Nell Smith — the teenager from Fernie, BC, who collaborated with the Flaming Lips on the 2021 collection of Nick Cave covers, Where the Viaduct Looms — has died. She was 17.
The news was shared by Cocteau Twins' Simon Raymonde, whose Bella Union label is set to release the young singer-songwriter's debut album next year. "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," Raymonde 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."
He added, "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." No cause of death has been reported.
As Stereogum points out, a Kickstarter set up by Smith's dad Jude indicates that the artist was originally from the UK but moved to Canada at some point during her childhood. She was around 10 years old when she attended her first Flaming Lips show. From there, she attended more and caught the attention of frontman Wayne Coyne while wearing a parrot costume. Smith's father and Coyne eventually exchanged phone numbers, the family striking up a friendship and staying in touch as Smith began to learn guitar and write songs.
Smith and the Lips had initially planned on recording together in Oklahoma before the early pandemic travel restrictions set in. Instead, they recorded Where the Viaduct Looms — which has been very highly endorsed by Cave and Warren Ellis — remotely.
See Raymonde's post below.