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Sophie (musician)

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Sophie
Sophie in San Francisco, California
Background information
Birth nameSamuel Long[1]
BornSeptember 17, 1985
OriginGlasgow, Scotland
Genres
Occupation(s)Producer, DJ
InstrumentElektron Monomachine
Years active2009-present
LabelsHuntleys & Palmers, Numbers, Vroom Vroom
Websitemsmsmsm.com

Samuel Long, known professionally as Sophie (stylized as SOPHIE) is a Los Angeles based record producer and DJ, who came to prominence with the singles "Bipp"/"Elle" and "Lemonade"/"Hard" in 2013 and 2014. Her music is described as a "hyperkinetic" take on pop music, and typically features high-pitched female vocals and artificial, synthesized electronic textures. She has worked closely with artists from the PC Music label, including A.G. Cook and QT, and has produced for acts such as Charli XCX, Vince Staples, Le1f, Madonna, Liz, and Namie Amuro.

Her singles compilation Product was released in 2015.

Career

2011-2014: Origins and early years

Long began her career in a band named Motherland (with bandmates Sabine Gottfried, Matthew Lutz-Kinoy, and Marcella Dvsi), and later collaborated with her bandmate Matthew Lutz-Kinoy on a series of performance works.[6] In 2011, she scored the short film Dear Mr/Mrs by Dutch team Freudenthal/Verhagen.[7] Sophie became involved with artists affiliated with the PC Music label after encountering Dux Kidz, a project between A. G. Cook and Danny L Harle.[8]

Sophie released her debut single "Nothing More to Say" in February 2013. Its follow-up, "Bipp"/"Elle", was released on Numbers later that year.[7] "Bipp" in particular received attention from music critics, topping XLR8R's year-end list and placing 17 on Pitchfork Media's.[9][10] Pitchfork later ranked "Bipp" 56 on its list of the best tracks from 2010–2014.[11] B-side "Elle" features a more powerful drum beat, drawing comparisons to TNGHT and Rustie.[12][13]

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

In mid 2014, Sophie collaborated with Japanese pop singer Kyary Pamyu Pamyu.[14] Her next two singles, "Lemonade"/"Hard", were released in August 2014, with vocal contributions from PC Music artist GFOTY. Numbers released "Lemonade"/"Hard" as a 12" single.[15] Both tracks appeared on the Billboard Twitter Real-Time charts.[3] "Lemonade" and "Hard" placed 68th and 91st respectively on the 2014 Pazz & Jop critics poll. "Lemonade" was included in the top ten of year-end singles lists by The Washington Post, Resident Advisor, and Complex;[16][17][18] "Hard" was included in the top ten on lists by Dazed and Dummy.[19][20] Pitchfork ranked "Lemonade"/"Hard" at 21 on its list of the best songs of 2014.[21] "Lemonade" appeared in a 2015 commercial for McDonald's.[22] In 2014, Sophie, in collaboration with A. G. Cook, produced the song "Hey QT" for pop singer QT. The project included an energy drink called the QT Energy Elixir. At the singer's request, "Hey QT" repeats the drink's name for product placement.[23]

2015–present: Product and other contributions

In March 2015, Charli XCX announced a collaboration with Sophie. It was later revealed that the pair had worked on multiple songs for her upcoming studio album.[24] 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,[25] and released "Just Like We Never Said Goodbye" on 15 October.[26]

In February 2016, Charli XCX released her Vroom Vroom EP, produced primarily by Sophie.[27] It was later revealed that the extended play would act as a teaser for XCX's upcoming album, which would be produced by Sophie. After the extended play's release, Sophie embarked on tour with Charli XCX in promotion of their new music. Sophie, along with A. G. Cook and Hannah Diamond, who were also involved with the EP, received cameos in the official video for the lead single, "Vroom Vroom". The video was premiered on Apple Music and other platforms soon after.

In late 2016, Sophie acted as an additional producer on Charli XCX's song "After the Afterparty", which features vocals from Lil Yachty. The song is the first single from XCX's upcoming third studio album. Sophie cameos in the single's official music video. Sophie also received production credits for two songs on XCX's 2017 mixtape Number 1 Angel.

