SOPHIE’s career ended abruptly when the visionary producer died in January 2021 at just 34. She had debuted new music months before and had collaborations with Jlin and Basside slated to come out. Little of SOPHIE’s music has been released since, but now, her career will get a coda: SOPHIE, a posthumous final album, is out September 27. SOPHIE had been working on the album with her brother and studio manager, Benny Long, and he completed the album after her death. SOPHIE follows the producer’s first album, Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides, released to acclaim in 2018. Below, everything we know about the posthumous project, including the newly-announced track list.
Why is the album being released?
“Sophie didn’t often speak publicly of her private life, preferring to put everything she wanted to articulate in her music,†her family said in a June 24 Instagram statement about the project. “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.â€
Who’s on the SOPHIE track list?
On September 17 — which, as the day’s Google Doodle reminded us, would have been SOPHIE’s 38th birthday — her estate released the track list. The 16-track project includes collaborations with Jozzy, Juliana Huxtable, Nina Kraviz, Kim Petras, BC Kingdom, LIZ, BIG SISTER, Popstar, Evita Manji, Bibi Bourelly, Hannah Diamond, Cecile Believe, and Doss.
Four songs have already been released as singles, including “Berlin Nightmare†with Evita Manji, “One More Time†with Popstar, and “Exhilarate†with Bibi Bourelly. The lead single from SOPHIE, “Reason Why,†was first released on June 24. The song features pop singer Kim Petras and R&B duo BC Kingdom. It’s far from a somber affair — a hazy club-pop track featuring an echoing, infinitely catchy hook from Petras. “Soph you’re still changing music!!!†Petras wrote on Instagram. “I’m so happy to have this piece of you with me, I love you forever.â€
This post has been updated.