The music world is in mourning with the news that Nell Smith has died at just 17 years old.
Simon Raymonde, bassist and keyboardist for Cocteau Twins whose label Bella Union was preparing their debut album, confirmed his death on Instagram.
While no cause of death was provided, The Flaming Lips singer Wayne Coyne announced his death at a show in Portland, Oregon, stating that he died in a car accident.
Raymonde shared five snaps of Nell, one with her and her brother Ike, another of her by a campfire with a guitar, another of her with Coyne in London, another with the vinyl of her song Where The Viaduct Looms’ and her with Warren Ellis. .
“We are all shocked and devastated to learn of the sudden and tragic passing of our artist and dear friend Nell Smith, over the weekend in British Columbia,” Raymonde began.
The music world is in mourning with the news that Nell Smith died at just 17 years old
Raymonde shared five snaps of Nell, one with her and her brother Ike, another of her by a campfire with a guitar, another of her with Coyne in London, another with the vinyl of her song Where The Viaduct Looms’ and her with Warren Ellis.
“Nell was just 17 years old and preparing for the release of her first solo album in early 2025 at Bella Union, performed in Brighton with Jack and Lily Wolter of Penelope Isles,” he added.
“Their first release was an album of covers of Nick Cave songs recorded with Bella Union artists The Flaming Lips in 2021, titled Where The Viaduct Looms,” he added.
“While we are all trying to come to terms with the terrible news, and out of respect for Nell’s grieving family, we are unable to comment further at this time,” he concluded.
During The Flaming Lips’ show on Saturday, Coyne announced his death to the crowd.
‘We have a Canadian friend, her name is Nell. “We recorded an incredible album with her three years ago, an album full of Nick Cave songs,” Coyne began.
“We got some very sad messages today… that she died in a car accident last night,” he added, choking up.
“Once again we are reminded of the power of music and how uplifting it can be to be around the people you love,” he said.
Smith and her parents frequently took her to The Flaming Lips shows, where she always wore a parrot costume to the band’s shows in Calgary.
“Nell was just 17 years old and preparing for the release of her first solo album in early 2025 at Bella Union, performed in Brighton with Jack and Lily Wolter of Penelope Isles,” he added.
“While we are all trying to come to terms with the terrible news, and out of respect for Nell’s grieving family, we are unable to comment further at this time,” he concluded.
During The Flaming Lips’ show on Saturday, Coyne announced his death to the crowd.
Coyne approached the teen and told her he recognized her from previous shows and that they managed to stay in touch during the COVID-19 pandemic.
They finally took advantage of lockdown to record a full Nick Cave cover called Where the Viaduct Looms, which was released in November 2021 when Smith was just 14 years old.
Coyne approached the teen and told her he recognized her from previous shows and that they managed to stay in touch during the COVID-19 pandemic.
They finally took advantage of the confinement to record a complete Nick Cave covers called Where the Viaduct Looms, which was released in November 2021 when Smith was only 14 years old.
She threw a Kick-starter to cover the funds to record his first solo album last summer, which surpassed his goal.
The last update in early August 2024 revealed that he was working on the music video for his song Split in the Sky and that the album was yet to be released.
