(Credits: Far Out / Album Cover)
Some musicians bring an effervescence to the music world simply through their presence, their talent and aura illuminating the path and smoothing out any rough edges along the way. From the moment she arrived on the scene, ethereal electronic producer and songwriter Sophie did exactly that. With a presence as vibrant and electrifying as neon and a level of artistry beyond comprehension, Sophie reshaped the soundscape with a confidence and grace that many could only aspire to.
Despite her journey being tragically cut short in 2021, Sophie had already received the pinnacle of creativity within just a short timeframe. Her appeal and influence stemmed from an early exposure to music alongside an unrelenting desire to improve the world. For Sophie, occupying the space of the ‘other’ wasn’t a one-way ticket to being a creative pariah; it was a superpower that helped others feel much less alone.
Upon releasing her debut, Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides, Sophie became one of the industry’s leading voices due to her dedication to boundary-pushing and innovation; her futuristic approach to hyper-pop appearing as much a reflection of the genre’s shortcomings as it was a glimpse into a future where everybody could enjoy a sense of belonging, no matter their background or identity.
As one of the first songs that gained her traction, ‘BIPP’ attracted attention due to its glossy and distorted sounds, its innovative manipulation of sound causing a rift in the electronic pop sphere by exploding the very meaning of the genre itself. Suddenly, Sophie arrived with a newfound sense of direction about what the music could be and represent and how these sounds could be audibly challenging while adopting an overarching sense of fun.
‘BIPP’ became one of Sophie’s most influential songs because it appeared minimalistic yet explosive, refined in nature yet open and messy about the perils of self-discovery. The song tapped into something Sophie would explore throughout all her work: the interconnectedness of confusion and clarity and the convoluted nature of growing up in a world that wasn’t built for people like you.
This is also why songs like ‘Immaterial’ also became anthemic gems, not just because they sound great, but because they address the fluidity of notions like gender and encourage embracing reality, even if different realities manifest in ways that would be deemed unconventional or a threat to the status quo.
At the same time, what made Sophie so exceptional at her craft was her ability to make everything seem brimming with these bright colours and energies, the kinds that urged confrontation in the midsection and then pushed you out into the world at the end, as if approaching home after a long and surreal party, fatigued yet ready to emerge as a new, more real version of yourself.
As she once said: “I try to make music which is fun to dance to—that should be the loudest voice talking.” She added: “I think it would be extremely exciting if music could take you on the same sort of high-thrill three-minute ride as a theme park roller coaster.”
So, who is Sophie Xeon?
Sophie endeared herself to an entire generation by crafting a world akin to Roald Dahl’s chocolatier viscera. Much like her appreciation for ‘Pure Imagination’, Sophie encouraged a community of hope and togetherness, where the eccentricities of visionary creativity were celebrated and individuality was embraced.
For Sophie, trans self-expression was about embracing honesty regarding shared experiences, confronting adversity, and holding onto hope for the future and the potential for acceptance. Reflecting on the past can only take you so far; the true path to happiness in artistic expression lies in moving forward. “There’s no more rules here,” she once explained. “The point is you are given the authority to choose yourself what feels right.”
Sophie dazzled not only because she knew the oddities of the contemporary music business but because she decided to shun unnecessary distractions and focus on what was important. Working alongside peers like Madonna and Charli XCX, she brought a fresh, innovative perspective to music, infusing various projects with her unique sound and vision.
Despite her tragic passing, Sophie’s legacy will forever be attached to groundbreaking, genre-defying music that combined various structural and sonic elements to create something that was both enticing and thought-provoking. With tracks like ‘BIPP’, ‘Immaterial’, ‘Lemonade’, and ‘Ponyboy’, Sophie reinvented the parameters of hyperpop and ushered an entire generation of lonely music lovers into her warm and tight embrace.
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