A collection of songs that inspired hyper-pop star Sophie to greatness
From the moment she released her debut album, ethereal electronic producer and songwriter Sophie invited the world into her sonic embrace. 2018’s Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides gained the singer a Grammy nomination not just because it appeared more futuristic and innovative than her hyper-pop peers but also because it pushed the boundaries of electronic music while effortlessly wading through various genres.
Although her tragic death in 2021 cut short what was undeniably the beginning of a long and successful career, Sophie had already achieved a level of innovation that most strive for over a much more extended period. This creative path was ingrained in her from an early age, setting the stage for a short but incredible journey.
Born in 1986 in Glasgow, Sophie’s father exposed her to the world of electronic and rave music and what life under the spotlight could look and feel like. “[He] had brilliant instincts, taking me to raves when I was very young,” she said in 2018. “He bought me the rave cassette tapes before I went to the events and would play them in the car and be like, ‘This is going to be important for you.’ […] As soon as I’d heard electronic music, I spent all my time listening to those cassette tapes. I’d steal them from the car.”
Sophie’s journey as a professional musician began in the 2010s when she started releasing her own music, which infused pop, electronic, and experimental sounds with catchy melodies and themes that many in the queer community and beyond resonated with. This included tackling struggles with sex, gender, identity, and acceptance.
Her first single, ‘Nothing More to Say’, proved her ability to craft raw and authentic songs with a fun and upbeat arrangement. As she put it at the time: “I try to make music which is fun to dance to—that should be the loudest voice talking.”
She added: “I think it would be extremely exciting if music could take you on the same sort of high-thrill three-minute ride as a theme park roller coaster.”
Sophie’s hyperrealistic soundscapes continued to be a common thread throughout Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides, resulting in an accessible sound that was both nostalgic and groundbreaking. Her music transcends both genre and gender, inspiring not just many other electronic and hyper-pop musicians to break new ground but also providing a necessary figurehead that other trans people can look up to.
For Sophie, trans self-expression meant being honest about shared experiences, coming to terms with adversity, and remaining hopeful for the future and the possibilities of acceptance. Looking back only gets you so far; moving on was the real key to happiness in artistic expression. As she once put it: “There’s no more rules here. The point is you are given the authority to choose yourself what feels right.”
As someone who also regarded the greatest pop songs as the ones that are the brightest and loudest, many of her favourite tracks represented just that. The world Sophie created felt similar to Roald Dahl’s coveted universe of chocolatier viscera—which likely explained her appreciation for Gene Wilder’s hypnotic ‘Pure Imagination’. As soon as the Wilder begins with the familiar beckon, “Come with me…and you’ll be…” It’s clear there are worlds of endless possibilities, and that’s precisely what Sophie envisioned.
Discussing her favourites during a talk in London in 2019, it’s clear that her picks were also a testament to her eclectic taste, seamlessly blending the catchy hooks of pop with the rebellious edge of rock and the pulsating rhythms of electronic music.
Sophie’s favourite songs:
- ‘Pure Imagination’ – Gene Wilder
- ‘Feeling so Real’ – Moby
- ‘West End Girls’ – Pet Shop Boys
- ‘2 Become 1’ – Spice Girls
- ‘Firestarter’ – The Prodigy
- ‘Barely Breaking Even (Club Version)’ – Universal Robot Band
- ‘LCC’ – Autechre
- ‘Largo’ – Handel
- ‘There but for the Grace of God (Joey Negro Club Mix)’ – Fire Island
- ‘We R Who We R’ – Kesha
