Young Musician Nell Smith Dies at 17, Leaving Behind a Promising Musical Legacy

Nell Smith, a young Canadian singer known for her collaboration with The Flaming Lips, has passed away at the age of 17. The tragic news was confirmed by her family on Monday. “It pains us so much to say that our feisty, talented, unique, beautiful daughter was cruelly taken from us on Saturday night,” said family members Jude, Rachel, Jed, and Ike in a statement. They expressed their grief, noting, “We are reeling from the news and don’t know what to do or say.”

The details surrounding Smith’s cause of death remain unconfirmed by the family. However, Wayne Coyne, frontman of The Flaming Lips, announced at a concert in Portland, Oregon, that Smith was killed in a car accident. “We have a very sad announcement to make tonight,” Coyne announced to the audience, mentioning they had received tragic messages about Smith’s accident.

Simon Raymonde, owner of the Bella Union record label, which was set to release Smith’s debut album in 2025, also paid tribute on Instagram. “We are all shocked and devastated to hear of the sudden and tragic passing of our artist and dear friend Nell Smith,” Raymonde stated. He expressed the label’s respect for Smith’s grieving family by refraining from further comments at the time.

Smith’s musical journey began at the age of 12 when she attended a Flaming Lips concert and formed a connection with Coyne. This led to her participation in “Where the Viaduct Looms,” a cover album of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds’ music released in November 2021. Nick Cave himself praised her work, highlighting her unique interpretation of “Girl in Amber,” saying, “Nell shows a remarkable understanding of the song, a sense of dispassion that is both beautiful and chilling.”

Following her collaboration success, Nell Smith launched a crowdfunding campaign to finance her debut album of original material. The campaign exceeded its goal, raising over $17,000. She had expressed excitement about bringing her songs to life, hoping the project would support her ambition to attend music school in the UK.

The music community mourns the loss of a promising talent whose contributions will be remembered both for her artistry and her indelible impact on those who knew her.