Pioneering electronic music star Mira Calix – born Chantal Passamonte – has died.
The news of the South African-British electronic producer’s death was announced by her label Warp Records on Monday.
Warp did not give a cause of death for the artist, who was celebrated for her complex, highly imaginative music and sound art.
It’s been claimed that she was 52 years old at the time of her death, but the label has not confirmed her age.
Calix was the first female artist to sign with the label, with whom she went on to release six albums over her career.
In 2000, she released One on One, and most recently in 2021, the sample-heavy Absent Origin, which was hailed as one of her greatest works.
Born in South Africa, Calix moved to London in 1991 to pursue a music career, first working with Warp as a publicist, alongside doing promotion for club nights and Djing.
In a statement posted to social media, Warp Records wrote: ‘We are devastated to learn about the death of our dear Mira Calix.’
It continued: ‘Mira was not only a hugely talented artist and composer, she was also a beautiful, caring human who touched the lives of everyone who had the honour of working with her.
‘We are so proud of her immense creative output; her artwork, videos, and music were a true reflection of what an innovative, pioneering, and wonderful soul she was.’
They then praised her work, saying that she ‘pushed the boundaries between electronic music, classical music and art in a truly unique way.
‘She will be terribly missed by everyone at the label, staff and artists alike.’
BBC 6 Music DJ Mary Ann Hobbes was among those paying tribute to Calix, praising her as ‘such an ingenious, pioneering artist … always questioning, always pushing.’
In 2008, the artist made work for an installation at London’s Royal Festival Hall, with Boris Johnson, then-Mayor of London, stating: ‘Mira Calix has managed to wrest not blood, but music from a stone, putting the music into rock and creating a new cultural attraction.’
Additional details about her death have not been made public.
