Sophie (musician)

2011-2014: Origins and early years

Long began his career in a band named Motherland (with bandmates Sabine Gottfried, Matthew Lutz-Kinoy, and Marcella Dvsi), and later collaborated with his bandmate Matthew Lutz-Kinoy on a series of performance works. In 2011, he scored the short film Dear Mr/Mrs by Dutch team Freudenthal/Verhagen. 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.

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

In mid 2014, Sophie collaborated with Japanese pop singer Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. His 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. Both tracks appeared on the Billboard Twitter Real-Time charts. "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; "Hard" was included in the top ten on lists by Dazed and Dummy. Pitchfork ranked "Lemonade"/"Hard" at 21 on its list of the best songs of 2014. "Lemonade" appeared in a 2015 commercial for McDonald's. 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.

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. 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, and released "Just Like We Never Said Goodbye" on 15 October.

In February 2016, Charli XCX released her Vroom Vroom EP, produced primarily by Sophie. 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. He appears on "Love Incredible", alongside former Fifth Harmony member Camila Cabello, and "9 (After Coachella)" with MØ.

Sound and image

Sophie primarily uses the Elektron Monomachine and software to develop his music. Instead of sampling, he builds the instrumentals from waveforms. 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." His music features an exaggerated sense of cuteness. AllMusic wrote that his "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." The New York Times described his 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." The Fader likened it to "K-Pop, J-Pop, Eurodance at its most chaotic, and even turn of the millennium American/UK boybandisms." When Billboard asked Sophie what genre his music falls under, he replied "advertising."

Sophie remained anonymous for some time, concealing himself in interviews by masking his voice or covering parts of himself. At one Boiler Room show, he recruited drag performer Ben Woozy to mime a DJ set while Sophie pretended to be a bodyguard. He decided on the moniker Sophie because he thought "it tastes good and it's like moisturizer." His early visuals came from a series of colourful images he refers to as "Homemade Molecular Cooking". 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. 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. Although these products were offered for sale when his 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.

Albums