring that kind of joy or positive energy to people is incredibly rewarding for us. Honestly, we’ve never really thought about a “plan B.” We’ve always believed 100% in our music and in what we’re building as a band. For us, having a backup plan would almost feel like expecting the first one to fail. So we’ve always focused on one path and put all our energy into it. It’s a bit like taking a step before you can see the ground — you just trust that it will be there.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

One question we’d actually love to be asked more often is about our recording process. People usually ask about songwriting, which we enjoy talking about, but the production and arrangement side of our music is just as important to us. We record most of our music at home and we’re very involved in the whole process — working on the arrangements, recording guitars, bass, vocals, and building the vocal harmonies and instrumental layers that shape the songs. It’s something we really enjoy because it gives us the freedom to experiment and develop the songs exactly the way we imagine them. As for a question we hear a lot, it’s definitely about the meaning behind our band name, Banda AL9. We wouldn’t say we’re tired of it in a negative way — it’s just a question that comes up very often, and at this point we probably have the answer memorized.

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over,” even if it didn’t change your current situation?

Over the years we’ve unfortunately met some of the wrong people along the way. The music industry can sometimes attract people who try to take advantage of artists, especially because it’s an environment built around dreams. When you’re chasing a dream, you’re willing to invest a lot — time, energy, and sometimes even money — and some people notice that and try to use it for the wrong reasons. We were very passionate and determined from the beginning, and there were moments where people tried to take advantage of that. But in the end, we see those experiences as part of the learning process. Even the difficult moments helped us grow, mature, and better understand who the right people are to work with and trust.

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

There are honestly so many recording sessions we’d love to go back and witness, but if we had to choose one, it would probably be Please Please Me by The Beatles. We’d be incredibly curious to see everything about those sessions — from the sound of the instruments and how they captured the guitars and drums, to how the vocals were recorded and how the final mixes came together. That album represents such a special moment in music history, when everything was still very raw and energetic. Being able to watch that process in the studio would be an amazing experience for us as musicians. Of course, there are many other albums from different bands we’d love to witness as well, but that one would definitely be at the top of the list.

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Category: Interviews