This year marks the 5th anniversary of the passing of music producer Sophie Xeon. Born in 1986 in the United Kingdom, Sophie’s relationship with music began in adolescence; her father frequently exposed Sophie to rave music and cassettes, immersing her in alternative sounds. In her teenage years, she received a keyboard from her family. From then on, Sophie was enveloped by music production, even attempting to drop out of school to pursue music as a career. Hailed around the world for effortlessly blending metallic textures and industrial-style beats, Sophie pioneered the genre we now dub hyperpop. 

Her 2018 breakthrough album, Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides, cemented her status as an experimental visionary in electronic music. Tracks like Immaterial and Faceshopping emerge from the intimate understanding of the transgender experience. Immaterial is honed as an anthem for transgenders alike, its lyricism reflecting the ability to transcend the material body. For trans people, gender has never been a fixed point; instead, it moves as an immaterial exchange between body and spirit. Faceshopping dives into the industry’s obsession with authenticity, the idea being that the more face you show, the more real you are. Although the beauty industry is often predatory and insidious, it can provide trans women with a sense of femininity they were historically denied. In an interview with Vogue, Sophie relayed that cosmetic procedures were. “… a way to access something that is more authentic than what I inherited or was born with. I noticed feeling more free, representing how I feel inside on the outside.” The song is often associated with Facial Feminization Surgery or FFS. A drag show dedicated to Sophie’s legacy at Queer Bar this January, playing Faceshopping, pointed the spotlight at a trans woman who had recently undergone FFS. Her face, wrapped in gauze, features pulled back tightly, sporting a black eye. She was beautiful. As soon as the light was cast on her, the crowd erupted.

Aside from Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides, her PRODUCT album from 2015, showcases that signature Sophie sound with deep bass, wide spaces, and bubbly overtone. Personal favorites include HARD,  GET HIGHER, and ELLE. The unfinished feel of the album, coupled with limited lyrics, opens up a blank space, songs like UNISIL oddly making concentration possible. In fact, when I am in the Odegard quiet space – hours behind a deadline for an assignment– this is the sole album that helps me gain focus.

Two years ago, her posthumous album was released, featuring artists like Kim Petras and Evita Manji. Although far tamer and falling short of that abrasive Sophie sound, Berlin Nightmare and Reason Why are tracks worth exploring.

Sophie’s music often reached far beyond the hyperpop bubble. In 2015, McDonald’s purchased the rights to Lemonade, one of Sophie’s most notable songs. Bubbly and effervescent, the electronic sound was used to advertise McDonald’s frozen lemonades. Despite fans widely believing the track alludes to a piss kink, the commercial gained traction across the United States.

Recently, a close friend shared a song by Vince Staples, claiming it had a Sophie-esque feel. At first, I was skeptical that Sophie and Vince Staples would be involved on a project together, both artists with such differing styles. Less than ten seconds in, I heard that distinctive beat that I had grown to love. Sophie not only set herself apart with her sound but also with the wide range of artists she collaborated with. Charli XCX, Madonna, Kendrick Lamar, ShyGirl, and Arca, to name a few. Following her death, artists like A.G. Cook & Charli XCX openly credit Sophie as a massive source of inspiration when producing their own music. 

Perhaps the most defining aspect of Sophie’s legacy is her impact on the transgender community. There is a 99% guarantee that any trans girl is familiar with her discography, or at least her name, serving as an instant point of connection. At the start of my transition, Sophie’s music helped me disregard public opinion entirely.

Sophie provides a raw and unapologetic femininity accessible to trans women that they have been traditionally excluded from. Womanhood can take on many forms and colors. Sophie’s music explores these possibilities. Her music serves as a beacon to all the trans girls out there who feel scared, unsure, or unseen. Sophie’s industrial beats collide with bubbly sounds, creating an undeniable assertion of transsexuality. Combining themes of traditional femininity, commodification, and queerness, she created a discography that will resonate with the community for years to come.

Five years since her passing, Sophie remains deeply relevant– among the queer community, aspiring DJs, and as the hyperpop blueprint.