Nell Smith, Flaming Lips employee, dies at 17

No cause of death was given, although frontman Wayne Coyne announced Smith's death at the Flaming Lips show in Portland, Oregon last night, saying she died in a car accident.

“We are once again reminded of the power of music and how empowering it can be to be with the people you love,” Coyne said before asking the audience to follow the Lips as they performed “Suddenly Everything Has Changed.” to help.

Smith was born in the United Kingdom but grew up in Canada. After her parents took her to a band concert and Coyne noticed the then 12-year-old in a parrot costume in the front row, she developed an unlikely friendship and collaboration with the Flaming Lips. Coyne stayed in touch with Smith and her father as Smith learned to play guitar and write her own songs.

During the pandemic, they finally came up with the idea of ​​recording an album of Nick Cave covers remotely. Smith laid down the initial recordings and then sent the files to the Lips, who provided the background instrumentation. The record, Where the viaduct appearswas released in November 2021 (Smith was 14 at the time).

After Where the viaduct appearsSmith began to focus on her own music. She launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund her debut album of original material and ultimately achieved her campaign goal. At the time, Smith said of the album: “I've always loved music and started writing some of the songs that will be on this album when I was 12 years old. It’s really exciting to see them come to life.”

She also said she hoped the album and a subsequent tour would help fund her “real dream, which is to go to music school in the UK.”

In his statement, Raymonde shared a few more details about the album: “Nell was just 17 and preparing to release her first solo record in early 2025 on Bella Union, recorded in Brighton with Jack and Lily Wolter of Penelope Isles.”