Q&A: KAIRO Breaks Boundaries by Redefining Alt-Pop with Debut Album ‘Are We There Yet?’
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
☆ BY SHEVON GREENE ☆
EMERGING FROM A WHIRLWIND — of viral success, Nigerian-born, Texas-raised twin brothers EJ and Ak, known as KAIRO, are carving a unique space in the alt-pop landscape. After releasing their debut EP Love Letters from Houston and signing with Def Jam, the brothers quickly distinguished themselves by focusing on authentic songwriting and electrifying live performances. Now based in Los Angeles, KAIRO are set to release their debut album Are We There Yet? on November 13. The album highlights their evolution as artists, blending together vibrant melodies, layered vocals, and intimate storytelling.
As young Black men and immigrants, KAIRO bring a fresh and important perspective to the music industry, pushing boundaries and challenging expectations. Their journey from Nigeria to America, as well as their experiences within the alt-pop world, solidify and emphasize their sound, offering listeners an exploration of identity, family, and ambition. With their upcoming album, KAIRO aims to inspire and represent the next generation of genre-defying artists. The Luna Collective had the chance to sit down with KAIRO and learn more about the meaning behind the album, future plans and their personal connection to the music they write. Read below to learn more.
LUNA: Your debut EP Love Letters from Houston set the tone for your sound. How do you feel you've evolved musically from that project to your upcoming album?
AK: Sonically, a lot of the first EP was very acoustic and stripped back. It was done purposely so fans who found us digitally saw us with just a guitar and minimal production. It was a smooth transition. Now with this debut album, it's a full sonic elevation, with different production, pitch-shifted vocals, and heavy effects to make it feel more intense, but in the best way.
EJ: I feel like this album is the most recent depiction of who we are now. Some of the older work was written a year or two before release, so when it came out, we were still hyped about it, but it wasn't the most up-to-date version of us. For the two EPs we put out before, we had a lot of love songs, but the personal perspective wasn't as clear. This new project speaks more from personal experiences—things we've actually gone through. It feels deeper and more intricate than before.
LUNA: Does the title Are We There Yet? represent your journey as musicians, or is there a deeper personal significance?
AK: It's a rhetorical question for fans and people who don’t know us. Our goal was to write an album we genuinely love but also one that puts us in the place we want to be in the future. We figured we needed to do both storytelling and singles in the best way possible. The title asks, "are we there yet?" Have we proven ourselves? It's a question to us, but also to our fans. It was thought of two years ago, and after finishing the album, it made sense.
EJ: It’s also an ode to our journey from Nigeria to America, reflecting both the immigration process and our life in America. We touch on that topic in a few songs. It also reflects our journey in the music industry. We had certain expectations, but the struggles we went through built us into who we are today. Now, with this body of work, our confidence is through the roof because of the work we’ve put in. It's like saying, "we're here now," and we want everyone else to catch up.
LUNA: I love that the title has multiple meanings. The track "SPECIAL" explores themes of betrayal and disillusionment in relationships. What inspired those lyrics, and how did you approach capturing the raw emotion?
EJ: I was in a situation where the person I was dating wasn’t being 100% honest, and it felt disrespectful, especially after setting clear boundaries. The song reflects that realization of not needing to stay in a situation just to stay. It’s a subtle acknowledgment, not a bold "F you," but more like, "I’m chilling, I don’t need this."
AK: My verse talks about meeting a girl at a party while in a relationship, and that’s literally how it happened in real life. We used to think our lives weren’t cool enough to write about, but after writing "SPECIAL," we realized it’s exactly what we should be doing. It ended up being one of my favorites on the album.
LUNA: In "BREAK BREAD", there’s a deep sense of family and culture, especially in the lines about your mother and neighborhood experiences. How has your upbringing influenced your music?
AK: Our upbringing influences everything. "BREAK BREAD" is probably our deepest song from a family perspective. It was the first time we started talking about our family story, and it cut deep. We wanted to make sure a song about our family was good and not easily skippable.
EJ: There’s a homey feeling we wanted to tap into. The song reflects how we grew up—our values, morals, and what we learned from family and faith. When we talk about relationships, it’s describing who we are and whether the other person is okay with that.
