The Flaming Lips collaborator Nell Smith has died aged 17

Smith struck up a friendship with The Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne after attending a number of their shows over three years. In 2021, they collaborated on an album of Nick Cave covers, Where The Viaduct Looms, which received praise from Cave himself.

Simon Raymonde of Cocteau Twins, who was due to release Smith's debut solo album next year via his label Bella Union, has now revealed that she has passed away.

"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. 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," Raymonde revealed.

There is currently no information on Smith's cause of death, or what the status of her album may be.