After it was announced on January 30, that the visionary and influential Pop producer SOPHIE had passed away at age 34, due to tragically accidental circumstances, an outpouring of love, sadness, and reflection began bubbling up across the internet, from friends, artists, and fans.
Those entrenched in the world of Pop, Hyper-Pop, and PC music know that SOPHIE and Charli XCX not only established a powerful working relationship but maintained a harmonious friendship as the two worked together to drive pop music to futuristic new heights.
Today, the “Vroom Vroom” singer took to social media to share a tribute to her dear friend and frequent collaborator. Charli writes, “It’s really hard for me to sum up the special connection I felt with such an amazing person who completely changed my life.” She continues, “There are so many memories, so many small details, so many different views, and incredible feelings and stories. It’s impossible to summarize the journey I went on with Sophie.”
The screenshot of the note, which Charli shared on Instagram and Twitter explains how she is working through the grief she is feeling and how she plans to honor the late producer through her “memories, through my work, through writing things only I will read.”
The note concludes, “She taught me so much about myself without even realizing. I wish I had told her more how special she was, not just her music, but her as a person. I love you and I will never forget you, Sophie.”
Most notably Charli and SOPHIE collaborated on the singer’s 2016 EP Vroom Vroom. The sound that was established on that EP evolved as both SOPHIE and Charli continued to work together on later tracks like “Roll With Me” and “Lipgloss” which appear on Charli’s Number 1 Angel. Additionally, the duo came together on the track, “Out of My Head” for XCX’s Pop 2.
SOPHIE has produced for pop artists across the spectrum, namely artists like Madonna, Rihanna, Vince Staples, Nicki Minaj, Kim Petras, and more.
The pioneering producer was a beacon amidst the transgender community. SOPHIE’s career took off in 2013 after releasing her EP, Product, where fans fell in love with tracks such as “bipp,” “Lemonade,” and “Just Like We Never Said Goodbye.”
In 2018 SOPHIE released her debut full-length album Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-insides, which received a GRAMMY nomination for “Best Dance/Electronic Album.” The groundbreaking album is hailed for its mind-bending and masterful production, as well as being celebrated for its discussion around queer and trans themes.
In a 2018 interview with Paper SOPHIE discusses the illumination she felt when discovering her trans identity and said, “It means there's no longer an expectation based on the body you were born into, or how your life should play out and how it should end.” She adds, “Transness is taking control to bring your body more in line with your soul and spirit so the two aren't fighting against each other and struggling to survive. On this earth, it's that you can get closer to how you feel your true essence is without the societal pressures of having to fulfill certain traditional roles based on gender.”
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