On Saturday, 30th January, the tragic news of DJ, master producer, singer, LGBTQ icon, songwriter and trailblazer SOPHIE’s untimely passing startled the music industry. SOPHIE was an innovator in every sense of the word – she changed the face of pop music forever, with her productions rippling far across the electronic music spectrum.
SOPHIE’s ability to twist and manipulate sound to create something which felt physical, like you could reach out and touch its rubbery, metallic surface, was otherworldly. This uniqueness and genius did not go unnoticed, seeing the Scottish artist go on to collaborate with the likes of Madonna, Charli XCX, Kim Petras, Nicki Minaj, Vince Staples and countless other colossal forces in the industry. Her imprint was huge, contributing to forward-thinking movements like PC Music, releasing on Numbers, Transgressive Records and others, primarily producing Charli XCX’s Vroom Vroom EP, being nominated for a Grammy Award, winning the AIM Independent Music Awards’ Innovator Award and so much more.
To pay homage to SOPHIE, we’re sharing some of our favourite and most cherished moments from her seminal career.
Tracks: BIPP, ELLE, LEMONADE and More
Remembering the first time I heard ‘BIPP’ was a completely alien experience. This fusion of harsh, experimental sounds and familiar poppy synths was like nothing I could compare it to back in 2013. ‘ELLE’, the counterpart to ‘BIPP’ created a much darker presence with chaotic stabs, fractured percussion and spiralling melodies. ‘BIPP’ was my first introduction to SOPHIE and, like many others, spawned an infatuation with the artist. Check out some of our favourite SOPHIE tracks below.
Albums: The Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides
SOPHIE’s debut album, The Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides, shattered the expectations of what an electronic album could sound like. The Grammy-nominated record blends dark and light tracks throughout, serving gritty milestones with glistening, hyper-pop rest stops along the way. Following its release, the album received a non-stop double-disc remix edition, featuring alternate versions of the tracks.
Streams: HEAV3N SUSPENDED / Live at The Echoplex
In a strikingly immersive glimpse at what was to come from the producer, SOPHIE teamed with HEAV3N for a YouTube live stream. The 20-minute mix showcases a number of unreleased collaborations, tracks and edits from the producer, beautifully synchronized with a hypnotizing laser-heavy visual.
In 2016, SOPHIE performed live at the Echoplex unleashing a hoard of unheard tracks and edits, including her recently released track, ‘UNSIL’.
Tributes
The outpouring from the music industry was uplifting, with tributes coming from friends, artists, collaborators and fans. Some tributes which really hit home include SOPHIE playing an acoustic version of Hudson Mohawke’s ‘Forever1’, Cashmere Cat’s remix on the piano, Jimmy Edgar’s memories of himself and the artist, as well as a number of producer’s own tribute tracks and more.
love you sophie pic.twitter.com/SPqUkzOI7d
— cashmere cat (@CASHMERECAT) January 30, 2021
— JIMMY (@JIMMYEDGAR) January 30, 2021
still can’t believe this. Rest Peacefully Sophie. 💔 🙏🏿 pic.twitter.com/OsYGdCKgkz
— Rihanna (@rihanna) February 1, 2021
SOPHIE – B Who I Want 2 B (Himera Edit)
Hyper-pop producer, Himera, paid homage to one of his biggest inspirations, with an edit of SOPHIE’s ‘B Who I Want 2 B’.
Tribute – SOPHIE – It’s Okay To Cry (Miss Jay Throwback Remix)
Producer, DJ and host of the monthly show “Kick Clap” on Rewindit Music, Miss Jay, uploaded an old edit she’d created to Bandcamp of ‘It’s Okay To Cry’, with all the proceeds going to Accept Romania – a non-governmental organisation that advocates for the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Romania.
SOPHIE’s legacy will undoubtedly continue to shape the future of electronic music for years to come.
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