Sophie Francis

Sophie was born on 2 December 1998 in 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands but she used to live in St Francis Bay, South Africa, for a big part of her childhood.{{cite web|url=http://www.partyscene.nl/interviews/168093/nieuw-nederlands-talent-dj-sophie|title=Nieuw Nederlands talent: dj Sophie|first=Pieter|last=Hiemstra|date=February 15, 2017|publisher=Partyscene|language=nl}}{{cite web|url=http://sterrenoptv.nl/sophie-francis-dj-martin-garrix/|title=Sophie Francis wordt als DJ vergeleken met Martin Garrix|first=|last=|publisher=Sterren op TV|date=March 2, 2017|language=nl}} She moved to Sint-Oedenrode, Netherlands later with her parents.{{cite web|url=http://www.funx.nl/news/funx/31718-18-jarige-dj-sophie-francis-staat-op-de-grootste-festivals-ter-wereld|title=18-jarige DJ Sophie Francis staat op de grootste festivals ter wereld|first=|last=Elize|date=March 7, 2017|publisher=FunX.nl|language=nl}} From an early age, she had an interest in music.{{cite web|url=https://www.secretforestfestival.nl/artists/sophie-francis/|title=Sophie Francis|first=|last=|publisher=Secret Forest Festival|date=}} By the age of 9, she started playing piano and singing along to many songs.{{cite web|url=https://nieuws.nl/entertainment/20161030/dj-sophie-francis-17-de-vrouwelijke-martin-garrix/|title=Dj Sophie Francis (17): de vrouwelijke Martin Garrix|first=|last=kim|date=October 30, 2016|publisher=Nieuws.nl|language=nl|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813013458/https://nieuws.nl/entertainment/20161030/dj-sophie-francis-17-de-vrouwelijke-martin-garrix/|archive-date=August 13, 2017|df=}} At the age of 14, she had to do a school project at the International School of Eindhoven (ISE){{cite web|url=http://www.rtllive.nl/item/10903/dj_sophie_francis_18_vliegt_de_wereld_over|title=DJ Sophie Francis (18) vliegt de wereld over|first=Eddy|last=Jansen|date=February 15, 2017|publisher=RTL Live|language=nl}} where she should develop a new skill during 9 months,{{cite web|url=http://www.thenocturnaltimes.com/the-nocturnal-times-exclusive-interview-sophie-francis/|title=The Nocturnal Times Exclusive Interview: Sophie Francis|first=Charlie|last=McMillan|date=February 28, 2017|publisher=The Nocturnal Times}} and being so much into the music, she got inspired to do something with it for this project. Besides that, she also wanted to do something with people. When doing research she found a video of a DJ playing a live set who had a great connection with the crowd. As she loved the vibe and was amazed by how one person can transfer his energy to an entire crowd with music, she realized that "when you are a DJ, you have this special connection with people, I think that's amazing!".{{Citation|last=theboysofraannt|title=Sophie Francis {{!}} Ultra Music Festival 2017 Artist {{!}} An Interview|date=2017-03-23|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjWLpnIgQ18&t=212s|accessdate=2017-10-26}} She went to a music school in Eindhoven, where she began taking DJ lessons{{cite web|url=https://magazine.mediamarkt.nl/interview-sophie-francis/|title=Girlpower: opkomend talent Sophie Francis|first=|last=MediaMarkt|date=January 31, 2017|publisher=Media Markt Magazine|language=nl}}{{cite web|url=https://djmag.nl/features-magazine-ade/09182016-1412/sophie-francis-jong-getalenteerd|title=Sophie Francis, jong & getalenteerd!|first=|last=|date=September 18, 2016|publisher=DJ Mag NL|language=nl}} and met new friends who already began producing music,{{cite web|url=http://raannt.com/sophie-francis-ultra-music-festival-2017-artist-an-interview/|title=Sophie Francis {{!}} Ultra Music Festival 2017 Artist {{!}} An Interview|first=|last=|date=March 23, 2017|publisher=raannt}} kicking off her career two years before her graduation, achieved on 19 May 2017.

