/// I am a cis and straight person…
/// I am a cis and straight person ... identifying as the gender I was assigned at birth and attracted to a gender other than my own ... Other Good Souls can communicate more effectively to Sophie Xeon's social impact ( improvement during confronting and with immense-unique artistic creativity attempting to resolve inequities and injustices in transgender and queer communities ) ... but the power or ability to decide for oneself without influence from outside and pride authentically conveyed on the songs ~ It's Okay To Cry ... Faceshopping ... Is It Cold In The Water ~ are impressive and meaningful sound sculpting achievements ...
/// Dear Reader ... I am a straight ... cisgender man. Others will be able to speak more closely and powerfully about Sophie’s impact on transgender and queer communities ... but the mix of self-determination and pride displayed on ~ Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides’ lead single was profoundly inspiring ... This was the first time Sophie had emerged from faceless anonymity for a track ... a beautiful person with honed biceps and glossy lipstick who stared down the camera to coax out all of our vulnerabilities ... The vocal performance ... also Sophie’s first ... is astonishing: the soft vibrato denoting nervousness but also supple strength ... and the close ... bald vocal production allows you to hear every swallow ... as if Sophie is singing gently into a cupped hand around your ear ... This is a power ballad that reinvigorates the tired pop adage that you should be yourself ... coming as it did from someone who had a triumphantly nuanced and probably hard-won sense of identity ... Our culture has lost a singular talent ... who broadened not only pop but also the boundaries of the self ... Sincerely ... Ben Beaumont-Thomas ... music editor of the Guardian ///
