Oliver Tree, the California-born singer-songwriter and internet personality known for his distinctive bowl cut, retro aesthetic and viral hits including Life Goes On and Miss You, has died at the age of 32.
Tree was killed in a helicopter crash in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday morning, according to CNN Brazil.
The crash, which occurred in the southwest of the city, involved two helicopters and left six people dead.
As recently as the day before his death, Tree had been posting content to social media from Brazil.
The news prompted an outpouring of tributes, including a heartfelt remembrance from singer-songwriter Melanie Martinez, who previously dated Tree.
“Been an absolute wreck today,” she wrote on her Instagram Story.
“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 deeply. I think everyone who knew him will look back at those moments of laughter and joy he so easily sparked. His laugh was so contagious and warm. His ability to lead creatively and take action while also maintaining a sense of childlike wonder and awe was so inspiring. He had such a heart and was a true artist in every way.”
She added: “Rest in peace Oliver. I know you’re making the angels giggle. I’ll be here wondering what stunt and creative project you’re scheming up in heaven. All my love.”
Tree began his career producing dubstep in the San Francisco Bay Area under the name Tree, releasing his debut EP Demons in 2013 under R&S Records.
A feature on Whethan’s When I’m Down in 2016 put him on the map, leading to a deal with Atlantic Records and the release of Welcome to LA, his first single under the Oliver Tree name.
His 2018 EP Alien Boy elevated his profile considerably, with the self-directed double music video All That x Alien Boy accumulating over 50 million views and introducing his distinctive retro-oddball persona to a mainstream audience.
On TikTok, where he had amassed 15.4 million followers, Tree became a genuine phenomenon. His 2021 single Life Goes On has been used in over 3.7 million videos on the platform, while Miss You has featured in 1.5 million more.
At the time of his death, Tree was in the middle of a headlining world tour in support of his fourth studio album, Love You Madly, Hate You Badly, which he had produced entirely himself. The tour had launched on 30 May in Mexico City and was scheduled to take in China, Japan, Antarctica, New Zealand and South Africa. He was 32 years old.