Her first residency was at a small bar Het Pumpke in her hometown of Sint-Oedenrode, when she was only 15 years old. Since then, she was regularly invited to perform at various events in the Netherlands. She began her career under the stage name "Sophie's Choice". In the summer of 2015, she signed with Always Management. She also performed at BCM in Mallorca. In October, due to a trademark conflict, she changed her stage name to "Sophie Francis" as a tribute to St Francis Bay, a town in South Africa where she grew up.{{cite web|url=http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/Local/Kouga-Express/dutch-dj-to-perform-at-st-francis-bay-20151215|title=Dutch DJ to perform at St Francis Bay|first=|last=|date=December 17, 2015|publisher=News24}} In late November, she was invited to South Africa for a tour, where she performed main-stage at The Ruins Festival in St Francis Bay and The Coco Club in Cape Town,{{cite web|url=http://myjoburg.com/sophie-francis-rising-young-dutch-dj-hits-sa/|title=Sophie Francis: Rising young Dutch DJ hits SA|first=|last=myjoburg|date=November 30, 2015|publisher=My Joburg|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913230949/http://myjoburg.com/sophie-francis-rising-young-dutch-dj-hits-sa/|archive-date=September 13, 2017|df=}}{{cite web|url=https://www.amsterdam-dance-event.nl/artists/sophie-francis/5154127/|title=Sophie Francis - Artists - Amsterdam Dance Event|first=|last=|publisher=Amsterdam Dance Event|date=}} as well as an appearance on national television. One day, she noticed that John Christian was announcing a new record label that supports new talents.{{cite web|url=http://www.festivalling.com/track-releases/sophie-francis-drop-of-a-dime/|title=Sophie Francis - Drop Of A Dime|first=Alexander|last=Bouten|date=March 1, 2016|publisher=Festivalling.com}} Afterwards, she caught the attention of Christian by sending some demos, and the two began working together to release Sophie's music on Christian's record label Freeway Recordings.

On 29 February 2016 she released "Drop of a Dime", her first single on Freeway Recordings,{{cite web|url=http://daily-beat.com/sophie-francis-makes-debut-on-freeway-recordings/|title=Sophie Francis Makes Debut on Freeway Recordings|first=Bradley J.|last=Callison|date=February 29, 2016|publisher=Daily Beat}}{{cite web|url=http://weraveyou.com/2016/03/sophie-francis-drop-of-a-dime/|title=Sophie Francis - Drop Of A Dime|first=Idris|last=Jones|date=March 2, 2016|publisher=We Rave You}} followed by her second single "Up in This",{{cite web|url=http://weraveyou.com/2016/04/premiere-sophie-francis-up-in-this/|title=Premiere: Sophie Francis - Up In This|first=Florito|last=Maniego|date=April 12, 2016|publisher=We Rave You}} which was described by EDMTunes as "a mainstage-ready banger" that "proves why the likes of Ummet Ozcan and Quintino have already thrown her support".{{cite web|url=http://www.edmtunes.com/2016/04/sophie-francis-up-in-this/|title=Sophie Francis Sets Sights on Stardom With "Up In This" Release|first=EDMTunes|last=Staff|date=April 25, 2016|publisher=EDMTunes}}

Her third single titled "Bad Boy"{{cite web|url=http://weraveyou.com/2016/05/sophie-francis-bad-boy/|title=Sophie Francis - Bad Boy|first=Idris|last=Jones|date=May 31, 2016|publisher=We Rave You}}{{cite web|url=http://crssbeat.com/sophie-francis-bad-boy/|title=Sophie Francis - Bad Boy|first=|last=Chris|date=June 1, 2016|publisher=crssbeat}} was released on 20 June, and later on she released the track "Annihilate" as a free download, which received over 2 million plays on SoundCloud.

During summer she also performed main-stage at festivals across the Netherlands and Spain, such as Paellas Universitarias for 35,000 people in Valencia, as well as a concert residency at BCM Mallorca as 'New Discovery' special guest, playing once a week for two months before main guests like Steve Aoki, Nervo, Vinai and Martin Garrix with whom she performed as well a back-to-back.{{cite web|url=https://www.planetzone.nl/18-jarige-nederlandse-djproducer-sophie-francis-tekent-spinnin-records/|title=18-jarige Nederlandse DJ/producer Sophie Francis tekent bij Spinnin' Records|first=|last=|date=|publisher=PlanetZone|language=nl}}

