SOPHIE To Have Legacy Continued On Posthumous Final Album

Hyperpop trailblazer SOPHIE was known to be a prolific creator, with dozens of unreleased tracks for every one she gifted to the world. Her shock death in 2021 meant most of that work would be doomed to obsoletion – but now, thanks to her family and longtime collaborators, the most important chunk of her unreleased catalogue will indeed see the light of day.

The newly announced release comes in the form of SOPHIE’s second and final studio album – a self-titled effort that, according to a press release, was “close to completion when she tragically died” and has now been “lovingly finalised by those who hold her closest”.

It was notably brought over the finish line by SOPHIE’s longtime studio manager and “most trusted sounding board for over a decade”, Benny Long, who is credited extensively on her 2018 album Oil Of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides. It’s said that after they’d completed the latter record, they spent “several years developing the concept and production of this follow-up album”, with Long ensuring it stayed true to SOPHIE’s vision after her passing.

SOPHIE will be released on September 27 via Future Classic, with preorders available now – head here to secure yours.

The album’s announcement was accompanied by lead single Reason Why, which features guest vocals from Kim Petras and BC Kingdom. It was first debuted live by SOPHIE in 2018, hinting that her posthumous LP could feature more songs that were performed or otherwise previewed by the artist, but never formally released.

The aforementioned press release was accompanied by a statement from SOPHIE’s family, reading: “When we, SOPHIE’s family, took our first steps towards bringing this project to fruition we contacted the dear friends with whom she envisioned the album. We wrote, ‘We have been finding comfort in the music SOPHIE left us, it is a gift that we truly cherish as we try to find a way forward, with SOPHIE forever at the center of our worlds.

“SOPHIE didn’t often speak publicly of her private life, preferring to put everything she wanted to articulate in her music. It feels only right to share with the world the music she hoped to release, in the belief that we can all connect with her in this, the form she loved most.

“This album has always told the story of SOPHIE’s musical journey, a cacophony of skill and creative vision, eclipsing time and genre. Her unique sound world moves at an emotional level, encouraging the listener to intuitively embrace the ever-evolving landscape of light and dark, soft and hard, to the end of self-love and joyful self-acceptance. Emphasising contradictions of sound and material, SOPHIE’s work supersedes the pure aural to create the dimension she dreamed of.

“Now, it holds another poignant meaning, it tells a life story, from mysterious unknown, through wild clublands, to euphoric immateriality.

“SOPHIE gave all of herself to her music. It’s here that she can always be found.”

TheMusic.com.au gave Oil Of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides a four-star review, writing: “The powerful, hard-hitting synths are crazily addictive, and SOPHIE’s willingness to try out some genuinely new things is extremely commendable.”