The family of experimental pop artist Sophie has announced the release of her final, posthumous album this year. The album, nearly completed at the time of her death three years ago, was finished with care by those closest to her, including her brother and collaborator Ben Long.
Sophie passed away at 34 in an accidental fall while climbing to see the full moon in Athens, Greece. Born in Glasgow, Sophie Xeon was a sought-after producer in the pop industry, collaborating with artists like Madonna, Diplo, Vince Staples, Camila Cabello, Kim Petras, and Charli XCX.
She debuted with the single “Nothing More to Say” in 2013 and gained recognition with the avant-garde tracks “Bipp” and “Lemonade.” Sophie aimed to challenge pop music conventions, believing electronic music shouldn’t rely on outdated instruments. Her 2018 debut album, “Oil Of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides,” earned a Grammy nomination for best dance/electronic album.
A few months after Sophie’s death, her brother Ben shared with Billboard that she had “literally hundreds of tracks” stored away. He emphasized his intention to honor Sophie’s wishes in deciding what to release, avoiding the temptation to release everything indiscriminately, as some tracks were unfinished or not intended for release.
He felt confident about the direction for many songs, given their collaborative work on mixing the album. The family announced that the forthcoming self-titled album would be Sophie’s final release and would include contributions from her most valued collaborators. They also debuted the first single, “Reason Why,” featuring guest vocals from Kim Petras and BC Kingdom.
In their announcement of the new album, Sophie’s family stated: “Sophie didn’t often speak publicly of her private life, preferring to put everything she wanted to articulate in her music.
“It feels only right to share with the world the music she hoped to release, in the belief that we can all connect with her in this, the form she loved most.
“Sophie gave all of herself to her music. It’s here that she can always be found.”
