Oliver Tree, the singer-songwriter best known for hit tracks such as “Life Goes On” and “Miss You,” has reportedly died at the age of 32.
Born Oliver Tree Nickell, the artist was identified among the six people who lost their lives in a helicopter crash on Sunday in Recreio dos Bandeirantes, a neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro’s southwest zone, according to CNN.
The other victims were named as passengers Lucas Vignale, Gaspar Prim—widely known as Argentine YouTuber Gaspi—and Lucas Brito Chaves, along with pilots Alexandre Souza and Charles Marsillac.
Oliver Tree was 32 years old at the time of his death. The singer is pictured here attending the premiere of Paradise Records at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2025.
According to CNN, two helicopters collided midair early Sunday morning while flying over an electric vehicle storage yard. The crash sparked a large fire, with at least 20 vehicles reportedly catching fire after being struck by debris from the collision.
Local Civil Police told the outlet that the investigation remains ongoing and that forensic experts have been called to examine the crash site as authorities work to determine the cause of the accident.
Tree was traveling aboard one of the helicopters alongside passengers Lucas Vignale, Gaspar Prim, Lucas Brito Chaves, and pilot Alexandre Souza. The second aircraft was being operated solely by pilot Charles Marsillac.
The musician, pictured here performing onstage, was traveling aboard a helicopter with four other people when it reportedly collided with a second aircraft over an electric vehicle storage yard in Rio de Janeiro.
In addition to local police, emergency crews from the Fire Department, CET (Traffic Engineering Company), Comlurb, and officers from the 31st Military Police Battalion (Recreio dos Bandeirantes) were deployed to secure and isolate the crash site.
In a statement, the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) confirmed that investigators from the Third Regional Service for Investigation and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents (SERIPA III), based in Rio de Janeiro, were dispatched to begin the initial stages of the investigation into the collision involving helicopters registered as PP-MAC and PR-DJJ.
“The Brazilian Air Force (FAB), through the Center for Investigation and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents (CENIPA), informs that investigators were called to carry out the Initial Action of the incident,” the statement said. Authorities added that the process includes collecting and verifying data, preserving evidence, assessing damage, and gathering information necessary to determine the circumstances surrounding the accident.
Tree had been touring South America as part of his The World’s First World Tour. The singer recently performed in São Paulo on June 6 and was scheduled to resume the tour with a concert in Lisbon on July 13.
Tree, pictured here performing onstage in January 2024, was in Brazil as part of his The World’s First World Tour at the time of the crash.
Tree was scheduled to continue The World’s First World Tour with a performance in Lisbon on July 13. He is pictured here attending the SnowGlobe Music Festival in December 2017.
Born in Santa Cruz, California, Tree began gaining recognition as a teenager and emerged on the music scene under the moniker “Tree,” collaborating with prominent electronic artists including Skrillex and Zeds Dead.
Following the release of an independent album in 2013, he stepped away from the spotlight to focus on studying music technology before eventually returning to his recording career.
Tree re-emerged with his debut studio album, Ugly Is Beautiful, which included the hit single “Life Goes On.” He later released the albums Cowboy Tears and Alone in a Crowd, followed by Love You Madly Hate You Badly, which was released in April 2026.
