Nell Smith, the extraordinarily talented musician known for her collaborations with The Flaming Lips, tragically passed away at the tender age of 17 due to a devastating car accident. The announcement of her untimely death on October 7th has sent shockwaves through the music community, where her remarkable artistry and prodigious talent had already begun to leave an indelible mark. Nell’s journey in music commenced at just 14 years old, where she quickly garnered attention for her exceptional abilities.
Simon Raymonde of Bella Union shared the heartbreaking news on social media, revealing the profound loss felt by those who knew her. “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,” he wrote on Instagram. The label had been eagerly anticipating the launch of her debut solo album, set for 2025.
Nell’s foray into music was as extraordinary as her talent. At merely 12 years old, she attended a Flaming Lips concert dressed as a parrot, which caught the attention of frontman Wayne Coyne. This whimsical encounter blossomed into a profound friendship that significantly influenced her artistic journey. Coyne played a pivotal role in nurturing her musical talents, helping her master the guitar and explore various artistic avenues in her early career.
As they were poised to record their first project, the COVID-19 pandemic struck, prompting Coyne to propose an audacious idea: to create a cover album of Nick Cave’s songs. Despite her limited familiarity with Cave’s work, Nell embraced the challenge and produced Where the Viaduct Looms in 2021.
This album featured Nell’s emotive interpretations of Cave’s music, performed alongside The Flaming Lips. It received accolades from both Coyne and Cave himself. Billboard reported Cave’s admiration, as he remarked, “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.” He further reflected on the difficulties he faced in detaching from his own lyrics, saying, “I always found it difficult to step away from this particular song and sing it with its necessary remove, just got so twisted up in the words, I guess.”
Recently, Nell had triumphantly concluded a Kickstarter campaign for her debut solo album, surpassing her initial goal of $5,000 by over $17,000. Tragically, just as she was about to embark on this new chapter, her life was cut short. At a concert in Portland on October 6, Wayne Coyne mourned the loss of his cherished friend and collaborator, sharing the heartbreaking news of Nell’s accident with the audience. Her legacy as a remarkable talent will undoubtedly resonate within the music world for years to come.
I hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits. As we celebrate the one-year milestone of our partnership, I am excited to suggest a fascinating topic for your next writing endeavor: Rhode Island Herald.
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