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Brazilian Press Reports Singer Oliver Tree Died In Collision Of Helicopters

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Oliver Tree performs at The Fillmore during his “Cowboy Tears Tour” on March 5, 2022, in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Scott Legato/Getty Images)

Oliver Tree, an electronic pop singer known for popular songs “Miss You” and “Life Goes On,” died Sunday in a helicopter collision over Rio de Janeiro, according to CNN Brazil. He was 32.

Two helicopters collided in the Brazilian city’s western zone, and all six people aboard the aircrafts were killed. Officials are still investigating the collision, but Rio de Janeiro’s Military Fire Department told the Associated Press that one of the helicopters crashed on a car dealership parking lot, which ignited a fire. Local police also told the outlet that Tree was on the passenger list for one of the helicopters

CNN Brazil reported that the American singer and popular Argentine YouTuber Gaspi, whose real name was Gaspar Prim, were two of five people who died in one of the helicopters. The other aircraft only carried its pilot.

Tree recently performed shows in Latin America, including a concert in Mexico City and another in Buenos Aires. He embarked on an ambitious global tour, which included dates in Europe during the first half of July before returning to North America for a theater run.

Born Oliver Tree Nickell in Santa Clara, California, he kick-started his music career in 2010 by self-releasing his music. He dabbled in ska, rock and dubstep before releasing his EP Demon in 2013, which featured a Thomas Yorke-approved cover of the Radiohead classic “Karma Police.”

He took some time off to attend CalArts in Southern California and returned to music in 2016 to be featured on songs such as Getter’s “Forget It” and collaborate with Whethan on “When I’m Down.” Tree dropped “Welcome to LA” in 2017, and it didn’t take long for him to take off on social media with his comedic sensibility, retro style and signature bowl haircut (which then evolved to a bowl mullet). He garnered over 16 million followers on TikTok and more than 3 million on Instagram with videos that featured self-deprecating sketches and humorous vlogs of the cities he visited.

Tree’s biggest hit, “Miss You,” amassed nearly 800 million streams on Spotify, and “Life Goes On” isn’t far behind with 708 million.

Alt-pop singer Melanie Martinez, who previously dated Tree, wrote a tribute in an Instagram story, saying she’s “been an absolute wreck” and “it’s really hard to understand how someone who you once shared such a specific and formative time of your life with can all of a sudden be gone.”

“He was so dedicated to his art which I admired and respected so deeply,” Martinez wrote. “… He had such a soft heart and was a true artist in every way. Rest in peace Oliver. I know you’re making the angels giggle.”

Rapper Kid Cudi took to X to share tributes and one of Tree’s music videos. He also penned a response to the report of the artist’s death.

“Fuck man. Spoke to Oliver a few weeks ago. This is heartbreaking,” Cudi wrote. “A really amazing and beautiful human. This shit sucks bad. Sending all my prayers and love to the families dealing with losses. Oliver we love you, forever.”

Pop star Bebe Rexha said she was signing CDs in New York when she found out.

“I can’t believe it,” she wrote on X. “We recorded a record together to be on dirty blonde. He was so smart. Passionate. Talented. Kind. I’m so sad. May he rest in peace.”

Note: The article was updated to include tributes from other artists.

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