Nell Smith Memorial Fund

Last year I had the absolute pleasure of mastering ‘Anxious’, by Nell Smith, a young Canadian artist who had already started making waves, catching the attention of Wayne Coyne from The Flaming Lips who had produced a wonderful album of Nick Cave songs with her.

‘Anxious’ was her first album of original material, with three tracks written with the band Shred Kelly, and the whole album being co-written and produced by Jack and Lily Wolter of Brighton band Penelope Isles. It’s a beautiful, colourful album bursting with ideas and life that belied Nell’s young age and offered unimaginable potential.

Heartbreakingly, Nell died in Oct ‘24 in a car accident, right after completing a music video for the project, aged just 17. The album was already complete and the release campaign was already in motion, with the album being released by Bella Union in April 2025.

Nell’s parents have set up the Nell Smith Memorial Fund. To quote from the website:

“Nell's family is now on a mission to commemorate their beautiful daughter who achieved so much in her short 17 years by setting up a fund that will provide support and funding for young musicians.

The Nell Smith Memorial Fund will empower young musicians who share Nell’s dedication to pursuing a music career. It will provide grants and other support helping promising artists overcome financial barriers and achieve their dreams.

Our mission is to ensure that Nell’s memory inspires others to chase their passion for music with the same joy and determination she embodied.

We aim to raise $100,000 and give away $10,000 for the next ten years to deserving young artists. “

Please consider visiting the site, buying a record or some merch or making a donation, and when you play the album, play it loud.