The groundbreaking artist has passed away.
SOPHIE has died. The artist was 34. A statement from SOPHIE’s team reads:
“It is with profound sadness that I have to inform you that musician and producer SOPHIE passed away this morning around 4am in Athens, where the artist had been living, following a sudden accident. 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.”
“SOPHIE was a pioneer of a new sound, one of the most influential artists in the last decade. Not only for ingenious production and creativity but also for the message and visibility that was achieved. An icon of liberation.”
Transgressive and Future Classic have provided the statement: “Tragically our beautiful Sophie passed away this morning after a terrible accident. True to her spirituality she had climbed up to watch the full moon and accidentally slipped and fell. She will always be here with us. The family thank everyone for their love and support and request privacy at this devastating time.”
Berlin label PAN shared the news this morning (30 January), saying: “Rest in power you incredible human”.
Rest in Power you incredible human 💔 pic.twitter.com/qnxHwivvYw
— PAN (@PAN_hq) January 30, 2021
Collaborator and installation artist Ciaran Moore also posted the news online, captioned with: “BFF, a superstar, a genius mind to work with. I love you Sophie”.
View this post on Instagram
Since, figures such as Munroe Bergdorf and Christine and the Queens have shared their tributes to SOPHIE online. Read below.
View this post on Instagram
Devastating. She was one of these people who could have changed the world with her creative vision. In fact she did. Going to shed a tear listening to her album today. Rest in Power Sophie. https://t.co/HOY9uKoYNp
— Michail / Opium Hum 🏳️🌈🥲Ⓥ (@opiumhum) January 30, 2021
we lost a legend today
— Berlinderella aka ACAB Doll (@LSDXOXO_) January 30, 2021
In the last ten years this record (and the flip) has stayed in my crates without ever leaving. Even at the very beginning Sophie was just leagues ahead. https://t.co/K0WKAvQieO
— Midland (@midlandsound) January 30, 2021
Sophie was a stellar producer, a visionary, a reference. She rebelled against the narrow, normative society by being an absolute triumph, both as an artist and as a woman. I can’t believe she is gone. We need to honor and respect her memory and legacy. Cherish the pioneers. pic.twitter.com/3kyRl1KabY
— Chris (@QueensChristine) January 30, 2021
Our hearts go out to @SOPHIEMSMSMSM‘s friends, family, fan base, artistic collaborators and the teams at @transgressiveHQ and @numbers. SOPHIE’s speech at the @AIMAwards 2018 was an important moment 👇 pic.twitter.com/UhKjmsJvEz
— AIM #saveourvenues (@AIM_UK) January 30, 2021
Incredibly sad to hear SOPHIE has died. Her music and honesty brought so much light to the world. Rest in power.💙🤍💗 https://t.co/rNtL7Dtya9
— Amy Lamé (london.gov.uk/coronavirus) (@amylame) January 30, 2021
was lucky enough to share a stage w sophie twice in my lifetime, & even beyond her music, her energy, such a kind person, a joy to watch perform. i always think of her playing at the moma w bubbles floating thru the air anytime i listen to her music lol. i don’t wanna believe it
— BIGMUTHA 🤮 (@bbymutha) January 30, 2021
RIP SOPHIE. A huge loss. Thank you for the creations you left us with in this world 💔
— Kelly Lee Owens (@kellyleeowens) January 30, 2021
The most important and most influential pieces of music in the last decade https://t.co/lkTiGO0Bzp
— Peder Mannerfelt (@PederMannerfelt) January 30, 2021
Thinking about the last time I saw Sophie in France. I remember her getting off stage as I was going on. She was wearing patent leather. I never remember what anyone was wearing but I remember that and how beautiful she was in every way.
— THE BLESSED MADONNA (@Blessed_Madonna) January 30, 2021
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
#RestInPower SOPHIE! You were one of the most innovative, dynamic, and warm persons I had the pleasure of working with at 2019 @southbankcentre pic.twitter.com/uzsv0EAWxx
— Nile Rodgers (@nilerodgers) January 30, 2021
SOPHIE was a truly holistic artist.
Her influence is immeasurable and i’m honoured to have known her.— Danny L Harle (@DannylHarle) January 30, 2021
The pioneering artist was known as a visionary whose glossy electronics changed the narrative of pop music. Over the course of her career, she collaborated with the likes of Charli XCX, Madonna and Vince Staples.
SOPHIE’s debut single, Nothing More to Say, was released in 2013 via Huntley + Palmers. Its follow-up, BIPP, released that same year, became a critical success and at Crack Magazine, we named it our top track of the 2010s.
Back then, not much was known about SOPHIE, who was closely affiliated with the PC Music collective. In 2014, the producer teamed up with A. G. Cook and Hayden Frances Dunham to launch the project QT. The collaboration was marked by the track Hey QT, which marketed the group’s semi-fictitious “energy elixir”. SOPHIE’s tracks later went on to appear in commercials; When I Rule the World was used in a Samsung Galaxy advert and, famously, Lemonade was licensed to McDonalds.
It was with 2017’s It’s Okay to Cry video that SOPHIE was presented publicly for the first time. The track was the lead single from SOPHIE’s debut album, Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-insides.
Last year, SOPHIE debuted new music and visuals, along with a string of remixes.
