Nell Smith – the 17-year-old musician who collaborated with The Flaming Lips – passed away over the weekend
The music world is in mourning with the news that Nell Smith has passed away at just 17 years old.
Simon Raymonde, bassist/keyboardist of Cocteau Twins whose label Bella Union was preparing her debut album, confirmed her death on Instagram.
Although no cause of death was given, The Flaming Lips singer Wayne Coyne announced her death during a show in Portland, Oregon, stating that she died in a car accident.
Raymonde shared five photos of Nell, one with her and brother Ike, another of her standing by a campfire with a guitar, another of her with Coyne in London, another with the vinyl of her song Where The Viaduct Looms’ and her with Warren Ellis.
“We are all shocked and devastated to learn of the sudden and tragic passing of our artist and dear friend Nell Smith over the weekend in British Columbia,” Raymonde began.
The music world is in mourning with the news that Nell Smith has passed away at just 17 years old
Raymonde shared five photos of Nell, one with her and brother Ike, another of her standing by a campfire with a guitar, another of her with Coyne in London, another with the vinyl of her song Where The Viaduct Looms’ and her with Warren Ellis
“Nell was only 17 and preparing to release her first solo record in early 2025 on Bella Union, made in Brighton with Jack and Lily Wolter of Penelope Isles,” he added.
“Her first release was an album of covers of Nick Cave songs recorded with fellow Bella Union artists The Flaming Lips in 2021, titled Where The Viaduct Looms,” he added.
“While we are all trying to come to terms with the terrible news, and out of respect for Nell’s grieving family, we cannot comment further at this time,” he concluded.
During The Flaming Lips show on Saturday, Coyne announced her death to the audience.
‘We have a Canadian friend, her name is Nell. Three years ago we recorded a great album with her, an album full of Nick Cave songs,” Coyne began.
“We have received very sad news today… that she died in a car accident last night,” he added, choking up.
“We are once again reminded of the power of music and how encouraging it can be to be around people you love,” he said.
Smith and her parents regularly took her to The Flaming Lips shows, where she always wore a parrot costume during the band’s shows in Calgary.
“Nell was only 17 and preparing to release her first solo record in early 2025 on Bella Union, made in Brighton with Jack and Lily Wolter of Penelope Isles,” he added.
“While we are all trying to come to terms with the terrible news, and out of respect for Nell’s grieving family, we cannot comment further at this time,” he concluded.
During The Flaming Lips show on Saturday, Coyne announced her death to the audience
Coyne approached the teen and said he recognized her from previous shows and they managed to stay in touch during the COVID-19 pandemic
They eventually used the lockdown to record a slew of Nick Cave covers called Where the Viaduct Looms, which was released in November 2021 when Smith was just 14.
Coyne approached the teen and said he recognized her from previous shows and they managed to stay in touch during the COVID-19 pandemic.
They eventually took advantage of the lockdown to record a slew of Nick Cave covers called Where the Viaduct Looms, which was released in November 2021 when Smith was just 14.
She launched one Kickstarter to cover money for recording her first solo album last summer, which far exceeded its goal.
The last update in early August 2024 showed that she was working on the music video for her song Split in the Sky and that the album was still to come.