On 23 September she released her first vocal track "Walls" on Powerhouse Music.{{cite web|url=http://nlpop.blog.nl/dance/2016/10/02/hit-of-shit-sophie-francis-walls-video|title=Hit of Shit: Sophie Francis - Walls (video)|first=Marcus|last=Lucas|date=October 2, 2016|publisher=NLpop|language=nl}} The track entered the playlists of Dutch national radio stations such as Radio 538, SLAM! and NPO 3FM, reached the Top 30 on the Dutch Airplay chart, as well as became a Dance Smash on 538{{cite web|url=http://www.mooirooi.nl/nieuws/human-interest/38132/rooise-dj-scoort-538-dance-smash|title=Rooise DJ scoort 538 Dance Smash|first=|last=|date=October 28, 2016|publisher=DeMooiRooiKrant|language=nl}} and received 94% of likes from 538 listeners on the item 'Maak 't of kraak 't' (Make it or break it).

In October, she performed at the Amsterdam Dance Event for the first time, playing on a bus, touring the Dutch capital as well as she was a guest at Giel on NPO 3FM.{{cite web|url=http://www.npo3fm.nl/nieuws/3fm/365579-is-sophie-francis-de-vrouwelijke-martin-garrix|title=Is Sophie Francis de vrouwelijke Martin Garrix?|first=|last=|date=October 19, 2016|publisher=NPO 3FM|language=nl}}

On 9 November she was a guest and performed at Bij Igmar on SLAM!.{{cite web|url=https://www.slam.nl/sophie-francis-draait-heerlijke-set/|title=Sophie Francis draait heerlijke set|first=|last=|date=November 10, 2016|publisher=SLAM!|language=nl}} That same month, she released "Don't Stop" on Dirty Dutch Music.{{cite web|url=http://earmilk.com/2016/11/17/introducing-sophie-francis-and-dont-stop/|title=Introducing Sophie Francis and "Don't Stop"|first=Steph|last=Evans|date=November 17, 2016|publisher=Earmilk}} In December, she performed at the Glazen Huis in Breda.{{cite web|url=https://drimble.nl/regio/noord-brabant/eindhoven/40469152/sophie-francis-in-het-glazen-huis.html|title=Sophie Francis in het glazen huis|first=|last=|date=December 22, 2016|publisher=Drimble|language=nl}}

By the end of 2016, Sophie Francis is an in-demand artist getting booking requests from the UK, Belgium, France, Germany, US, India, China, Vietnam, Japan and UAE, but balancing the fact that she is still a high school student, working daily to find a balance between her career and her studies.

On 30 January Sophie Francis signed a deal with renowned dance label Spinnin' Records, which she said was "a dream coming true".{{cite web|url=https://www.spinninrecords.com/news/2017/01/30/sophie-francis-signs-with-spinnin-records|title=Sophie Francis signs with Spinnin' Records|first=|last=|date=January 30, 2017|publisher=Spinnin' Records}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ed.nl/meierijstad/dj-sophie-francis-18-uit-sint-oedenrode-tekent-bij-spinnin-records~a972cea2/|title=DJ Sophie Francis (18) uit Sint-Oedenrode tekent bij Spinnin' Records|first=Eddy|last=Jansen|date=February 21, 2017|publisher=ed.nl|language=nl}} She released her first single with them on 17 February: "Without You" which she created together with The Companions. The track was very well received and played by artists such as Tiësto, Nicky Romero, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike and is being played on radio stations worldwide.{{cite web|url=http://www.nieuweplaat.nl/electronic/sophie-francis-without-you/|title=Sophie Francis - Without You|first=Natan|last=Presman|date=February 17, 2017|publisher=Nieuweplaat.nl|language=nl}}{{cite web|url=https://djmag.nl/comin/02202017-1234/sophie-francis-brengt-single-uit-met-songwriter-sasha-rangas|title=Sophie Francis brengt single uit met songwriter Sasha Rangas!|first=|last=|date=February 20, 2017|publisher=DJ Mag NL|language=nl}}

She has been named on Spotify's "Top 25 Most Influential Artists Under 25" alongside artists such as Martin Garrix and Oliver Heldens, among others. On 2 March 2017 she was a guest and performed at De Avondploeg on Radio 538.{{cite web|url=https://www.538.nl/de-avondploeg/sophie-francis-wisselt-examens-af-met-optredens|title=Sophie Francis wisselt examens af met optredens|first=|last=|date=March 4, 2017|publisher=538|language=nl}} She later performed during the "Miami Winter Music Conference" at the Spinnin' Hotel in South Beach and on 25 March she performed for the first time at Ultra Music Festival in Miami, Florida on the "Worldwide" stage.{{cite web|url=http://www.ed.nl/meierijstad/dj-sophie-francis-uit-sint-oedenrode-maakt-debuut-op-ultra-music-festival-miami~a8bdff56/|title=DJ Sophie Francis uit Sint-Oedenrode maakt debuut op Ultra Music festival Miami|first=Eddy|last=Jansen|date=March 17, 2017|publisher=ed.nl|language=nl}}

