Flaming Lips collaborator dies at 17

Nell Smith, the younger Canadian singer who collaborated with the Flaming Lips, has died on the age of 17.

Her household confirmed the tragic information on Monday in an Instagram assertion.

“It pains us a lot to say that our feisty, proficient, distinctive, stunning daughter was cruelly taken from us on Saturday night time,” started the assertion, written by her relations Jude, Rachel, Jed and Ike.

“We’re reeling from the information and don’t know what to do or say,” they continued. “She had a lot extra to expertise and to present this world however we’re grateful that she obtained to expertise so very a lot in her 17 years. She has left an indelible mark on the world and an unfillable chasm in our hearts.”

“Maintain your youngsters additional tight tonight and for now please go away us to work by means of issues. We’ll shout after we want you,” the assertion concluded.

Smith’s explanation for demise has but to be confirmed by her household.

Nevertheless, Flaming Lips entrance man Wayne Coyne claimed on Sunday on the rock band’s live performance in Portland, Oregon, that Smith was killed in a automobile accident.

In fan footage from the present, Coyne, 63, mentioned, “We’ve a really unhappy announcement to make tonight. We’ve a Canadian good friend, her title is Nell. … We obtained some very unhappy messages right this moment that she was killed in a automobile accident final night time and we’re reminded as soon as once more of the facility of music.”

Simon Raymonde, proprietor of the Bella Union file label that deliberate to launch Smith’s debut album in 2025, additionally posted a shifting tribute to the late star on Instagram.

“We’re all shocked and devastated to listen to of the sudden and tragic passing of our artist and expensive good friend Nell Smith, over the weekend in British Columbia,” Raymonde, 62, wrote on behalf of Bella Union.

“Smith was simply 17 and was making ready for the discharge of her first solo file in early 2025 on Bella Union, made in Brighton with Penelope Isles’ Jack and Lily Wolter,” the assertion went on.

“Whereas all of us try to come to phrases with the terrible information, and out of respect to Nell’s grieving household, we’re unable to make any additional feedback at the moment.”

At age 12, Smith attended one of many Flaming Lips’ exhibits in 2018 and bonded with Coyne. She ultimately labored with the band on “The place the Viaduct Looms,” a November 2021 cowl album of Nick Cave and the Dangerous Seeds’ music.

Cave, 67, praised Smith and her cowl of “Woman in Amber” on The Crimson Hand Recordsdata in 2021, writing, “This model of Woman in Amber is simply beautiful, I used to be going to say Nell Smith inhabits the tune, however that’s flawed, moderately she vacates the tune, in a method that I might by no means do.”

“Nell exhibits a exceptional understanding of the tune, a way of dispassion that’s each stunning and chilling. I simply adore it. I’m a fan,” the Australian musician added.

Smith created a Kickstarter fund-raising web page final yr to assist fund her debut album. The web page raised over $17,000 of its authentic $10,000 purpose.

“I’ve all the time cherished music and began writing a few of the songs that might be on this album once I was 12, seeing them come to life is basically thrilling,” Smith wrote on the web page.

She additionally mentioned she hoped the album and a subsequent tour would “assist fund my actual dream which is to get to music college within the UK.”