Pedro Paulo Q. de C. Furlan | Issue 12, Fall 2026

With references to body-horror and mutation as a main concept, the Nonbinary multi-artist Shi シ  talks about their debut album Delírio and how it led them to “get used to the flesh I’m in.”

“One time, a friend of mine told me I carry an essence of mutation,” says Brazilian multi-artist Shi シ (she/they). When asked about the presence of flesh and body horror in the lyrics and visuals of her debut album Delírio, (“delirium” in English) she goes on, “Little by little throughout my transition, I realized we’re mutants. Even if we don’t realize our power yet.” Coming from the world of acting—theater, film, and TV—Shi シ released their first record earlier this year, utilizing horror imagery and symbolism as a way to develop the main concept of the album: “‘Delirium’ as this concrete, physical thing. As something that can scare you and force you to react.” The interesting thing though, is that they, themselves, are scared of horror movies.

“I’m undeniably fascinated by horror movies,” they say, quickly adding, “but, they come to me as this test of my own fear.” Growing up listening to the likes of Radiohead, Brazilian rocker Pitty, and lots of emo bands, and watching anything from cartoons and famous Brazilian puppets (specifically the ones in Castelo Rá Tim Bum) to dark horror movies, Shi シ points out that “analog media has always looked a little bizarre to me.” It is in these uncanny places that their connection to horror lies.

“Movie-making, if we think about going to the extremes and whatever bizarre stuff we can create, is already a distortive art-form and a way to build a new body.” Delírio was born from the connection of all these references and the way they affect their body and their self-image, especially as a Nonbinary person. In this moment of the interview, Shi シ quotes a lyric in English from the album—“My name is flesh, bones, and sound”—explaining that while writing for the project, they came to see their own body as something easier to embrace than the language around it all. “It was about getting used to the flesh I’m in”.

“I’ve always been fascinated about investigating my own flesh. So in the album, I reflect about the power in this body,” they add. “Having a name and developing the language to describe myself is sometimes way more violent than dealing with my physical presence. Because for me, my flesh already exists”. That’s the name-sake delirium. For Shi シ, the concept of “delirium” is something concrete and present in our reality. It’s something we have to look in the eyes and face if we want to reach our full potential. Body horror was their way of describing this delirium that exists in a Queer reality.

“I needed to write about it so I could familiarize myself with my own flesh and understand that I don’t have to fear it so much,” they add. Shi シ points out that their connection to their body and gender comes with transformation and change. With that comes the understanding that flesh itself is something constantly shifting. Shi シ uses the word “flesh” many times in Delírio, utilizing their own lived experiences to create a fascinating universe. Working in metaphor, the record narrates a meeting with themselves, following as they alter their flesh and body to become the Shi シ that sings today, ever changing.

In visuals created alongside CoCo—one of their closest friends, who is also Nonbinary —Shi シ portrays themselves as a dark heroine, shifting shapes and mutating flesh to reach the reality inside themselves. “It’s easy for me to wear black eye-liner, play a guitar, and create in that universe. Because it’s something that translates a very important part of myself… my desire to internalize and absorb everything that makes me me.”