Nell Smith, the young Canadian singer who collaborated with The Flaming Lips, has died at the age of 17.
His family confirmed the sad news on Monday an instagram statement,
“We are heartbroken to say that our courageous, talented, unique, beautiful daughter was brutally taken from us Saturday night,” the statement, written by her family members Jude, Rachel, Jed and Ike, said.
He added, “We are overwhelmed by the news and don’t know what to do or say.” “She had a lot to experience and give to this world but we are grateful that she got to experience so much at the age of 17. He has left an indelible mark on words and an unfillable gap in our hearts.”
“Hold your children tighter tonight and for now please leave us to work on things. We will scream when we need you,” the statement concluded.
Smith’s cause of death has not yet been confirmed by his family.
However, The Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne claimed at the rock band’s concert in Portland, Oregon on Sunday that Smith had died in a car accident.
In fan footage “Tonight we have a very sad announcement to make,” Coyne, 63, told the show. We have a Canadian friend, her name is Nell. … We received some very sad messages today that he died in a car accident last night and we were reminded once again of the power of music.
Simon Raymonde, owner of Bella Union record label, which plans to release Smith’s debut album in 2025, also posted a touching tribute To the late star on Instagram.
“We are all shocked and devastated to hear of the sudden and tragic passing of our artist and dear friend Nell Smith over the weekend in British Columbia,” Raymonde, 62, wrote on behalf of Bella Union.
“Smith was just 17 years old and was preparing for the release of her debut solo record on Bella Union in early 2025, which was made in Brighton with Penelope Isles’ Jack and Lily Wolter,” the statement said.
“Although we are all trying to deal with this terrible news, and out of respect for Nell’s bereaved family, we are unable to make any further comment at this time.”
At the age of 12, Smith attended a show by The Flaming Lips in 2018 and connected with Coyne. He eventually worked with the band on “Where the Viaduct Looms”, a cover album of music by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds in November 2021.
Cave, 67, praised Smith and their “Girl in Amber” cover red hand files in 2021, writing, “This version of Girl in Amber is so lovely, I was going to say Nell Smith lives in the song, but that’s wrong, rather she leaves the song in a way I would never Can do.”
“Nell has shown a remarkable sense of lyric, a sense of detachment that is both beautiful and thrilling. I just love it. I’m a fan,” said the Australian musician.
Smith made Kickstarter fundraising page last year to help raise funds for her debut album. The page raised $17,000, more than its original goal of $10,000.
“I’ve always loved music and I started writing some of the songs that appear on this album when I was 12, it’s really exciting to see them come to life,” Smith wrote on the page.
He also said that he hoped the album and subsequent tour would “help me fulfill my real dream which is to go to music school in the UK.”
