(Photo Credits: Screengrab from SOPHIE’s Official YouTube Account)
Both the LGBT community and the music industry are mourning the sudden passing of Scottish musician and producer Sophie Xeon, better known by her mononym SOPHIE, following a fatal accident this early Saturday morning. She was 34 years old.
“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,” reads the statement released by SOPHIE’s publicist, Ludovica Ludinatrice. “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.”
On the other hand, SOPHIE’s U.K. record label, Transgressive, took to social media to confirm the sad news. Their message reads: “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.”
— Transgressive (@transgressiveHQ) January 30, 2021
According to USA Today, the police in Athens, Greece had ruled out any foul play in SOPHIE’s death and a spokesperson confirmed that she slipped and fell from the balcony of an apartment where she was staying.
SOPHIE was dubbed by the media as an electronic music pioneer who helped usher in a new era of catchy sound called hyperpop.
As a producer, she had worked with the likes of Madonna, Charli XCX, and the rapper Vince Staples and is best-known for her 2018 debut album called Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides. Said album was nominated for a Grammy Award as best dance/electronic album—and SOPHIE made history for being the first transgender artist to garner nomination in the aforementioned music category. Further, Paper Magazine also noted that SOPHIE was one of three openly transgender women to ever be nominated for a Grammy.
Listen to her album Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides below:
Meanwhile, a multitude of SOPHIE’s fans, friends, and peers flooded Twitter to pay their tribute and mourn their loss. Sam Smith, for instance, tweeted: “Heartbreaking news. The world has lost an angel. A true visionary and icon of our generation. Your light will continue to inspire so many for generations to come. Thinking of Sophie’s family and friends at this hard time.”
Heartbreaking news. The world has lost an angel. A true visionary and icon of our generation. Your light will continue to inspire so many for generations to come. Thinking of Sophie’s family and friends at this hard time ❤️ pic.twitter.com/7qr4aI0DDi
— samsmith (@samsmith) January 30, 2021
SOPHIE completely changed what i thought about production in 2015. I heard sounds i didnt even think existed. She was ground breaking and fantastic and without a doubt one of the most important people in music. Rest in peace 🙁
— Y2K (@y2k2y) January 30, 2021
Thank you for the music, SOPHIE, may you rest in peace.
and the sun comes up again
R smith:
A sad but profound reality!
We all die but the Universe continues without us…
Blue Moon, Blue Moon, Blue Moon… I saw you standing alone… Blue Moon, Blue Moon… without a dream of your own…!
How very sad! Another young member of our community gone far too soon!
It’s always sad for someone to die for a senseless reason, celebrity or everyday person. I didn’t know this celebrity. Now I do. But now she’s gone. I did take some moments to listen to her music as a memorial.
im always sad when someone dies of course. but she worked with madonna at some point, which is whole other level of course. but i dont her any of her talent at all