Oliver Tree, the singer-songwriter known for tracks such as “Life Goes On,” “Miss You” and “Alien Boy,” died Sunday in a helicopter crash, Variety reported. Brazilian authorities said he was among six people killed when two helicopters collided over the city. The collision claimed the lives of multiple passengers.
The collision happened that morning over Recreio dos Bandeirantes, a neighborhood in Rio’s western zone, reported by CNN Brazil. One of the aircrafts went down in the parking lot of a car dealership. It struck several electric vehicles and sparked a fire that firefighters quickly put out when they reached the scene. Once there, they confirmed that no one aboard either helicopter had survived.
Tree was listed among the passengers on a manifest handed to aviation authorities, police said. His name appeared there even as officials worked to confirm the identities of the dead. Representatives for the singer had not responded to requests for comment.
Tree had been touring Brazil in recent weeks, with a performance in São Paulo on June 6. He was posting from the country on social media as recently as the day before the crash. Word of his death drew tributes from collaborators and fans, including the British musician KSI.
From Vine Stardom to Pop Hits
Born Oliver Tree Nickell in Santa Cruz, California, Tree drew a wide following on Vine in 2016. He became known for his signature bowl cut, oversized ’80s clothing and a deliberately oddball persona. Before that, he produced dubstep and performed around the San Francisco Bay Area simply as “Tree” before releasing his debut EP “Demons,” in 2013.
He became even more popular when he appeared on Whethan’s “When I’m Down.” He then signed with Atlantic Records soon after. His 2018 EP “Alien Boy” made him even more popular, both in electronic music and online culture. A double music video he wrote and directed, “All That x Alien,” drew more than 50 million views, and he had been working on an additional album.
What’s Still Unknown
Much about the collision remains unexplained. One helicopter was carrying only its pilot, while Tree’s aircraft held five people, including three other passengers. Brazilian outlets identified those victims as well, among them a YouTuber.
Investigators have not yet said what sent the two aircraft into each other over a residential stretch of the city. That answer, along with the formal identification of everyone who died, may take time. For now, the disaster has ended the life of one of music’s more unconventional figures at 32.