Mar 4
St. Vincent Explains How SOPHIE's Death Inspired a New Song
Kilian Melloy READ TIME: 2 MIN.
Singer-songwriter St. Vincent opened up about her new album "All Born Screaming," which includes the song "Sweetest Fruit," which she said was inspired by the way transgender producer SOPHIE died three years ago.
St. Vincent has never specified her sexuality, though she did tell Rolling Stone in 2014, "I believe in gender fluidity and sexual fluidity. I don't really identify as anything," and who was previously linked romantically to Cara Delevingne and Kristen Stewart. The "Cruel Summer" co-writer told UK newspaper the Guardian that she "was an admirer from afar" of SOPHIE, though she never met the Scottish music producer in person.
Cautioning that "I don't want it to be seen like I'm trying to capitalize on somebody's death," St. Vincent told the Guardian that she "read about the way that she fell because she was trying to get a better look at the moon, which was just the most beautiful, poetic thing I've ever heard."
The new album features collaborations with Dave Grohl (who told the Guardian that St. Vincent is "A total badass") and was, the newspaper account noted, written during the pandemic. The vibe of that time seems to characterize the album: "I was dealing with a lot of loss and literal life and death," St. Vincent told the outlet. "Death is very clarifying because you go, 'This matters, this doesn't.'"
NME said that St. Vincent reflected on how "Sweetest Fruit" is her take on "people trying for transcendence, and at least they were taking a big swing or trying for something beautiful".
St. Vincent went on to add that the album's first half is "base," with a second half that transcends the earlier part: "'Well we get to fucking live it, so let's grab it by the jugular,'" is how she described it.
Noting that St. Vincent's private life is a "closely guarded secret," the Guardian nonetheless ventured to ask whether she is currently in love.
"Of course, yeah," the singer disclosed. "I have the greatest love of my life," she added, though no details were forthcoming.
She did, however, offer the thought that "All we have is love and the people we love. That's it. It's the best thing and the only thing worth living for."
Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Associate Arts Editor and Staff Contributor. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.
