Scottish DJ, musician, and producer SOPHIE has died following a sudden accident this morning (January 30). The news was confirmed by a representative for the artist, who wrote in a statement to Mixmag: “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.” Labels Transgressive and Future Classic added: “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.” SOPHIE was 34.
Born and raised in Glasgow, Sophie Xenon released their debut single, ‘Nothing More to Say’, in 2013. A series of subsequent releases, including ‘Bipp’ and ‘Lemonade’, introduced SOPHIE’s innovative sound to a wider audience and were later compiled in the 2015 collection PRODUCT. In 2018, SOPHIE issued a debut full-length album, the forward-thinking and critically-acclaimed OIL OF EVERY PEARL’S UN-INSIDES, which was nominated for Best Dance/Electronic Album at the 2019 Grammys. SOPHIE also prominently worked with the label PC Music, and collaborated with a wide range of artists including Madonna, Lady Gaga, Charli XCX, Vince Staples, Kim Petras, Arca, Let’s Eat Granda, and many others.
Tributes have already started pouring in online in the wake of SOPHIE’s death. Héloïse Adélaïde Letissier, better known as Christine and the Queens, called SOPHIE “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 honour and respect her memory and legacy. Cherish the pioneers.”
Shygirl, who collaborated with SOPHIE on her recent track ‘SLIME’, wrote: “tell people you love them when you can.”
“Our community has lost an icon, a pioneer and a visionary bright light,” model and activist Munroe Bergdorf wrote. “Heartbroken. SOPHIE you will be missed. Thank you for sharing your talent with us. I hope we get to meet again one day. Rest in peace sister.”
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
tell people you love them when you can.
— SHYGIRL (@0800shygirl) January 30, 2021
RIP SOPHIE 💗 u were the sweetest – an icon and a visionary. the world and our community has lost a beautiful soul pic.twitter.com/Nxbvx3hsSU
— RINA SAWAYAMA (@rinasawayama) January 30, 2021
I’m heartbroken.
Thank you Sophie Rest In Power!
You will always be remembered as a true game changer, powerful presence and an incredibly original producer ! Your music and production brought me so much joy! pic.twitter.com/VZ1v9UNSb5— Peaches (@peaches) 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
so saddening to hear about SOPHIE. she will be so missed but her influence will last and grow.
— Declan McKenna (@DeclanMcKenna) January 30, 2021
This article was originally published on Saturday, January 30 at 12:53 p.m GMT. It was last updated the same day at 14:05 p.m.