GLASGOW-BORN producer and DJ SOPHIE has died aged 34 after a “sudden accident” in Greece.
The Scottish Grammy-nominated artist was praised for her pioneering solo work and produced for acts like Madonna, Charli XCX, Flume and others.
Sources close to the artist posted messages on social media this morning saying she had passed away.
Later, the producer’s team gave a statement to the music magazine MixMag confirming she died in Athens this morning.
The statement read: "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. 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.
"SOPHIE was a pioneer of a new sound, one of the most influential artists in the last decade. Not only for ingenious production and creativity but also for the message and visibility that was achieved. An icon of liberation."
— Transgressive (@transgressiveHQ) January 30, 2021
Her label, Transgressive, said on Twitter: “Tragically our beautiful Sophie passed away this morning after a terrible accident.
“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. The family thank everyone for their love and support and request privacy at this devastating time.”
SOPHIE’S identity had remained a secret for some time, with the artist often masking her voice and concealing parts of herself in interviews.
In 2017 she used her own voice and image in the music video for It’s Okay to Cry. She later opened up to the media about her identity as a transgender woman.
Tributes have flooded in for the artist on social media.
Sophie was a stellar producer, a visionary, a reference. She rebelled against the narrow, normative society by being an absolute triumph, both as an artist and as a woman. I can’t believe she is gone. We need to honor and respect her memory and legacy. Cherish the pioneers. pic.twitter.com/3kyRl1KabY
— Chris (@QueensChristine) January 30, 2021
Musician Christine and the Queens wrote on Twitter: “Sophie was a stellar producer, a visionary, a reference. She rebelled against the narrow, normative society by being an absolute triumph, both as an artist and as a woman. I can’t believe she is gone. We need to honor and respect her memory and legacy. Cherish the pioneers.”
Model Munroe Bergdorf also posted, writing: “Our community has lost an icon, a pioneer and a visionary bright light.
Our community has lost an icon, a pioneer and a visionary bright light.
— Protect Trans Kids / BLM ✊🏾 (@MunroeBergdorf) January 30, 2021
Heartbroken.
SOPHIE you will be missed. Thank you for sharing your talent with us. I hope we get to meet again one day. Rest in peace sister ✨ pic.twitter.com/ATZONIGgMY
“Heartbroken.
“SOPHIE you will be missed. Thank you for sharing your talent with us. I hope we get to meet again one day. Rest in peace sister.”
I was devastated when I heard of SOPHIE’s death. Her music was the soundtrack to so many important parts of my recent life. She was a visionary and this world is just a bit less spectacular without her creativity in it. Rest in peace, sister. pic.twitter.com/oQqXfsQdqx
— shon faye. (@shonfaye) January 30, 2021
Writer Shon Faye commented: "I was devastated when I heard of SOPHIE’s death. Her music was the soundtrack to so many important parts of my recent life. She was a visionary and this world is just a bit less spectacular without her creativity in it. Rest in peace, sister."
The Glasgow-based Numbers label, on which SOPHIE released work, wrote: "SOPHIE was a true inspiration, the world has lost an icon of liberation. We are devastated."
SOPHIE started her career in the band Motherland, before going on to work with artists on the PC Music label like Danny L Harle and AG Cook in the early 2010s.
She released a series of critically acclaimed singles and a compilation album, Product, before putting out the full-length studio album Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides in 2018.
The album was nominated for Best Dance/Electronic Album at the Grammy Awards – she was one of the three first openly transgender women to be nominated for a Grammy.
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