Remembering SOPHIE This Women’s History Month

Jared Stautzenberger

Assistant Music Director

Back in January, it marked five years since we lost the iconic music producer and artist Sophie. She was a pioneer in the hyperpop genre and pushed a new sound into the realm of electronic music that the world had never heard before. Half a decade after her passing, Sophie’s music remains untouched with no electronic artist coming close. This Women’s History Month, I decided to remember the music and legacy that was left behind and the light that was taken from our world way too soon. The iconic collaborations, influence, and revolutionizing sound that was Sophie.

The prominence of Sophie’s sound came to fruition around 2013 with the release of “BIPP,” an electronic banger with bubbly, stretchy synths. The vocals on the song invite the listener to their trust, assuring that they can make you feel better, if you let them. Her later singles during this time were compiled into a collection titled “Product,” with signature single covers depicting 3D renderings of various playground slides. Iconic tracks like “LEMONADE” and “VYZEE” being embedded in pop culture, gaining momentum through social media trends as recent as this year.

Sophie’s real breakthrough into the alternative pop scene came in 2014 with her collaboration with A.G. Cook titled “Hey QT.” The song itself had a world built around it by A.G. and Sophie. Hayden Dunham was the face of this little world, starring in the music video and live performances of the song. “Hey QT” even had its own drink, with some fans describing its taste being similar to Red Bull. The “QT” drink is featured on the single cover, and the little world they created for it found its own crowd. This project from the two PC music icons would catapult Sophie into a whole new world of recognition in the following years.

One of the more recognizable songs Sophie produced was Charli xcx’s “Vroom Vroom” from 2016. During this time, both artists wanted to take a shift in their artistic journeys. Charli had just come down from a two-year high of commercial hits, and she was looking for something raw and fresh to take over. Working with Sophie was the perfect formula, as “Vroom Vroom” shot both Charli and Sophie into niche pop stardom. During this time, another notorious collaboration was with the queen of pop herself, Madonna. Her song titled “B—- I’m Madonna” from her 2015 “Rebel Heart” was a modern staple in her discography. The signature crunchy, stretchy synths featured in these tracks had pop music in a chokehold.

After producing for artists like Vince Staples, Kim Petras, Rihanna, and many more, it was time for Sophie to make a return to her experimental solo work. In June of 2018, she went on to release her debut album titled “OIL OF EVERY PEARL’S UN-INSIDES.” The album itself became a staple in electronic music, with tracks like “Immaterial,” “Faceshopping,” and “Ponyboy” receiving widespread acclaim by critics alike. The album also received a nomination for Best Dance/Electronic Album at the 61^st Annual Grammy Awards. The record itself not only pushed Sophie into a more mainstream crowd with wider recognition, but it also helped define the sound of the late 2010’s and what was to be expected for hyperpop music going into the 2020s.

By 2020, the hyperpop genre had exploded into the general public. Thanks to Coronavirus, people stayed home and discovered 100 gecs, Dorian Electra, Shygirl, Sega Bodega, etc.… with Sophie’s gateway sound being at the heart of it. She kept more quiet during this year, working on her sophomore album, making remixes and putting her vocals on a collaboration with fellow trans revolutionary Arca. The world truly was her oyster, and fans were anticipating what was to come. Everything came to a standstill on January 30, 2021, when news of Sophie’s passing was released to the public. It was a devastating day for the music community, and the broken future of pop/electronic music.

In 2024, Sophie’s brother Benny Long made the decision to finally release her long awaited self-titled album to the public. He was a collaborator on the record and claimed it was near completion during the time of her passing. This posthumous release featured artists like Kim Petras and BC Kingdom with their anticipated track “Reason Why,” as well as Hannah Diamond with “Always and Forever.” The sound of the album took a more conventional turn with some tracks being perfectly made for radio, while tracks like “Elegance” experimented with a hardcore techno sound. It was a bittersweet moment for fans of Sophie to have their hands on her last project to date.

Sophie’s legacy will continue to make its mark in all thing’s music. Her Ableton sample pack has been used in various subgenres of pop, especially in K-pop with groups like NCT and aespa. Charli xcx’s track “So I” from her viral album BRAT is dedicated to the close relationship she held with Sophie and serves as a response to “It’s Okay to Cry.” Caroline Polachek’s “I Believe” is a beautiful dedication to her close friendship with Sophie. However it may be expressed, Sophie will remain in our hearts and in our playlists forever.