SOPHIE: Remembering the Pioneering LGBTQIA+ Star

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This LGBTQIA+ History Month, we are honouring pop music visionary SOPHIE. Sophie Xeon was more than just a highly acclaimed DJ, producer, and songwriter – but a curator of experimental music that spoke to a generation. This British artist was Trans and adored by the LGBTQIA+ community for their consistently fierce defences of individuality. Moreover, SOPHIE’s focus on personal liberation bled beyond music, into androgynous looks and bold artistic choices. The passing of this artist in 2021 devastated fans and made us consider their lasting legacy in current music.

Musical Style

Admittedly, I had never delved into SOPHIE’s discography beyond some singles that broke through to the mainstream. However, to expand my musical taste recently, I decided that delving into this discography was a great place to start. This artist had no time for music ‘rules’ or the concept of genre. Listening to the musician’s back catalogue is a mind trip that should come with a highly addictive warning label.

Growing up in Scotland and going to raves moulded their tastes from an early age. This creative drew so much from the synthetic tech-heavy sonics of electronic music to usher in the hyperpop sound that dominates today’s charts. In my research for this tribute, I read many fan forums discussing how SOPHIE’s brilliance lay in their ability to bridge the avant-garde with mainstream appeal. Moreover, they took what some music ‘purists’ believed should be kept aside for a niche and experimental audience, and injected it into addictive radio-friendly jams that forced critics to take it seriously.

It was the 2013 single ‘BIPP‘ that brought the breakthrough moment. It is the audio equivalent of a sugar rush, where the club-friendly track promises it can “Make you feel better” on top of neon-coated synths. The Northampton-born artist even picked up a few famous fans from this bubblegum banger, namely fellow cultural trailblazer Madonna whom she later produced for.

Accolades and Famous Friends

SOPHIE was one of the first Trans musicians to be nominated for a Grammy. ‘OIL OF EVERY PEARL’S UN-INSIDES‘ was nominated for Best Dance/Electronic Album in 2019 and was her debut full-length studio release. Sadly, this was the only full album release in her lifetime, but the project turned me into a full-fledged fan. ‘Immaterial‘ is my favourite track from the project. Beyond being a feel-good, fizzy banger that could’ve been on the ‘Barbie‘ movie soundtrack, it’s an ode to how superficial identity is. In addition, this sentiment is paralleled in another hard-core mind-bender ‘Faceshopping‘. Like so much of their music, the message is strong – the superficial culture of today where beauty is currency is worrying. However, they nestle it in such bold, audacious production. 

They were an extraordinary producer, making fan-favorite tracks for friends like Charli xcx, Kim Petras, and Vince Staples. Staples is one of my favourite artists, and his ‘Big Fish Theory‘ album, of which SOPHIE was a primary producer, caught my attention. Moreover, their work with Charli xcx saw her frequent the UK Top 40 with hits like ‘After the Afterparty‘. ‘B**** I’m Madonna‘ brought Madonna back to the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the US for the first time in several years.

Their early association with music collective PC Music helped sculpt their futuristic sound. Deemed by critics as making music too superficial sounding, the label was spearheaded by innovative producer A.G. Cook who built the foundations of hyperpop. We may have lost SOPHIE far too soon, but fans can take solace in Cook’s touching tribute. “SOPHIE approached every topic with the love, care, and intensity of someone who has truly lived.” 

A Lasting Legacy

Some argue SOPHIE was the most influential figure in moulding the pop sound in the last decade and I’m inclined to agree. I see the artists commanding the pop charts today – Chappell Roan, Rina Sawayama, or Charli and cannot extract that influence. Whether they’re aware of it or not, present and up-and-coming pop sensations are stepping into a punky, fluid pop climate that was moulded by this artist.

“The past isn’t sexy; the future is sexy” they once said in an interview. This songsmith inspires me to think that everything hasn’t already been done, there are still new roads to tread creatively. You can still break barriers and disrupt within your little corner of the world. To conclude, for the LGBTQIA+ community, this creator was a beacon of hope. No individual is too small to make a difference. 

Their art told fans that self-acceptance is possible. If you listen to their catalogue, prepare to undergo identity exploration to its fullest extent. In the same way, they experiment and explore sounds and tech effects within their songs. SOPHIE encourages the listener to explore what you want your life to look like and explore what feels real to you. This LGBTQIA+ History Month, let’s take a leaf out of this artist’s book and rejoice in what makes us different. 

You can read previous LGBTQIA+ History Month pieces here. You can listen to SOPHIE’s essential tracks below.

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