Sophie (musician)

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Sophie
Sophieinmelbourne.jpg
Sophie performing at the 2016 Melbourne Laneway Festival
Background information
Birth name Samuel Long[1]
Origin London, United Kingdom
Genres
Occupation(s) Producer, DJ
Instruments Elektron Monomachine
Years active 2011–present
Labels Huntleys & Palmers, Numbers, PC Music
Associated acts A. G. Cook, QT, Le1f, Liz, GFOTY, Charli XCX, Madonna
Website shop.msmsmsm.com

Samuel Long is a London-based electronic music producer who works under the stage name Sophie (stylised as SOPHIE). He came to prominence in 2013 with his single "Bipp"/"Elle" and released "Lemonade"/"Hard" the following year. He has worked closely with artists from the PC Music label and produced for acts including Charli XCX, Liz, Le1f, QT, Madonna and Namie Amuro. Sophie's music has been described as a "hyperkinetic" take on pop music, and typically features high-pitched female vocals and an attention to synthesized electronic textures. His debut album Product was released in 2015.

History

Sophie was in a band named Motherland (Sabine Gottfried, Matthew Lutz-Kinoy and Marcella Dvsi) and later collaborated with his bandmate Matthew Lutz-Kinoy on a series of performance works.[3] In 2011 he scored the short film Dear Mr/Mrs by Dutch team Freudenthal/Verhagen.[4] Sophie became involved with artists on the PC Music label after encountering Dux Kidz, a project between A. G. Cook and Danny L Harle.[5]

He released his debut single "Nothing More to Say" in February 2013. Its follow-up "Bipp"/"Elle" was released on Numbers later that year.[4] "Bipp" drew attention from music critics for omitting a traditional drum beat to prominently feature a bouncy bassline.[6] The song received attention from music critics, topping XLR8R's year-end list and placing 17 on Pitchfork Media's.[7][8] Pitchfork later ranked "Bipp" 56 on its list of the best tracks from 2010–2014.[9] B-side "Elle" features a more powerful drum beat, drawing comparisons to TNGHT and Rustie.[10][11]

Sophie (left) produced "Hey QT" with A. G. Cook (right).

In mid 2014, Sophie collaborated with Japanese pop singer Kyary Pamyu Pamyu.[12] His next two singles came in August 2014. Numbers released "Lemonade"/"Hard" as a 12" single, with vocal contributions by PC Music artist GFOTY.[13] Both tracks appeared on the Billboard Twitter Real-Time charts.[2] "Lemonade" and "Hard" placed 68th and 91st respectively on the 2014 Pazz & Jop critics poll. "Lemonade" was in the top ten of year-end singles lists by The Washington Post, Resident Advisor, and Complex;[14][15][16] "Hard" was in the top ten on lists by Dazed and Dummy.[17][18] Pitchfork ranked "Lemonade"/"Hard" at 21 on its list of the best songs of 2014.[19] "Lemonade" appeared in a 2015 commercial for McDonald's.[20] "Hey QT" was a collaboration with A. G. Cook and pop singer QT. The project included an energy drink called the QT Energy Elixir, and at the singer's request, "Hey QT" repeats the drink's name for product placement.[21]

In March 2015, Charli XCX announced a collaboration with Sophie. It was later revealed the pair had worked on multiple songs for her upcoming studio album.[22] In September 2015, SOPHIE's debut album Product was made available for preorder. The eight tracks listed were the four Numbers singles from 2013 and 2014, as well as four new tracks: "Msmsmsm", "Vyzee", "L.O.V.E.", and "Just Like We Never Said Goodbye". "Msmsmsm" was released on 29 September,[23] and released "Just Like We Never Said Goodbye" on 15 October.[24]

In Feruary 2016, Charli XCX released her Vroom Vroom EP, produced primarily by Sophie.[25] It was the revealed that the extended play would act as the teaser for XCX's 2016 album, with other producers including BloodPop and Stargate. In a couple of months after the release of the extended play, Sophie, A. G. Cook and Hannah Diamond, all of which played their part into creating the Vroom Vroom EP, were starred in the official video for the lead single, entitled "Vroom Vroom". It was first premiered at Apple Music and released on all platforms later. In 2016 SOPHIE signed with PC Music.

Artistry

Sophie primarily uses the Elektron Monomachine and software to develop his music.[26] Instead of sampling, he builds the instrumentals from waveforms.[2] Likening the construction of a track to building a sculpture out of different materials, he uses the Monomachine to create sounds resembling "latex, balloons, bubbles, metal, plastic, [and] elastic".[2][26] Sophie's music features an exaggerated sense of cuteness.[27] The Fader likened it to "K-Pop, J-Pop, Eurodance at its most chaotic, and even turn of the millennium American/UK boybandisms."[28] AllMusic wrote that his "sophisticated, hyperkinetic productions" typically make use of high-pitched female vocals in addition to "sugary synthesizer textures, and beats drawing from underground dance music styles."[29][2]

Sophie remained anonymous for some time, concealing himself in interviews by masking his voice or covering parts of himself.[4][12] At one Boiler Room show, he recruited drag performer Ben Woozy to mime a DJ set while Sophie pretended to be a bodyguard.[30] He decided on the moniker Sophie because he thought "it tastes good and it's like moisturizer."[4] His early visuals came from a series of colourful images he refers to as "Homemade Molecular Cooking".[4] His single covers often show objects made from plastic or other industrial materials, an idea that originated with discussions with John Roberts, a fellow electronic musician.[31] At the POPcube event, Sophie unveiled posters and postcards outlining the products to be offered through his online store, which include a set of wedge heels, a puffa jacket, and unique sunglasses.

Discography

Albums

Singles

Year Title Label
2013 "Nothing More to Say"/"EEEHHH" Huntleys & Palmers
"Bipp"/"Elle" Numbers
2014 "Lemonade"/"Hard" Numbers
2015 "MSMSMSM"/"Vyzee" Numbers
2015 "L.O.V.E."/"Just Like We Never Said Goodbye" Numbers
2016 "Silverware"/"Burn Rubber" PC Music

Remixes

Year Artist Title
2012 Auntie Flo "Highlife" (Sophie Remix)[4]
2013 Tiny Dancer "Who Am I" (Sophie MSMSMSM Remix)
2014 Paris Suit Yourself "Won't K" (Sophie Remix)
2015 Yelle "Moteur Action" (Sophie & A. G. Cook Remix)

Production discography

Year Artist Title Album
2014 QT "Hey QT" (with A.G. Cook) N/A
2015 Madonna "Bitch I'm Madonna" (feat. Nicki Minaj) Rebel Heart
2015 Namie Amuro "B Who I Want 2 B" (feat. Hatsune Miku) Genic
2015 Liz "When I Rule the World" N/A
2015 Le1f "Koi" Riot Boi
2015 Charli XCX "Vroom Vroom" Vroom Vroom EP
2016 "Paradise" (feat. Hannah Diamond)
"Trophy"
"Secret (Shh)"

References

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  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lee, Morgan. "StreamCharli XC's SOPHIE-produced Vroom Vroom EP. Fact Magazine.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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