A TRIBUTE TO SOPHIE
Last weekend we lost a powerful force in modern music, one whose presence can be felt across the most experimental of dance music and the most pervasive pop songs.
Producer, performer, and queer icon SOPHIE was the pioneer of a new sound in music production and one of the most influential artists of the last decade. Known for innovating across a wide variety of mediums – from her music production to electric visuals and live performances – SOPHIE’s presence in the industry proved to be a reassuring, genuine expression of individuality.
At the centre of SOPHIE’s music was a noble pursuit for finding and communicating new forms of emotion. This pursuit of self-expression resulted in a fearless and raw style of avante-garde pop with an experimental industrialism that still retained a playful, inclusive and personal touch. This distinctive style became a staple of the PC Music movement and single-handedly helped revitalise a passion and defiance that had often been absent within the pop genre; pushing the edges of experimental dance music out from inside the mainstream. This approach was unique in that it influenced almost every corner of music; from pop and hip-hop to the most off-the-wall club beats. SOPHIE’s hyper-real sound influenced all that it touched into a more daring space.
SOPHIE made history as the first openly transgender Grammy nominee, a step forward for representation that will never be overlooked. Throughout her life and career, she challenged the societal structures within pop music, rebelling against the narrow, normative preconceptions and prejudices and defining herself as an icon of liberation. Her music and visuals consistently harnessed an expression beyond the corporeal, something ethereal that transcended the constraints of heteronormative labels. SOPHIE stood to represent the misunderstood and the unacknowledged, and create a space for empathy and awareness. She will forever be remembered as a pillar of representation and liberation, and hold a profound influence for young LGBTQ+ musicians and creators.
For a pioneering artist of seemingly limitless creative potential, one can’t help but feel that SOPHIE had so much more to offer. She gifted the world an education in looking beyond the physical, and it is undeniable that her legacy and influence on music and culture will endure for generations.