AK: It meant a lot because it drew from our childhood. The first verse talks about not being able to play with kids on the other side of the neighborhood. That was a real thing for us, more from our Nigerian parents’ fear of being out late. We weren’t allowed to go across the street, and that feeling of not being able to hang with friends was genuine.
EJ: Immigrant parents are scared of everything, especially America. We wanted to be clear that the line “My mama told me never go to the other side of the neighborhood” is more about our parents’ protective measures.
LUNA: As twin brothers making music together, how does that dynamic play into your creative process? Do your visions ever clash, or do you find strength in shared experiences?
AK: We find strength in shared experiences. We go through similar things at the same time. For example, "HANDLEBARS" was written primarily from EJ's perspective, but the same thing had happened to me a year prior, so I knew exactly how to help put it into words. We bounce off each other like that. Also, having the same vocal register helps. In the studio, whoever writes the verse gets to sing it, especially if it's meaningful to them.
EJ: Our voices are so similar that even if I write something, I might ask AK to sing it. Fans probably can’t tell who’s singing unless they ask.
LUNA: It’s impressive how you work so cohesively. Many sibling duos end up breaking up, but you both seem to have found a balance. Your track "BRAND NEW" touches on societal expectations and stereotypes, especially for young Black men in the alt-pop space. How do you navigate these challenges, and what message do you hope to send through your music?
AK: I think the main thing I want out of the album, and the alt space in general, is to show that if I'd seen an artist like me when I was younger, I would have been inspired. Not just thinking, "Oh, this music is cool," but realizing there’s someone who looks like me doing something different—someone pushing a boundary that's not typically taken up by Black people. I want to represent that. We also emphasize being twins and from Nigeria because our story is unique. We came here through a visa lottery, and if we hadn't, we might not even be making music today. It feels like fate or destiny, and I want this alt-pop space to accept and recognize that. If this album does that, we've done our job.
EJ: With "BRAND NEW," we touch on topics like racism and immigration, and it's so fulfilling to represent that, especially talking about Nigeria. If you asked me two years ago if we'd include that in our music, I wouldn't have known how to do it. But this album allowed us to write from our lives. Now, we can talk about anything from different perspectives. We're influenced by artists like BROCKHAMPTON and Dominic Fike, but we tell our own story as two Black kids from Nigeria in America.
LUNA: Your live shows are known for being high-energy and engaging. How do you translate the emotion and complexity of your music into your performances?
EJ: Great question. Our last live shows had a lot of energy, but this new album will take it to another level. Playing it live will be a masterpiece. The music has more energy compared to our previous, more somber stuff. With this new project, the influences and genres will make for a really good show. The rawness of the lyrics elevates everything, and performing in LA and New York will be peak KAIRO.
AK: The live shows are my favorite part of what we get to do. Our approach now focuses not just on energy but also on building a sonic world. We’ve worked on transitions, harmonies, and little details to elevate the experience beyond the recording. We just finalized the setlist, and it’s a proper way to put on a show. We want people to leave thinking, "What did I just witness?" Whether it's your first concert or you're a longtime fan, we want every show to feel like a glorified therapy session and a mosh pit in the best way possible.
LUNA: That sounds amazing, and I think fans deserve that kind of experience. Anything else you want fans to know about the album?
AK: I want fans to know that we hear them. We know one of our biggest songs is "Movie Star," and while "BRAND NEW" is different, we're still making songs in that singer-songwriter vein, just in a more elevated way. We're very intentional with what we release. We believe in this album so much, and it's not just a flash in the pan. It’s a project we’re proud of, and fans can invest in KAIRO knowing we're here for the long run.
EJ: Yeah, everything is premeditated. Every post, every video is thought through. We even discuss things like cover art for hours. We want the whole era to be intentional, and this album is going to show all the different sides of KAIRO. It's a rollercoaster, and people will see exactly what we mean by that when they hear it.
AK: We believe this album competes, not in a competitive sense, but in terms of quality. We have so much confidence in it, and I think when people hear it, they'll understand.
EJ: Whether it's now or years from now, people will look back on this one. We've even talked about how we'll top it next. But we're ready for people to finally see who we are.