In January 2017, it was announced that Sophie was working with record producer Cashmere Cat. She appears on "Love Incredible", alongside former Fifth Harmony member Camila Cabello, and "9 (After Coachella)" with MØ.

Sound and image

"Bipp" (2013)
"Bipp" features a pitch-shifted vocal over a minimal rhythm that uses a flanging effect.[12]
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Sophie primarily uses the Elektron Monomachine and software to develop her music.[28] Instead of sampling, she builds the instrumentals from waveforms.[3] Likening the construction of a track to building a sculpture out of different materials, she uses the Monomachine to create sounds resembling "latex, balloons, bubbles, metal, plastic, [and] elastic."[3][28] Her music features an exaggerated sense of cuteness.[29] AllMusic wrote that her "sophisticated, hyperkinetic productions" feature a "surrealist, blatantly artificial quality," typically making use of high-pitched female vocals in addition to "sugary synthesizer textures, and beats drawing from underground dance music styles."[4] The New York Times described her work as "giddy fun, but it’s also an invitation to consider pop’s pleasures, structures and gender expectations, and pop’s commercial status as both a consumer item and an emotional catalyst."[30] The Fader likened it to "K-Pop, J-Pop, Eurodance at its most chaotic, and even turn of the millennium American/UK boybandisms."[31] When Billboard asked Sophie what genre her music falls under, she replied "advertising."[32]

Sophie remained anonymous for some time, concealing herself in interviews by masking her voice or covering parts of herself.[7][14] At one Boiler Room show, she recruited drag performer Ben Woozy to mime a DJ set while Sophie pretended to be a bodyguard.[33] She decided on the moniker Sophie because he thought "it tastes good and it's like moisturizer."[7] Her early visuals came from a series of colourful images he refers to as "Homemade Molecular Cooking".[7] Her 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.[34] At the POPcube event, Sophie unveiled posters and postcards outlining the products to be offered through her online store, which include a set of wedge heels, a puffa jacket, and unique sunglasses. Although these products were offered for sale when her album dropped, they were immediately sold out except for the body safe silicone product bundled with a special edition album raising suspicions that these auxiliary products were never real.

Discography

Albums

Singles

Year Title Album
2013 "Nothing More to Say"/"EEEHHH" Non-album single
"Bipp"/"Elle" Product
2014 "Lemonade"/"Hard"
2015 "MSMSMSM"/"Vyzee"
"L.O.V.E."/"Just Like We Never Said Goodbye"
2017 "It's Ok To Cry" Upcoming Release
Title Year Artist(s) Album
"Nothing More to Say"
(featuring Sophie) 		2013 Skream & Pete Tong All Gone Miami
"9 (After Coachella)"
(featuring MØ & Sophie) 		2017 Cashmere Cat 9

Remixes

Year Artist Title
2012 Auntie Flo "Highlife" (Sophie Remix)[7]
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) 		Non-album single
2015 Madonna "Bitch I'm Madonna"
(feat. Nicki Minaj) 		Rebel Heart
Namie Amuro "B Who I Want 2 B"
(feat. Hatsune Miku) 		Genic
Liz "When I Rule the World" Non-album single
Le1f "Koi" Riot Boi
Charli XCX "Vroom Vroom" Vroom Vroom EP
2016 "Paradise"
(feat. Hannah Diamond)
"Trophy"
"Secret (Shh)"
"After the Afterparty"
(feat. Lil Yachty) 		TBA
2017 Cashmere Cat "Love Incredible"
(feat. Camila Cabello) 		9
Brooke Candy "Oh Yeah" The Daddy Issues
Charli XCX "Roll With Me" Number 1 Angel
"Lipgloss"
(feat. Cupcakke)
Cashmere Cat "9 (After Coachella)"
(feat. MØ and Sophie) 		9
MØ "Nights with You" TBA
Quay Dash "Bossed Up" Transphobic
Vince Staples "Yeah Right"
(feat. Kendrick Lamar and Kučka) 		Big Fish Theory
"SAMO"
(feat. A$AP Rocky)
Banoffee "Ripe" TBA
Lunice "Drop Down"
(feat. SOPHIE & Le1f) 		CCCLX
Superfruit "Fantasy" Future Friends
Quay Dash "Queen Of This Shit" TBA

