The identification of the body of singer Oliver Tree, one of the six people who lost their lives in the helicopter collision last Sunday, has not yet been completed. The artist’s body was charred, which makes immediate recognition difficult. For this reason, the Civil Police reported that samples were collected to carry out genetic tests.
Currently, the Instituto Médico-Legal Afrânio Peixoto (IML), located in the central area of Rio de Janeiro, is conducting analyzes on the victim’s dental arch, but the need for a DNA test remains as an alternative.
The 42nd Police Station (Recreio dos Bandeirantes) continues with investigations into the air tragedy, according to the Civil Police. The bodies of Brazilians Lucas Brito, Charles Marsillac and Alexandre Souza, as well as Argentines Gaspar Prim and Lucas Vignale, have already been officially identified. At the same time, the Aviation Accident Investigation and Prevention Center (Cenipa) carries out investigations to determine the causes of aircraft collisions.
The United States Embassy expressed its condolences to the singer’s family and announced that, as a sign of respect for those involved, it will not disclose details about the transfer process.
Originally from California, Oliver Tree Nickell took his first steps in his musical career when he was still a teenager. However, it was from the mid-2010s that he gained worldwide recognition, securing a contract with Atlantic Records after his song “When I’m Down” went viral. His striking image, which included a quirky haircut, vibrant outfits and elaborate performances, cemented itself as a pillar of his artistic persona, boosting his online fame.
The singer, who was on a global tour, had arrived in Rio de Janeiro a few days before the tragic accident. During his visit to the capital of Rio de Janeiro, he explored Rocinha, the largest favela in Brazil, where he enjoyed a motorcycle ride, participated in a barbecue and even scored a goal in an informal match.
In addition to his side as a singer, he stood out as a composer, rapper and filmmaker. Her initial breakthrough came with the viral success of the track “When I’m Down”, and other global hits include “Life Goes On” and “Miss You”. Throughout his career, the artist has released a total of four albums.
On Instagram, Oliver had a base of 2.3 million followers, who followed his humorous posts. Currently, the number of his fans on the platform already exceeds 4.1 million. His last post revealed the enjoyment of his time in Rio. The photographs showed the artist kicking balls on a football court, adopting a haircut typical of the local culture, preparing a barbecue, riding a motorcycle through a community and pronouncing a few words in Portuguese.
This was not Oliver’s only publication with allusions to Brazil. Five days earlier, he had already shared a video alongside influencer and musician Lucas Vinícius, known as Lucas Inutilismo, making the statement: “Brazilian rock is a million times better than American rock”. On the same date, he was also seen with influencer Akihito.
The rise and global recognition of Oliver Tree’s musical trajectory
The artist’s death interrupted a trajectory marked by songs that went viral and partnerships with big names in current pop, electronic music and hip-hop. Recognized for his extravagant visual style, unique humor and diverse hits, the singer had more than 11 million listeners per month on Spotify, establishing himself as one of the most eclectic figures on the digital music scene.
In a career that lasted just over ten years, Oliver Tree developed a body of musical works that explored different genres, allowing him to collaborate with renowned artists such as David Guetta, Diplo, Marshmello, Travis Barker and Brazilian DJ Alok, who produced a successful remix of “Life Goes On”.
Among his most notable collaborations is that with German DJ Robin Schulz. In 2022, the duo released “Miss You”, a song that achieved worldwide success and had hundreds of millions of streams on digital platforms. This song played a fundamental role in introducing Oliver Tree to a wider audience, consolidating itself as one of the biggest hits of his professional career.
In the sphere of electronic music, the artist also established a partnership with David Guetta, one of the most renowned DJs globally. Together, they released the track “Here We Go Again” in 2024, which combined Tree’s quirky pop sound with elements of Electronic Dance Music (EDM). This collaboration intensified the American singer’s participation in musical events and playlists dedicated to the genre.
Diplo represented another significant name in his artistic career. After the singer’s death, the music producer released a touching tribute on his social networks, referring to Tree as “the brother he never had” and praising his creativity, his sense of humor and his striking individuality. The two cultivated a solid friendship and had worked together on several projects in recent years.
Oliver Tree also had a connection with the rap universe. In conversations, Diplo mentioned a recording session where he and Tree were collaborating on a track with Tyga. The producer reported that, upon returning from the bathroom, he found Tree transforming the recording into a spontaneous and good-humored “diss track”.
