Nell Smith, the young musician who had collaborated with The Flaming Lips, has died at the age of 17.
Smith’s death was confirmed and announced by Cocteau Twins‘ Simon Raymonde on social media. Raymonde’s Bella Union label had signed Smith, and was due to issue her debut album next year.
Raymonde wrote on social media: “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. Nell was just 17 and was preparing for the release of her first solo record in early 2025 on Bella Union, made in Brighton with Penelope Isles’ Jack and Lily Wolter.”
While Raymonde did not share a cause of death, The Flaming Lips’ Wayne Coyne remembered the young musician during their Portland show last night (October 7) shared onstage that “she was killed in a car accident.”
Coyne said in between tears before ‘Everything Has Changed’: “We have a very sad announcement to make tonight. We have a Canadian friend, her name is Nell. We recorded an amazing album with her three years ago, an album full of songs by Nick Cave. We have some very sad messages today – she was killed in a car accident last night (October 6). We are reminded once again of the power of music and how encouraging it can be to be around people that you love.”
Smith’s family have now posted their own announcement on social media. They wrote: “It pains us so much to say that our feisty, talented, unique, beautiful daughter was cruelly taken from us on Saturday night. We are reeling from the news and don’t know what to do or say.
“She had so much more to experience and to give this world but we are grateful that she got to experience so very much in her 17 years. She has left an indelible mark on the word and an unfillable chasm in our hearts. Hold your kids extra tight tonight and for now please leave us to work through things. We will shout when we need you.”
Before her death, Nell Smith was working on her debut album, which was planned for release via Bella Union “in early 2025”. It is currently unknown if the album will be released posthumously.
Smith first struck up a relationship with The Flaming Lips in 2019 after the band had noticed the then-12-year-old dressed as a parrot in the front row at several of their concerts alongside her parents. They later met and kept in contact before Smith began laying down the foundation for a Nick Caves cover album in 2021.
Nell Smith – aged 14 at the time – sent the album to The Flaming Lips, who provided further instrumentation on the record. The album, titled ‘Where The Viaduct Looms’, was released in November 2021.
The Flaming Lips and Nell Smith. Credit: Atria Creative.
After the release of the album’s first single, a cover of ‘Girl In Amber’, Nick Cave himself shared his love for the version, saying: “This version of ‘Girl in Amber’ is just lovely, I was going to say Nell Smith inhabits the song, but that’s wrong, rather she vacates the song, in a way that I could never do. Nell shows a remarkable understanding of the song, a sense of dispassion that is both beautiful and chilling. I just love it. I’m a fan.”
Following the news of Nell’s tragic and untimely death, tributes have been paid to the young talent. Warren Ellis wrote in response to her family’s announcement: “I’m so sorry to hear this, sending all my love to you.”
In related news, The Flaming Lips have also shared a missing person notice for Charlotte “Bowie” Drozd, daughter of band member Steven Drozd. The 16-year-old was last seen at the Seattle Space Needle on Saturday, October 5 at 11.30 am, and has been described as 5’7” with brown eyes and long brown hair. She was seen wearing khaki colour shorts and pink shoes, according to a post made by the Seattle Police Department.
Anyone with any information about Charlotte “Bowie” Drozd should contact the Seattle Police Department at 206-625-5011 or call or text Becky Drozd at 405-831-6795.
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