On 27 April 2017 she performed at AFAS Stadion in Alkmaar during SLAM! Koningsdag 2017.{{cite web|url=https://partyflock.nl/party/337078:SLAM-Koningsdag|title=SLAM! Koningsdag · 27 april 2017, AFAS stadion, Alkmaar · evenement|first=|last=|publisher=Partyflock|date=|language=nl}} Less than a month later, she released her second single on Spinnin' Records, "Lovedrunk".{{cite web|url=http://djtimes.com/premiere-sophie-francis-lovedrunk/|title=[Premiere] Sophie Francis Presents New Single, "Lovedrunk"|first=Brian|last=Bonavoglia|date=May 25, 2017|publisher=DJ Times}}{{cite web|url=http://www.noiseprn.com/2017/05/30/sophie-francis-lovedrunk-2/|title=Sophie Francis - "Lovedrunk"|first=Lennon|last=Cihak|date=May 30, 2017|publisher=Noiseporn}} A poppy track with some urban influences, first announced as an ID track and supported by The Chainsmokers, Dimiti Vegas & Like Mike, R3hab and VINAI among others. The single peaked at number 17 on the DMC Buzz Chart two weeks before release.{{cite web|url=https://edmnations.com/2017/05/22/sophie-francis-revealed-as-the-artist-behind-lovedrunk/|title=SOPHIE FRANCIS REVEALED AS THE ARTIST BEHIND 'LOVEDRUNK'!|first=Alice|last=Andrei|date=May 22, 2017|publisher=EDM Nations}}{{cite web|url=https://djmag.nl/timeline/sophie-francis-mysterieuze-artiest-achter-lovedrunk|title=Sophie Francis is mysterieuze artiest achter 'Lovedrunk'|first=|last=|date=May 30, 2017|publisher=DJ Mag NL|language=nl}} An official music video for the song was released.{{cite web|url=http://www.dance-charts.de/201706148767/musikvideo-sophie-francis-lovedrunk|title=Musikvideo » Sophie Francis - Lovedrunk|first=Dominik|last=Fuchs|date=June 14, 2017|publisher=Dance-Charts|language=de}} A remix pack for the song was released less than three months later, featuring remixes from Olly James, Carta and TV Noise.{{cite web|url=http://www.dance-charts.de/201709019088/sophie-francis-lovedrunk-the-remixes|title=Sophie Francis - Lovedrunk (The Remixes)|first=Dominik|last=Fuchs|date=September 1, 2017|publisher=Dance-Charts|language=de}} She had also hosted an episode on the label's radio show Spinnin' Sessions.{{cite web|url=http://weraveyou.com/2017/05/premiere-spinnin-sessions-211-sophie-francis/|title=Premiere: Spinnin' Sessions 211 – Sophie Francis|first=Amy|last=Martine|date=May 25, 2017|publisher=We Rave You}}

During summer she performed at various festivals in the Netherlands,{{cite web|url=https://www.ed.nl/meierijstad/dj-sophie-francis-18-uit-sint-oedenrode-op-ultra-music-festival-en-tomorrowland~ad97efed/|title=DJ Sophie Francis (18) uit Sint-Oedenrode op Ultra Music Festival en Tomorrowland|first=Eddy|last=Jansen|date=February 13, 2017|publisher=ed.nl|language=nl}} and the Amsterdam Arena during the Glamour Health Challenge.{{cite web|url=https://www.glamour.nl/fun/nieuws/artikel/ook-deze-rising-star-komt-optreden-op-de-glamour-health-challenge|title=Ook deze rising star komt optreden op de Glamour Health Challenge|first=Floor|last=Gijsbertse|date=May 18, 2017|publisher=Glamour|language=nl}} In July she performed at the 2017 edition of the Tomorrowland festival for two days in Belgium.

