Vetor Interviews: Alírio

ALÍRIO OVERCOMES HER FEAR. In her first solo EP, “Sonhos Expressos”, the producer and DJ — and co-founder of Tandera Records — blends euphoria and the ethereal across five tracks that express her newly found confidence in herself.

Text and interview by Pedro Paulo Furlan

Photography by Ivi Maiga Bugrimenko

São Paulo, 8:45 PM. Alírio is a name recognized by anyone present in the Brazilian underground scene — you might not know everything about her, but you’ve definitely seen her name on lineups across São Paulo’s many parties (and now, around the world). A DJ, co-founder of the label Tandera Records (alongside Guza, Tuxe, Fortunato, and Ylia), and a music producer, Alírio is releasing her first solo EP, “Sonhos Expressos.”

When I sit down to talk with her, Alírio remembers seeing me at an edition of Bicuda, a staple of Campinas’ underground scene, and we revisit the moment — because that’s who she is as an artist: undeniably connected to the scene, both online and offline. For someone with such a recognizable presence in this space, the release of her first solo project feels like a major and long-anticipated moment.

With five tracks deeply rooted in Alírio’s research, “Sonhos Expressos” stands out for its sound, blending the euphoria of club dance floors with a dreamlike energy, resulting in an ethereal, almost fae-like mix. By creating tension and releasing it a few beats later, the producer builds a universe that reflects her current moment — listen to “fantasma (fantasia)” below.

“This EP is a response to everything good I’ve lived through, you know?” she says, smiling. “It speaks about growth, and reflects a more confident and self-assured Alírio.”

Photography by Ivi Maiga Bugrimenko

“ELECTRONIC MUSIC IS FREEDOM”

“I always felt very insecure about releasing something on my own — I constantly felt like it wasn’t good enough,” she begins when I ask what led her to release this EP now. “I was always kind of looking for people to make things together with.”

The story of “Sonhos Expressos” begins with one of those collaborative projects — alongside Rio-based producer Brunossa. According to Alírio, she initially planned to release a collaborative EP with Brunossa, but the plans shifted as she kept producing more and more.

Her first solo project was created over the last two months of 2025 — “that’s when something clicked,” she tells me. “I started making music in a very organic way, and I couldn’t stop.” Then, during a meeting with her label, Tandera, Alírio received the support she needed to take a leap and commit to a fully solo EP.

“If you look back five years, I never imagined I’d have the courage to face what I faced to get here,” the artist explains, diving into the EP’s concept, which reflects an analysis of what she was going through during the production process and throughout nearly a decade of involvement with psychoanalysis. “Reflecting on all of that made me understand that this project was about losing that fear — and realizing that electronic music is freedom.”

“I think ‘Sonhos Expressos’ came together by respecting the process of free association, just like in psychoanalysis — and it was the right time.”

This connection to psychoanalysis also extends to the cover art — produced by Estúdio Margem — in which Alírio draws references to psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan, a key subject of her studies.

Photography by Ivi Maiga Bugrimenko

EUPHORIA + RELEASE

Throughout the EP, the tracks function as a true mirror of an Alírio DJ set — condensed in a way that also reflects the person behind the beats. As we talk about imbuing rhythms with emotion and sentimentality, I point out the almost feminine quality that runs through the project, both in the choice of beats and in its overall energy.

“My transition goes hand in hand with my entry into music,” Alírio reflects on the presence of her identity as a trans woman within her production. “With that comes a sensitivity and sensuality that undeniably influence my sound.”

“I lived through these processes simultaneously, understanding myself both as an artist and as a feminine figure.”

On “Sonhos Expressos,” this femininity is represented in every percussive element, constructed to express the philosophy that defines Alírio’s sets: contrast. Inspired by the heavy beats of classic techno, the challenge of this EP was balancing euphoria with moments of release.

“I always try to bring together the euphoria that the dance floor represents with a more introspective layer,” she explains, noting that this approach was also shaped by the inspirations she gathered during her travels and visits to scenes beyond Brazil, with special emphasis on the Latin scene.

Photography by Ivi Maiga Bugrimenko

PAZ NA TERRA AT LOLLAPALOOZA

Co-founder of the label Tandera Records, alongside Guza and Tuxe, Alírio is a devoted admirer of the connections between Latin sounds and communities around the world — which is why, she says, “the mission we have with Tandera is to document the music and history being created in Latin America, with a special focus on Brazil.”

Known for its VA “PAZ NA TERRA,” the label has found a solid place within the scene and occupies a position of prominence and international interest. “With Tandera, the first step was creating a space to release music, and the second was getting different scenes to communicate with each other,” Alírio points out.

Now, the producer is taking Tandera to the stage at Lollapalooza, Brazil’s largest music festival, in a lineup alongside other underground names like Entropia, Zopelar, and IDLIBRA. “It was incredibly emotional for me,” Alírio says about seeing the scene’s artists sharing the stage with her. “It reminded me of the first time I went to São Paulo from Minas — just to go to Lolla.”

Wrapping up our conversation about this important set, Alírio reveals that everything isn’t fully organized yet, but, “obviously, the focus will be on Tandera and everything we’re releasing here in Brazil.”