Bella Union has announced the upcoming posthumous release of Anxious, the debut album from Fernie, BC's Nell Smith, on April 11.
Smith — who collaborated with the Flaming Lips on the 2021 collection of Nick Cave covers, Where the Viaduct Looms — died last October at age 17.
"It is still very painful when I realize Nell is gone," the band's Wayne Coyne said in a statement. "I keep thinking I'll check my text messages from her. I'm sure she has a new drawing or new piece of a song or a new photo of her cat… and then I remember she is gone. Now when I'm listening to her singing these songs there is a brief fantastical joy. Her voice hits the ear, the ear tells brain this is the sound of love, the brain lets the mind fly through the billions of connections it has with Nell's life... but as it flies it also flies to her death... there is something holy that happens now."
The record was guided by Jack and Lily Wolter of Penelope Isles, who helped shape Smith's songs, some of which had been in the works since she was 12 years old. Additionally, three of the tracks were written in partnership with Shred Kelly. You can listen to the whimsical psych-pop title track below, where you'll also find the full album tracklist.
To honour her legacy, Smith's family have concurrently launched the Nell Smith Memorial Fund, aiming to raise $100,000 and donate $10,000 annually for 10 years, supporting grants for emerging musicians. Learn more about that here.
Anxious:
1. Anxious
2. Daisy Fields
3. Bubba
4. The Worst Best Drug
5. Service Song
6. Boy in a Bubble
7. Splash
8. I Know Nothing
9. Billions of People
10. Split in the Sky