In August her first Asia tour took off, touching Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan and China. A month later she went back to China to perform at Storm Music Festival in Changsha and Shanghai, before heading back to the Netherlands to attend her second ADE, performing 3 times during the week in Amsterdam.

In October she started her own radio show, named "Beyond Radio", broadcast weekly by a French and Belgian radio station and on WolfBytes Radio in the United States. Every episode, lasting one hour, contains mashups, previews and news about Sophie's career.

On 10 November her new single "Get over it" was out on the label "Smash the house", celebrated with a release party at the Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen.

Her third Asia tour started with a DJ-set on board of a cruise-ship called "It's the ship", boarding from Singapore and traveling around Asian countries. Other stops of the tour were clubs in Shanghai, Ningbo, Jakarta, and Tokyo, where she also celebrated her 19th birthday on 2 December before getting back to Europe.

2017 ended with two DJ-sets in her second home, South Africa, playing in Cape Town at "Soundscape" on 30 December and at "Secrets of Summer" for New Year's Eve.

Her 10th release was out on 26 January. "Hearts of gold" is produced on Spinnin' records and contains the vocal feature of Nicole Bus. On the same day, Sophie's first official remix is released by Atlantic Records and is the rework of Sam Bruno's "So what".

In late February she played at a charity event in Eindhoven organized by Rodekruis, the Dutch Red Cross, giving her contribution to raise €24.000 for the kids of Haiti.{{Cite web|url=https://ijsdaging.rodekruis.nl/nieuws/1740-de-ijsdaging-verwelkomt-sophie-francis|title=De IJsdaging verwelkomt Sophie Francis!|website=ijsdaging.rodekruis.nl|language=nl|access-date=2018-03-13}}

On 9 March the long-awaited vocal version of "Get over it" was released on Smash the house with the voice of Laurell.

{{cite web|url=https://www.beatport.com/artist/sophie-francis/536188/tracks?sort=release-desc|title=Sophie Francis Tracks on Beatport|publisher=Beatport|last=|first=}}{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/nl/artist/sophie-francis/1082748984|title=Sophie Francis op Apple Music|first=|last=|work=iTunes|publisher=Apple Inc|date=|language=nl}}

• 29-02-2016: "Drop Of A Dime" [Freeway Recordings]
• 11-04-2016: "Up In This" [Freeway Recordings]
• 30-05-2016: "Bad Boy" [Freeway Recordings]
• 20-06-2016: "Annihilate" [FREE]
• 26-09-2016: "Walls" [Powerhouse Music]
• 18-11-2016: "Don't Stop" [Dirty Dutch Music]
• 17-02-2017: "Without You" [Spinnin' Records]
• 26-05-2017: "Lovedrunk" [Spinnin' Records]
• 10-11-2017: "Get over it" [Smash the House]
• 26-01-2018: "Hearts Of Gold" [Spinnin' Records]
• 09-03-2018: "Get over it" Ft. Laurell [Smash the house]
• 30-06-2018: "Stay Up" [Spinnin' Records]
• 05-10-2018: "Weekend Love" [Spinnin' Records]
• 28-02-2019: "True Champion" [FREE]
• 29-03-2019: "Lose My Mind" [Spinnin' Records]
• 10-05-2019: "On My Way" [Spinnin' Records]
• 04-10-2019: "Six Pack" [Future House Music]
• 02-21-2020: "Roll Up" [Heldeep Records]
• 04-27-2020: "A-FREAK-A" [Spinnin' Records]

• 26-01-2018: Sam Bruno - So what [Atlantic records]

Spotify: "Top 25 Most Influential Artists Under 25"

• A {{Note|note_a1}} "Without You" did not enter the Ultratop 50, but peaked at number 13 on the Flemish Dance Bubbling Under chart.
• B {{Note|note_b1}} "Without You" did not enter the Ultratop 50, but peaked at number 19 on the Walloon Dance Bubbling Under chart.

{{Reflist|2}}

• {{Official website|https://sophiefrancismusic.com/}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Francis, Sophie}}

Category:1998 births

Category:Dutch house musicians

Category:Dutch record producers

Category:Women DJs

Category:Living people

Category:Musicians from 's-Hertogenbosch

Category:People from Sint-Oedenrode

Category:Spinnin' Records artists

Category:Electro house musicians

Category:Progressive house musicians

Category:Future bass musicians

Category:Dutch electronic dance music DJs

Category:21st-century women musicians

Category:Dutch women record producers