Police launch probe into death of Grammy-nominated ‘trans icon’ and Scottish DJ Sophie Xeon, 34, who died ‘after she slipped and fell from rooftop of three-storey building in Athens while trying to take a photo of the full moon’
- The Scottish artist had worked with stars including Madonna and Charlie XCX
- Statement from transgender star’s team hailed her as a ‘pioneer of new sound’
- Musicians and fans took to Twitter on Saturday to pay tribute to the star
- She came out as a transgender woman in 2017 in video It’s Okay to Cry
Grammy-nominated ‘trans icon’ Sophie Xeon has died at age 34 after falling from a rooftop in Athens while ‘trying to take a picture of the full moon’.
The Scottish artist, who was also known as SOPHIE, ‘accidentally slipped and fell’ in the Greek capital, record label Transgressive, announced on Twitter.
A senior police official confirmed to MailOnline the artist fell from the rooftop of a three-story building in central Athens while trying to take a picture of the full moon.
‘The exact conditions of the fall are being investigated by police in central Athens,’ a senior official said. ‘The investigation is ongoing.’
The Glasgow-born electronic pop artist had been in the company of two friends, the details of whom were not revealed by authorities.
Sources said Sophie was rushed to the Attikon Hospital in Athens where her death was recorded under the name Samuel Long.
Foul play has been ruled out.
The building, nestled in the district of Plateia Karaiskaki in central Athens, was cordoned off special investigators on Sunday, scouring the roof terrace for clues.
Sam Smith and Rita Ora have led tributes to DJ and producer Sophie, who came out as a transgender woman in 2017 in the video It’s Okay to Cry, and had worked with stars including Madonna and Charlie XCX.
Grammy-nominated musician Sophie Xeon has died after a ‘sudden accident’ aged 34
The artist’s record label, Transgressive, announced on Twitter that the star ‘slipped and fell’ in the Greek capital Athens after climbing to ‘watch the full moon’
Singer Sam Smith wrote of the death of the Grammy-nominated artist: ‘Heartbreaking news. The world has lost an angel.
‘A true visionary and icon of our generation. Your light will continue to inspire so many for generations to come. Thinking of Sophie’s family and friends at this hard time.’
Rita Ora wrote: ‘Sending all my love and prayers to Sophie’s family and friends.’
Chic frontman Nile Rodgers shared a picture of them together and remembered working with Sophie when he curated the Meltdown festival at London’s Southbank Centre.
‘RestInPower SOPHIE. You were one of the most innovative, dynamic, and warm persons I had the pleasure of working with at 2019 Southbank Centre,’ Rodgers wrote. ?
US producer and singer-songwriter Finneas wrote on Twitter: ‘Rest In Peace to Sophie.
‘I found myself so consistently inspired by her and in awe of her production. Heartbroken to hear this.’
The Scottish artist had worked with stars including Madonna and Charlie XCX
Sophie, who was a transgender woman, co-wrote Madonna’s 2015 single B**** I’m Madonna and worked with pop singer Charli XCX on hits such as After The Afterparty and the EP Vroom Vroom.
The musician and producer, known for experimental music, began releasing music in 2013.
Sophie’s debut compilation, Product, in 2015, featured break-out singles Bipp and Lemonade.
A statement from Transgressive said: ‘Tragically our beautiful Sophie passed away this morning after a terrible accident.
‘True to her spirituality she had climbed up to watch the full moon and accidentally slipped and fell.’
‘She will always be here with us.
‘The family thank everyone for their love and support and request privacy at this devastating time.’
A further statement from SOPHIE’s team, reported by the Metro, hailed her as a ‘pioneer of new sound’.
The statement read: ‘It is with profound sadness that I have to inform you that musician and producer SOPHIE passed away this morning around 4am in Athens, where the artist had been living, following a sudden accident.’
‘At this time respect and privacy for the family is our priority.
‘We would also ask for respect for her fanbase, and to treat the private nature of this news with sensitivity.’
French singer-songwriter Christine and the Queens said SOPHIE was ‘a stellar producer, a visionary and a reference’.
She added: ‘She rebelled against the narrow, normative society by being an absolute triumph, both as an artist and as a woman.
The singer, pictured above in California in 2016, was born in Glasgow and started out as a DJ before releasing her debut single in 2013
SOPHIE went on to produce hits for Madonna before making a solo comeback with the track and video in which she came out as transgender
‘I can’t believe she is gone. We need to honor and respect her memory and legacy. Cherish the pioneers.’
One transgender fan tweeted: ‘As a trans woman, Sophie’s music and message of empowerment means so much to me- more than I could ever put to words.
‘She is and will always be a true icon of the community who gave us a voice and an outlet.’
Speaking in 2018 after coming out as transgender, SOPHIE said: ‘It means there’s no longer an expectation based on the body you were born into, or how your life should play out and how it should end.
‘Traditional family models and structures of control disappear.
‘Transness is taking control to bring your body more in line with your soul and spirit so the two aren’t fighting against each other and struggling to survive.’
The singer was born in Glasgow and started out as a DJ before releasing her debut single in 2013.
Her next single Lemonade/Hard was loved by critics. She then produced English singer Charlie XCX’s EP Vroom Vroom.
SOPHIE went on to produce hits for Madonna before making a solo comeback with the track and video in which she came out as transgender.
Her first and only album was released in 2018 and was nominated for best dance/electronic album at the Grammy’s.
Only two days before her death, her record label released her latest single, UNISIL.
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