Charli XCX pays tribute to late friend SOPHIE: "I've never met anyone like her"

Charli XCX took an opportunity to pay tribute late friend and long-time collaborator SOPHIE in an interview with Apple Radio host Zane Lowe.

Charli XCX, real name Charlotte Aitchison, worked closely with SOPHIE on several of her previous releases - including her acclaimed 2016 'Vroom Vroom EP' and singles 'Girls Night Out' and 'No Angel'.

Read this next: SOPHIE: An icon who made music a more fearless place

Speaking to Zane Lowe on Apple Radio, in an interview that aired on Thursday, March 17, Charli XCX said: “She changed my life and she changed all of our lives... I’ve never met anyone like she and I don’t think I ever will. She can really give you confidence and power. SOPHIE held a lot of power just in the person that she was, let alone the music.

“There have been a few times in this album process where I have thought, oh what would SOPHIE think about this? Or what would SOPHIE tell me to do right now? And the answer always is: SOPHIE would just be like, ‘Do your thing, go for it, push yourself.’”

“She was always like, ‘Just sing with your voice. You sound great. Let’s do this like that.’ SOPHIE was just a champion of people that she believed in.

Read this next: Charli XCX: "I'm born to play in club and rave environments"

“And no matter what level you were as an artist, if you were a big artist or if you were her friend who was making music with her in her studio and no one else had heard any of the songs at all. She believed in those people.

“She thinks people are stars. And when she thinks you’re a star, she’s not going to let you do yourself an injustice by not going for it.”

In the liner notes for 'Crash', Charli XCX wrote, “This album is dedicated to Sophie”.

The full interview is available on Apple Music. 'Crash' is available on all major streaming platforms and to buy here.

Read this next: Mural dedicated to SOPHIE unveiled in Liverpool

Aneesa Ahmed is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow her on Twitter