SOPHIE

SOPHIE (born Sophie Xeon, 1986–2021) was a Scottish record producer, singer, songwriter and DJ who became one of the most influential sonic architects of contemporary pop. She emerged in the early 2010s within the orbit of the PC Music scene, drawing attention with the singles «Bipp» and «Elle», later gathered on the compilation Product. Her production style, hyper-glossy, elastic, almost synthetic in its precision, redefined what pop textures could sound like, influencing a generation of producers and artists far beyond her own catalogue.

Beyond her solo work, SOPHIE was a sought-after collaborator, producing and co-writing for Charli XCX, Madonna, Vince Staples, Flume and Kim Petras, among others, blending club music with maximalist pop hooks. Tracks such as «Faceshopping», «Ponyboy» and «It’s Okay to Cry» showed her range, moving from abrasive, industrial-leaning electronics to tender, deeply personal balladry. «It’s Okay to Cry», released in 2017, marked a turning point both artistically and personally, as she began publicly using she/her pronouns and the name Sophie Xeon.

Her debut album Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides (2018) received a Grammy nomination and cemented her as a singular voice in electronic and pop music. She died in January 2021 at the age of 34. Her legacy endures through her genre-dissolving productions and the artists she inspired and mentored.