Nell Smith, the talented singer and musician who recorded a popular album of Nick Cave covers with The Flaming Lips and who was working on her debut solo album, died Saturday. She was 17 years old.
The Smith family shared the news In a post on her official Instagram account on Monday, she wrote: “It hurts us so much to say that our feisty, talented, unique and beautiful daughter was cruelly taken from us on Saturday night.”
The post continued: “We are reeling from the news and don’t know what to do or say. She had so much to experience and give to this world but we are grateful that she got to experience so much in her 17 years.” “You have left an indelible mark on the Word and an unbridgeable chasm in our hearts.”
Neil Smith/Instagram
The note signed by her family, which also included a collection of candid shots of Smith, concluded with a reminder and request for privacy: “Hold your kids tight tonight, and for now please leave us to work things out. We will scream when we need you.”
Smith was a big fan of The Flaming Lips and first met the band’s singer Wayne Coyne after her parents took her to their 2018 show in Calgary, according to Sound result. Queen kept in touch with the budding musician and her family as she learned guitar and began writing songs, which eventually culminated in a collaboration on an album of Cave covers, Where the bridge loomsin November 2021, when she was only 14 years old.
Quinn praised on stage To Smith at The Lips show in Portland on Sunday, she told the audience that they had received “very sad messages saying she had been killed in a car accident.” “We were reminded once again of the power of music and how encouraging it is to be around people you love,” he said, visibly choking up before performing the band’s next song.
Jim Dyson/Getty
Simone Raymond of the Cocteau Twins He also shared his condolences on Mondayrevealing that Smith has been working on her debut solo album via his record label Bella Union, which is scheduled for release sometime next year.
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“We are all devastated and devastated to hear of the sudden and tragic passing of our artist and dear friend, Neil Smith, over the weekend in British Columbia,” Raymond wrote. “Nelle was just 17 years old and was preparing to release her first solo record in early 2025 on Bella Union, which was produced in Brighton with Penelope Isles’ Jack, Lily and Walter.”
He concluded, “While we are all trying to cope with the terrible news, out of respect for Neil’s grieving family, we cannot make any further comments at this time. The Bella Union family.”
. “Professional creator. Lifelong thinker. Reader. Beer buff. Troublemaker. Evil problem solver.”