Nell Smith dies at the age of 17: The musician, who worked with The Flaming Lips, dies in a car accident just months before the release of her first solo record

The music world is mourning the news that Nell Smith has died aged just 17.

Simon Raymonde, bassist/keyboardist for the Cocteau Twins, whose label Bella Union prepared their debut album, confirmed her death on Instagram.

Although no cause of death was given, Wayne Coyne, singer of The Flaming Lips, announced her death at a show in Portland, Oregon, stating that she had died in a car accident.

Raymonde shared five snaps of Nell, one with her and her brother Ike, another of her standing by a campfire with a guitar, another of her with Coyne in London, another with the vinyl record of her song “Where The Viaduct Looms” and she with Warren Ellis.

“We are all shocked and devastated to learn of the sudden and tragic death of our artist and dear friend Nell Smith over the weekend in British Columbia,” Raymonde began.

Raymonde shared five snaps of Nell, one with her and her brother Ike, another of her standing by a campfire with a guitar, another of her with Coyne in London, another with the vinyl record of her song “Where The Viaduct Looms” and she with Warren Ellis

“Nell was only 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,” he added.

“Her first release was an album of covers of Nick Cave songs she 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 make any further comment at this time,” he concluded.

During the Flaming Lips show on Saturday, Coyne announced her death to the crowd.

“We have a Canadian friend, her name is Nell. “We recorded a fantastic album with her three years ago, an album full of Nick Cave songs,” Coyne began.

“We received some very sad news today… that she died in a car accident last night,” he added, choking up.

“We are reminded once again of the power of music and how empowering it can be to be with the people you love,” he said.

Smith and her parents often took her to Flaming Lips shows, where she always wore a parrot costume to the band’s shows in Calgary.

“Nell was only 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,” 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 make any further comment at this time,” he concluded

During the Flaming Lips show on Saturday, Coyne announced her death to the crowd

Coyne approached the teenager and said he recognized her from previous shows and that they had managed to stay in touch despite the COVID-19 pandemic

They ended up using the lockdown to record a series of Nick Cave cover songs called “Where the Viaduct Looms,” which was released in November 2021, when Smith was just 14 years old

Coyne approached the teenager and said he recognized her from previous shows and that they had managed to stay in touch despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

They ended up using the lockdown to record a series of Nick Cave cover songs called “Where the Viaduct Looms,” which was released in November 2021, when Smith was just 14 years old.

Last summer, she launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds to record her first solo album, which exceeded her goal.

The last update in early August 2024 revealed that she was working on the music video for her song “Split in the Sky” and that the album was still in the works.