When the mold-breaking, massively influential producer SOPHIE died suddenly in 2021, she left behind a lot of unreleased music. SOPHIE's self-titled posthumous album came out in 2024, and now we're about to get another record from her archives. This time around, it's a three-song collaboration with New Orleans bounce emissary Big Freedia, another energetic party facilitator with no use for gender boundaries.
It's been a decade since SOPHIE and Big Freedia worked together. In 2016, Freedia joined SOPHIE for a recording session at SOPHIE's home studio in Los Angeles, and they recorded three tracks together. None of them ever came out, but SOPHIE sometimes played tracks like "Blaze That Ass" in her DJ sets. The "Blaze That Ass" single is now scheduled to come out in a couple of weeks, with the full EP following next month.
In a press release, Big Freedia says, "Recording with SOPHIE is something I hold even closer to my heart now, especially after her passing. She was an artist who showed the world that living boldly is your greatest power. With this EP, I want to show the world how loved she was and still is!" SOPHIE's family says, "This collaboration was exciting to Sophie right from the start. Freedia’s energy and vocal power, a perfect match for her production. Their connection gave us these songs, all of them Sophie loved to play out, and we can’t wait to hear them in the club again."
In the meantime, Big Freedia is still out promoting Pressing Onward, the gospel album that she released last year, and she's got some live shows coming up.
TOUR DATES:
6/04 - Dallas, TX @ Deep Ellum Art Co.
6/05 - Austin, TX @ Mohawk Outside
6/06 - Houston, TX @ Herman Square Park
6/13 - Albany, NY @ Say It Outloud: BIPOC Pride (Washington Park Parade Ground)
6/17 - Cleveland Heights, OH @ Grog Shop
6/18 - Nelsonville, OH @ Nelsonville Music Festival
6/19 - Mount Solon, VA @ Red Wing Roots Festival
6/21 - Greenfield, MA @ Green River Festival (Franklin County Fairgrounds)
6/24 - New York, NY @ Blue Note Jazz Festival
6/25 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
6/26 - Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts
7/16 - Chicago, IL @ Outset
7/18 - St. Louis, MO @ Music at the Intersection
The as-yet-untitled SOPHIE/Big Freedia EP is out 6/19. The "Blaze That Ass" single is out 5/22.