References

  1. ^ "ACE Title Search". American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  2. ^ Fitzmaurice, Larry. "Sophie". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d Grant, Kristin Westcott (19 August 2014). "U.K. Producer Sophie Q&A: On Secrecy, Synthesis & What's Next". Billboard. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  4. ^ a b Simpson, Paul. "Sophie - Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  5. ^ Day, Laurence. "Sophie reveals piercing new single "L.O.V.E."". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  6. ^ Russell, Legacy (11 January 2012). "Expanded Benefits: Matthew Lutz-Kinoy and Sophie". Bomb. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Fitzmaurice, Larry (10 October 2013). "Rising: Sophie". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  8. ^ Bulut, Selim (24 February 2015). "Next: Danny L Harle". Dummy. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  9. ^ Powell, Mike (16 December 2013). "The Top Tracks of 2013". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  10. ^ Reynaldo, Shawn (13 December 2013). "XLR8R's Best of 2013: Tracks". XLR8R. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  11. ^ Gaerig, Andrew (18 August 2014). "The 200 Best Tracks of the Decade So Far (2010–2014)". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  12. ^ a b Ryce, Andrew (9 July 2013). "Sophie – Bipp / Elle on Numbers (Single)". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  13. ^ Fitzmaurice, Larry (17 June 2013). "Sophie: "Elle"". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
  14. ^ a b Denney, Alex (2014). "Kyary Pamyu Pamyu gets kawaii with Sophie". Dazed & Confused. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  15. ^ Liu, Nelson (2 October 2014). "Maxo 'Not That Bad' ft. GFOTY". Mass Appeal. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  16. ^ Richards, Chriss (23 December 2014). "The Top 50 Singles of 2014". The Washington Post. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  17. ^ "RA Poll: Top 50 tracks of 2014". Resident Advisor. 19 December 2014. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  18. ^ "5. Sophie — 'Lemonade'". Complex. 19 December 2014. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  19. ^ Cliff, Aimee. "The top 20 tracks of 2014". Dazed. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  20. ^ Bulut, Selim (8 December 2014). "The 20 best tracks of 2014". Dummy. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  21. ^ "The 100 Best Tracks of 2014". Pitchfork Media. December 2014. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  22. ^ Helman, Peter (6 July 2015). "Sophie's 'Lemonade' Soundtracks A McDonald's Commercial". Stereogum. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  23. ^ Lea, Tom (9 September 2014). "Hey QT! An interview with 2014's most love-her-or-hate-her pop star". Fact. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
  24. ^ "Charli XCX teases Sophie collaboration". DIY. 28 March 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  25. ^ "Sophie – "Just Like We Never Said Goodbye"". Consequence of Sound. 30 September 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  26. ^ "Sophie – "Just Like We Never Said Goodbye"". Stereogum. 15 October 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  27. ^ Lee, Morgan. "StreamCharli XC's Sophie-produced Vroom Vroom EP. Fact Magazine.
  28. ^ a b Sterner, Daniel (2014). "Sophie". Elektron. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  29. ^ Kretowicz, Steph (26 June 2014). "You're Too Cute: Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, Sophie, PC Music and the Aesthetic of Excess". The Fader. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  30. ^ Pareles, Jon. "With 'Product,' Sophie Swarms the Senses With Synthetic Sounds". The New York Times. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  31. ^ Turner, David (4 August 2014). "Sophie Debuts New Song 'Hard' on Rinse FM". The Fader. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  32. ^ Lin, Yu-Cheng. "SOPHIE: A Beginner's Guide to a Hyperpop Mystery". Red Bull Music Academy. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  33. ^ Abellera, Jazper (13 October 2014). "Sophie Is Trolling EDM By Spitting Its Cult of Personality Back Into Its Face". Vice. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  34. ^ Roberts, John (16 January 2013). "Sophie". 'SUP Magazine (25). Archived from the original on 15 January 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
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