Who is Sophie Xeon and why is Google paying tribute to the icon today?

Trailblazing producer Sophie Xeon, famously known as SOPHIE, is being celebrated today with a Google Doodle in tribute to what would have been her 38th birthday.

The main page of Google features a cartoon illustration of the artist, showcasing her iconic red hair that she was famous for, along with a video dedicated to celebrating Sophie.

The brief video showcases Sophie’s track "Immaterial," featuring lines such as: "I used to be a lonely girl / According to my inner child / Yet I can become anything I desire."

The music accompanies a dynamic animation of the artist taking off into the cosmos.

Regarded as a key pioneer of hyperpop and one of the most significant producers in pop music history, Sophie sadly passed away in 2021 due to an accidental fall from a building in Athens, leaving behind an impressive legacy.

If you’re not aware of Sophie’s enduring impact on music, the end of Brat Summer (an album that she influenced significantly) is a great opportunity to get acquainted with her work.

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Who Was Sophie Xeon? A Brief Overview

The producer, who identified as transgender and requested not to be referred to using any pronouns, was a self-taught musician. They started creating music at a young age in Glasgow, Scotland.

In the 2000s, Sophie relocated to Berlin, took charge of the dance-pop band Motherland, and fully engaged with the vibrant electronic and dance music communities in the city.

There, the creator refined the unique, avant-garde sound that became closely associated with the name SOPHIE.

After a series of partnerships and new music releases, Sophie’s track "Bipp" stood out and gained significant attention, earning the producer praise from critics and attracting a rapidly expanding audience on independent platforms like SoundCloud.

Sophie began working with Charli XCX in 2015, paving the way for a successful and enduring creative relationship that would continue even after Sophie’s passing.

Sophie was behind the creation of several of Charli's tracks, such as Vroom Vroom, After the Afterparty, Paradise, Trophy, Roll with Me, Lipgloss, Out of My Head, No Angel, and Girls Night Out.

The producer put out just one studio album, titled "Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides," in June 2018. This album received a nomination for Best Dance/Electronic Album at the 2019 Grammy Awards and created a significant impact in the pop music scene. Sophie became the third trans woman ever to receive a Grammy nomination.

The album presented a fresh and unfamiliar sound that left some listeners feeling disconnected. However, for those who could appreciate the creative vision behind it, Oil was an incredible achievement that expanded the boundaries of what pop music could be.

Pitchfork reflects on the album with fitting admiration: “By challenging the authenticity of the human voice and twisting traditional pop formats, SOPHIE also questions the conventional ideas of gender, which have long been intertwined with music. Her music creates a space where intention and instinct are more important than destiny and heritage.”

Sophie’s music is distinctly self-aware, purposefully challenging and sometimes taking advantage of pop clichés and trends to craft a fresh take on the genre. The producer sees music as something to be shaped and constructed, often comparing her projects to materials like latex, balloons, bubbles, metal, plastic, and elastic.

Building on her success, Sophie continued her partnership with Charli XCX and teamed up with notable artists such as Nicki Minaj and Madonna, bringing her distinct sound further into the world of mainstream pop music.

In 2022, Charli XCX released her album Crash in memory of her late collaborator. However, it’s her 2024 album Brat, which propelled her to greater heights of success, that truly pays tribute to Sophie.

The electronic sound characterized by strong synthesizer elements clearly nods to Sophie’s style, and the track "So I" is actually a tribute to the late producer.

In the track, Charli expresses: "You're constantly in my thoughts (Day and night) / Your light shines incredibly bright (What made me drive you away?) / I felt fear at times / You had a force like a bolt of lightning."

The song goes on to express that when the artist performs, there are moments when they pretend to enjoy singing the songs that remind them of someone who is no longer there. They remember that this person often reassured them that it's perfectly fine to shed tears, which gives them the comfort to let their own emotions flow.

Following the passing of the producer, there have been only a handful of Sophie’s musical creations released to the public. Among the significant offerings are the collaborative track 'Jsloipnhie' with Jlin and projects for Hyd and Basside. Recently, it has been revealed that fans can look forward to a new SOPHIE album set to be released after her death.

The artist dropped some hints about their self-titled album through a mysterious video on their YouTube channel, leading fans to believe that new music might be coming soon.

With the album officially announced, fans were both thrilled and surprised by the release of a new single titled "Reason Why," featuring BC Kingdom and Kim Petras.

On June 24, Sophie’s family revealed the album with a heartfelt message that said: "When we, Sophie’s family, began to bring this project to life, we reached out to the close friends with whom she dreamed of creating this album. We expressed, 'We have been finding solace in the music Sophie shared with us; it is a treasured gift that helps us navigate our path forward, with Sophie always at the heart of our lives.'"

As Charli XCX remains a major force in the music scene with her flexible pop beats that are both catchy and otherworldly, fans still feel the absence of a producer who transformed the landscape of pop music and whose influence can still be felt today.

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