We spoke to Slim Soledad about the release of their debut EP, collectives, and core influences that shaped their career. Born in Brazil, Slim Soledad was deeply influenced by São Paulo’s vibrant party scene, diving into vogue and contemporary dance. As part of the Chernobyl collective, she organized São Paulo’s first trans-led parties, shaping her style as a DJ. Now based in Paris, her music—a mix of techno, baile funk, and electro—has earned her performances at major festivals like Sónar and Primavera Sound. Collaborations with fashion icons like Riccardo Tisci (Burberry) and brands like Prada further highlight her diverse influence. Her latest track, ‘T.E.T.A Intergalactica,’ is a powerful travesti declaration against societal conformity, set to redefine boundaries with her EP, Manual Espacial Para Aqueles Que Não Sabem Nadar—a cosmic journey through sound and identity.
KALTBLUT: Growing up in Brazil, how did São Paulo’s vibrant party scene influence your initial interest in dance and music?
During my teenage years I used to go to a lot of street parties in different neighbourhoods in the city or even in other nearby towns. I think this whole scene influenced me with dance and music, which at the time I didn’t even think I would pursue as a career, but it was purely for fun.
KALTBLUT: Can you share your experience about your time with the Chernobyl collective and what it meant for you to organize some of São Paulo’s first trans-led parties?
That time it was incredible, youngsters trying to understand how to produce a party from 0, having no money and one dream. At the beginning we had a lot of mistakes, however it was necessary to learn and to open spaces that perhaps did not exist. It meant a lot to me.
We’re still working as a collective and we have our moments, not as often as we used to in São Paulo, but we have plans for this year and we’re going to be collaborating with other collectives based in Europe. I think when everything happened with our collective it was all very organic and we were very young, however I think it’s also worth realising that other spaces were starting to make the same move and this came from a wave of bodies that were frictioning with the political moment of the time. We are cooking good moments for the second part of the year.
KALTBLUT: How has your transition from São Paulo to Paris shaped your music style and career?
I think they’re two cities that have a lot going on all the time and that makes me want to be on the move too, each with its own peculiarities and which influence me a lot. The noise and distorted industrial sounds of São Paulo and also how fashion in Paris is consumed in a different way and all the diversity that exists in between these two places.
I can’t forget about how Berlin actually shaped my music and career, it was definitely a point where everything I’ve been doing exploded somehow in my mind. Before I moved to Paris I lived there for 4 years, it was where I learned and increased my skills, the club scene has inspired me.
KALTBLUT: How did your collaborations with fashion icons like Ricardo Tisci and brands like Burberry and Prada come about, and in what ways have these experiences influenced your music?
It was a good time when I met Riccardo in Berlin. Lea, a good friend of mine introduced me to him and since then we became good friends. During that time Riccardo invited me to play and model for Burberry. On the other hand Prada came by Richie Hawtin, who told me that saw my name a couple of times in some party posters in Berlin, it also a big match or destiny.
These collaborations also came about organically, because my image drew attention to my music as well. I feel that they influenced my music, something about wanting to occupy more places that I had never imagined, as if it were a desire.
KALTBLUT: What was the creative process like working with Mahmood on the ‘NLDA INTRO’, and how did it differ from your solo projects?
The process was a lot of fun, I feel like we both already knew the path we wanted to create, so it was easier to make the process happen and also without much of this idea that we were going to make something really good and use it for the first time. It was session by session because we enjoyed doing it. In a way it ties in with my personal projects because I tend to be quite gentle with myself when creating music these days.
KALTBLUT: ’T.E.T.A Intergalactica’ is described as a travesti declaration of war against societal conformity. Could you elaborate on the societal issues you are addressing through this track?
We are pointing to the cisgender place and the opposition to bodies that assume themselves in a different way. So this statement is nothing more than a reaffirmation that our bodies manifest themselves in different ways and that all of them are palpable.
It is a war and a daily claiming for our existence. Its addressing against capitalism, the uncessable healthy insurance, discrimination, to the immigration borders. This is a claim for our community to keep ourselves grounded and to remember those who passed away for us to be here now.
KALTBLUT: As an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, how do you use your music as a platform to push for social change and acceptance?
I believe I use it in ways that empower my community, as T.E.T.A for example. I’ve been making music because I love it and it’s my passion. I don’t necessarily use it all the time to talk about it, my body is political and I feel my music is bound with it.
Social change and acceptance is a process, I think I’ve been working on this as other artists too, however, it’s something that takes time.
KALTBLUT: Can you delve deeper into the thematic elements and inspirations behind your upcoming EP, Space Manual For Those Who Can not Swim / Manual Espacial Para Aqueles Que Não Sabem Nadar?
The inspirations are galactic outside space, very inspired by the band Drexcya and all these scientific mysterious journeys with these universes that involve immensity. The awakening of fear and curiosity, I think these are the strong elements of the EP with all the connotations of not knowing how to swim myself, but also wanting to fly into space. The narrative of the ep is built with 5 tracks that describe this ascent and a light adventure in space with a dramatic ending closed by T.e.t.a Intergalactica and hopefully you all feel this journey as I did.
KALTBLUT: How do you think your EP could influence or change your listeners’ perspectives on their own challenges?
I think making techno and these harder rhythms reminds me a lot of the repeated movements of a machine and that repetition is polished over time. I believe it’s about polishing what you have even if you repeat it many times. The perspective is also how to create journeys, where there needs to be an end to start a new horizon.
KALTBLUT: Looking back, what advice would you give to your younger self at the start of your career?
Be kind and be less ashamed of expressing myself.
Follow
@slimsoledad
@headroom.records
Photos by @ivanerick
Space Manual For Those Who Cannot Swim is out now: https://linktr.ee/slimsoledad
