Trailblazing Artist and LGBTQ+ Icon SOPHIE Has Died

The multi-talented, experimental artist and LGBTQ+ icon SOPHIE has died following a sudden accident in Athens.

SOPHIE, a Scottish artist who had become renowned for breaking boundaries in the realms of electronic and pop music, has tragically passed away after an accidental fall in Athens on the morning of January 30. SOPHIE was 34.

In a statement released to Mixmag, SOPHIE’s team said “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.”

After first breaking onto the scene, SOPHIE’s avant-garde style drew the attention of artists, tastemakers, and fans around the world. Creating a sound that touched on everything from hyper pop and trap to industrial and ambient, the innovation that SOPHIE brought forth on releases including compilation album PRODUCT and 2018 album Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides garnered immense praise.

Over the years, SOPHIE also worked with other notable artists ranging from Vince Staples to Madonna while continuing to act as a pioneer in the electronic music space. Standout artists Flume and Eprom remixed SOPHIE’s track “Is It Cold In The Water” that was released on the Hi This is Flume mixtape in 2019. The same year SOPHIE also took the stage at festivals including Coachella and Ultra Music Festival in Miami.

Since the news broke of SOPHIE’s passing, record labels Transgressive and Future Classic also released a joint statement, saying “True to her spirituality, she had climbed up to watch the full moon and accidentally slipped and fell. She will always be with us.” Artists across the entire music industry including Sam Smith, Nile Rodgers, SG Lewis, A-Trak, and countless others have paid respects to the icon on social media as well.

Our hearts go out to SOPHIE’s family, friends, team, and fans around the world.