B.C. teen who worked with The Flaming Lips gets posthumous album release
Four months after her tragic passing in a car accident, Nell Smith, the talented teenager from British Columbia who had previously collaborated with the Grammy Award-winning rock band The Flaming Lips, is set to release her first solo album.
The album, titled “Anxious,” is scheduled to be launched by Bella Union, a record label based in Brighton, U.K., on April 11. Proceeds from the album sales will be directed towards a memorial fund that has been established to support young, up-and-coming artists.
Nell’s parents, Jude and Rachel Smith, shared with CBC Daybreak South host Chris Walker that listening to the new album was an emotional challenge so soon after their daughter’s passing. The test pressings of the album arrived at their home in Fernie, B.C., a few weeks ago, but they found it difficult to bring themselves to listen to it initially. However, their 13-year-old son eventually convinced them to play the album, although Rachel admitted that it was a tough experience and she hasn’t listened to it again since.
The young artist’s collaboration with The Flaming Lips began when she was just 13 years old. During the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Nell recorded nine tracks with the band, all of which were covers of songs by Nick Cave. The resulting album, “Where the Viaduct Looms,” was released in 2021 and received praise from Cave himself, as well as a musical appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
The roots of this collaboration trace back to when Nell was only 10 years old and attended The Flaming Lips concerts with her father. Lead singer Wayne Coyne took notice of her and her family, eventually suggesting the collaboration and selecting the Nick Cave songs for her to cover. Nell recorded her vocals, which were then backed up by the band in Oklahoma.
Nell’s upcoming solo album, “Anxious,” reflects her struggles with anxiety and other teenage challenges during the pandemic, as shared by her mother Rachel. The album, in contrast to the collaborative project with The Flaming Lips, took a considerable amount of time to complete and delves into themes of relationships, teenage life, and the title track specifically addressing anxiety.
The Smiths have also established the Nell Smith Memorial Fund in honor of their daughter, with the goal of raising $100,000 to provide $10,000 annually to support young, emerging artists. This initiative was inspired by their experiences assisting Nell in applying for grants to kickstart her musical career.
The legacy of Nell Smith lives on through her music and the impact she made in her brief but impactful time in the music industry. Her upcoming solo album promises to be a testament to her talent and creativity, offering listeners a glimpse into the inner world of a young artist gone too soon.
