Hyper pop pioneer Sophie Xeon was honoured with a Google Doodle on Tuesday for what would have been her 38th birthday.
The Scottish DJ and producer, who died aged 34 in 2021, is remembered for her “acclaimed experimental pop and electronic music” - the search engine has said.
The Google Doodle is a montage of cartoon drawing clips set to Immaterial, a song from her first album Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides.
Sophie’s tribute can be found on the homepage of Google and is visible in the UK as well as parts of Europe and South America for September 17.
Here is what made Sophie special.
Who was Sophie Xeon?
Sophie was critically regarded as a pioneer in pop sounds, with terms such as experimental pop, hyperpop, electronic pop and dance pop being applied to her production style.
She released one studio album in her lifetime, Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides in 2018 which came on the back of the 2015 compilation release, Product.
A posthumous LP, SOPHIE, featuring previously unreleased music, will be released on September 27.
Sophie is also well known for producing work for other artists, including work on Madonna’s Rebel Heart album and, particularly, for Charli XCX’s Vroom Vroom and Number 1 Angel EPs.
She was nominated for a Grammy in 2019 for Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides for Best Dance/Electronic Album.
“Music and the future were always at the centre of Sophie’s world,” a Google statement reads.
“While touring her own sets, as well as starting to produce pop music for other artists, Sophie and friends began developing ideas for her next era. With it she would introduce a more performative element.”
The statement added: “The future has always been a big part of Sophie, and we hope Sophie continues to be a big part of the future.
“As always with Sophie, exactly what comes next and what shape it takes remains to be seen. One thing is for sure, there is a lot more still to come.”
How did Sophie Xeon die?
Sophie died in 2021 following a “terrible accident” while at her home in Athens.
It was reported that she fell from the third storey of the building while trying to take a picture of the full moon.
Her death sparked widespread mourning across the industry.
Christine and the Queens wrote: “Sophie was a stellar producer, a visionary, a reference. She rebelled against the narrow, normative society by being an absolute triumph, both as an artist and as a woman.
“I can’t believe she is gone. We need to honour and respect her memory and legacy. Cherish the pioneers.”
