Nell Smith, Teenage Flaming Lips Collaborator, Has Died

Nell Smith, the teenage musician who recorded an album with The Flaming Lips, tragically died in a car accident. A message shared by Smith’s family confirmed her death on Saturday, October 5 at age 17.

Read the note posted by Smith’s family:

“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. Jude, Rachel, Jed and Ike x”

Smith’s relationship with The Flaming Lips dates back to 2018 and a meeting between a then-12-year-old Nell and The Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne at one of the band’s shows in Calgary, Canada. Nell had already attended several of the band’s concerts, often wearing a recognizable parrot costume in the front row that eventually got Coyne’s attention.

Staying in touch over subsequent years, Coyne and Smith developed a musical connection as the latter learned to play guitar. The pair also began collaborating on music, which led to plans to record together, which were hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic. At Coyne’s suggestion due to her unfamiliarity, Smith recorded a batch of Nick Cave covers for The Flaming Lips to add backing tracks to, ultimately becoming her 2021 album, Where the Viaduct Looms.

Coyne addressed Smith’s passing during The Flaming Lips concert on Sunday in Portland. Speaking to the audience at Moda Center, Coyne stated:

“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. We are reminded once again of the power of music and how encouraging it can be to be around people that you love.”

Nell was preparing to release her debut solo album through Bella Union in 2025. The label’s co-founder Simon Raymonde addressed her untimely death, writing:

“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. Her first release was an album of covers of Nick Cave songs recorded with fellow Bella Union artists The Flaming Lips back in 2021 entitled, Where The Viaduct Looms.

“While we all try and come to terms with the awful news, and out of respect to Nell’s grieving family, we are unable to make any further comments at this time. The Bella Union Family.”