Published
Sat, Jan 30, 2021, 11:40
- The beloved electronic pop artist passed away this morning following an accident in Athens.
SOPHIE, one of the great pop and electronic artists of her generation, has died aged 34.
The news broke earlier today, January 30th, via social media. SOPHIE's team has since released a statement to NME.
"It is with profound sadness that I have to inform you that musician and producer SOPHIE passed away this morning around 4 AM in Athens, where the artist had been living, following a sudden accident," the statement reads. "At this time respect and privacy for the family is our priority. We would also ask for respect for her fanbase, and to treat the private nature of this news with sensitivity."
Born in Glasgow in 1986, SOPHIE, AKA Sophie Xeon, was a revered and beloved DJ, producer, performer, singer and songwriter. She broke through in 2012 with "Nothing More To Say," before releasing a string of leftfield club hits—"BIPP," "Hard," "Lemonade"—on Numbers. These earned her a cult status, particularly among fans of the burgeoning PC Music movement.
SOPHIE put out three critically acclaimed full-lengths. Product, a compilation complete with bespoke merchandise, hit the shelves in 2015, followed by her debut album, Oil Of Every Pearl's Un-Insides, in 2018. She received a Grammy Award nomination for the latter, and soon she was producing for the likes of Madonna, Charli XCX, Vince Staples and Flume. In 2019, she released Oil Of Every Pearl's Un-Insides Remix Album, presenting, as ever, a unique spin on the format.
SOPHIE's final release, "UNISIL," came out earlier this month, accompanied by a remix of "BIPP" by Autechre, who are reportedly the only act she ever allowed to remix her work.
Then there was everything that came with the music, from the bespoke merchandise and glossy artwork to the spectacular live performances. SOPHIE carved out a space of her own within pop and electronic music, maintaining a huge following in both the mainstream and the underground.
Listen to SOPHIE's "It's Okay To Cry," and read some of the tributes.