Marshmello, who performed at Rock in Rio in 2022, was another frequent partner. Both collaborated at different stages of Tree’s career, including on the song “Hurt”, which later served as the basis for “Miss You”, one of the biggest viral phenomena of recent years.
The list of artists with whom he has collaborated also includes names such as Whethan, KSI and the Russian band Little Big, highlighting the musician’s ability to navigate varied musical styles without compromising his authenticity.
Works that raise debate about ‘premonition’ in his career
Shortly before the tragic collision, precisely four months earlier, the artist released the music video for his song “Flowers”. In it, Oliver Tree is seen positioned between two helicopters, a scenario that internet users have begun to interpret as a form of premonition.
In the music video, which was released on February 20, the singer wears an airplane pilot’s uniform and moves through an area with several aircraft, performing actions such as cleaning them and exploring them during the 2 minutes and 27 seconds of filming. At the end of production, Oliver Tree climbs a ladder and, with binoculars, positions himself in the middle of two helicopters.
The lyrics of the composition, which address feelings of hurt resulting from betrayal, also include a message directed at the traitor: “Put flowers on my grave / Because I will hate you until the day I die”.
In 2018, Oliver Tree had also released a song in which his figure is shown after his death. In the track “Hurt”, the American artist has his body being removed from a street by firefighters, after a fall that occurred while he was flying.
Estate plans: Oliver Tree’s legacy
Weeks before his death, at the age of 32, the American musician had shared his plans for his own financial legacy. In an interview in April, he declared his desire for his inheritance to be directed towards nurturing new artistic talents, rather than bequeathed to family members, a purpose that now takes on even greater weight in light of his unexpected departure.
During his appearance on the American podcast “Zach Sang Show”, the artist mentioned the creation of a foundation dedicated to offering grants to financially support the development of new artistic ventures.
Tree clarified that the earnings from his works would be used to help other musicians and singers realize their conceptions through cooperation and production. He also expressed the hope that this initiative would continue to support creators for generations.
“The goal is that, after my death, all the capital will revert to the artists,” declared Tree. He detailed: “I created a foundation called Dr. Oliver Tree’s Art Grants for Baby Geniuses. The structure was designed so that the income generated by my compositions finances this activity. However, there is the possibility of receiving other contributions, because, when I am no longer here, my artistic production will maintain a residual value and will probably be more appreciated than it is today”, he added.
Repercussion of the romance with Melanie Martinez and the tribute from his ex-girlfriend
The singer’s death prompted fans to relive various aspects of his artistic journey. Among them, the relationship he had with singer Melanie Martinez. The relationship, which lasted two years, became one of the most discussed moments of his life and continued to generate comments even after it ended.
The two artists made their relationship public in 2019, during which time they already had millions of fans and admirers globally. Due to their eccentric styles and unique artistic identities — which involved building personas with distinctive visuals — they quickly became one of the most watched couples in the alternative and electronic music genres.
At that time, it was common to see them exchanging affectionate messages on social media or giving interviews together. In a dialogue published by the American magazine Alternative Press, the duo demonstrated the harmony that captivated their admirers. Between jokes, provocations and expressions of admiration, Oliver stated that Melanie was “the most beautiful woman in the world” and, with good humor, made a marriage proposal.
However, the relationship also generated criticism and hostile reactions from fans. In October 2019, Melanie defended her boyfriend after receiving attacks from her own admirers, who considered him “not up to” her beauty. At that moment, she published a message asking for respect and declared that Oliver was “the love of all my lives”.
The romance came to an end approximately a year later, but continued to spark speculation. In subsequent interviews, Oliver revealed that he faced emotional challenges following the breakup. According to him, many fans persisted in associating Melanie’s songs and projects with the old relationship, even though the singer denied any connection.
Even after the breakup, the two maintained a respectful coexistence. The narrative, which began with an exchange of messages, relaxed interviews and public displays of affection, turned into one of the most memorable episodes in Oliver Tree’s life — not only because of the vast repercussion among fans, but also because of the mutual affection that both maintained even after the end of the union.
Last Sunday (14), after Oliver’s death, Melanie Martinez paid a moving tribute to her former partner through Instagram Stories. The singer described Tree as a “true artist”, possessing a “sweet heart” and a “contagious and warm” laugh.
The artist also expressed the difficulty in assimilating Oliver Tree’s abrupt departure, especially after having shared a relevant phase of their formative lives. She reiterated that even after the breakup, they remained friends.
Melanie concluded her tribute with the certainty that Tree is making the “angels in heaven” laugh as she envisions her next great work and new creative project.
