Tributes have poured in for SOPHIE, as friends and colleagues react in disbelief to news of the Scottish electronic producer’s tragic, untimely death at the age of 34.
Remembrances have come from all corners of the music world, with everyone from Rina Sawayama to Jack Antonoff and Sam Smith sharing thoughts.
Sawayama called SOPHIE an icon and a visionary, saying that “the world and our community has lost a beautiful soul.”
what a privilege it was to share moments with u backstage at Pop 2 London 😔 thank u SOPHIE for everything pic.twitter.com/wZ5aNIwtlL
— RINA SLAYWAYAMA (@rinasawayama) January 30, 2021
Smith called the news “heartbreaking”, saying that “the world has lost an angel … your light will continue to inspire so many for generations to come.”
Heartbreaking news. The world has lost an angel. A true visionary and icon of our generation. Your light will continue to inspire so many for generations to come. Thinking of Sophie’s family and friends at this hard time ❤️ pic.twitter.com/7qr4aI0DDi
— SAM SMITH (@samsmith) January 30, 2021
Antonoff called the loss “huge”, saying that SOPHIE’s influence can be heard in every corner of music, and that she was “an artist who truly had the ideas first and the guts to put it out there.”
an artist who truly had the ideas first and the guts to put it out there. i was never in the same room as sophie but have felt her presence countless times through her work.
— jackantonoff (@jackantonoff) January 30, 2021
Australia’s Tkay Maidza said that “everything she touched was exciting, fearless and beyond innovative”.
everything she touched was exciting, fearless and beyond innovative – you could really feel her soul in the music so beautiful, raw & fearless. i’m so thankful to have existed in a time where i could be inspired by sophie in real time. god bless
— yung gra$$hopper 🦗💗 (@TKAYMAIDZA) January 30, 2021
Numerous others paid tribute, including Christine and the Queens, Shamir, Rebecca Black, Slayyyter, CupcakKe and Drag Race star Aquaria.
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
— Christine and the queens (@QueensChristine) January 30, 2021
This SOPHIE news really sucks… aside from being a literal genius she was just a genuinely caring person. Rest easy my love 🦋 pic.twitter.com/HpLEl11cE9
— Shamir (@ShamirBailey) January 30, 2021
https://twitter.com/CupcakKe_rapper/status/1355538650709291010?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
I’m having a hard time finding the words that could speak to what i’m feeling right now…SOPHIE was a great. No one touched music how she did + her impact will be felt forever. Her work and what she embodied was incredibly important and special to me and i know to so many others pic.twitter.com/Qb6qmsnAcT
— Rebecca Black (@MsRebeccaBlack) January 30, 2021
🤍 Sophie is incredible. Her music is the soundtrack to some of my fondest moments and her impact on the world is apparent. Sophie’s immense talent, influence, and existence will never be forgotten. Thank you for everything 🤍 pic.twitter.com/DAg4Rm0U4R
— Aquaria 🤌🏼 (@aquariaofficial) January 30, 2021
she invented a new style and sound and her influence will live forever in music. she inspired me so much. rest in peace sophie. pic.twitter.com/FxrCww9Bap
— ms. new breasts (@slayyyter) January 30, 2021
https://twitter.com/MunroeBergdorf/status/1355473604834697219?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1355473604834697219%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vulture.com%2F2021%2F01%2Fsophie-dead-at-34-sam-smith-finneas-celebrities-react.html
Per an official statement from her team, SOPHIE died following a “sudden accident” in Athens, where she had been living. The statement read, in part:
“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.”
R.I.P.
