Canadian teenage music prodigy Nell Smith died, only 17 years old. She was best known for collaborating with The Flaming Lips. Flaming Lips front man Wayne Coyne paid tribute to Smith on stage during their concert in Portland last Sunday night. They also as revealed the fact that it was a car accident.
Ex-Cocteau Twins member and Bella Union record label co-founder Simon Raymonde confirmed the news on Monday on Instagram. Smith had been planning to release her debut album via Bella Union. Raymonde wrote how they were “shocked and devastated” to learn about the tragic death. Raymonde further wrote “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. Her first release was an album of covers of Nick Cave songs recorded with fellow Bella Union artistes The Flaming Lips back in 2021 entitled, Where the Viaduct Looms.“
“I think Nell and I just wanted to start to make some music and see what would happen,” Coyne had said earlier before the album release. Doing covers is a fun way to get along, according to Coyne. Coyne had loved Nick Cave’s music and lyrics. Even though Nell didn’t know much of it, Coyne thought she would come up with something “simple, heartfelt and original”. He was right.
Members from the Family of Nell Smith Confirm the News
Members of the Smith family also confirmed the death of their daughter, Nell Smith on Instagram. The family took to Instagram to express how shocked they were with the tragic event of their daughter been “cruelly taken from” them. Furthermore, the family also had a request to leave them to “work through things” in these difficult times.
