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Nell Smith’s Posthumous Debut Shines with Psychedelic Warmth on “Boy in a Bubble”

  • February 27, 2025
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Nell Smith’s Posthumous Debut Shines with Psychedelic Warmth on “Boy in a Bubble”

There’s a bittersweet weight to Nell Smith’s posthumous debut solo album, Anxious, due out April 11 via Bella Union. At just 17, Smith had already carved out a singular artistic voice—one that lives on in her latest single, “Boy in a Bubble”. A swirling psychedelic tribute to Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips, the track feels like both a celebration and a cosmic thank-you, honoring the artist who helped shape her early creative journey.

Fueled by vibrant synth riffs, trippy guitar textures, and Coyne-approved dreamlike production, “Boy in a Bubble” captures the whimsy and wonder of their collaboration. Smith’s lyrics feel like pages from a kaleidoscopic diary, chronicling the magic of working alongside a musical hero. The accompanying video, produced by leading creative agency Firmative, weaves together electrifying live footage of Nell, Coyne, and The Flaming Lips, offering a vivid snapshot of the creative bond that shaped her early years.

Listen / Share: “Boy in a Bubble”

Beyond the music, Smith’s legacy continues through the Nell Smith Memorial Fund, which has already raised $16,000 toward its goal of $100,000. The fund aims to support emerging musicians, awarding $10,000 annually for the next decade—a fitting tribute to an artist whose work resonated deeply in such a short time. Fans can also contribute through newly released limited edition Nell & Wayne T-shirts, celebrating their creative partnership.

Posthumous releases often carry an emotional weight, but when an artist’s journey is cut so tragically short, that weight becomes almost unbearable. Anxious follows Smith’s 2021 collaboration with The Flaming Lips, Where The Viaduct Looms, a stunning collection of Nick Cave covers, and this time, her own songwriting takes center stage. Guided by Jack and Lily Wolter of Penelope Isles, the album showcases Smith’s raw, unfiltered perspective—melding youthful exhilaration with deep introspection. Some of these songs trace back to her earliest songwriting efforts at just 12 years old, now fully realized in a body of work that brims with emotion and promise.

“It is still very painful when I realize Nell is gone,” Coyne reflects. “I keep thinking I’ll check my text messages from her. I’m sure she has a new drawing or a new piece of a song… and then I remember she is gone. Now when I’m listening to her singing these songs, there is a brief fantastical joy. Her voice hits the ear, the ear tells the brain this is the sound of love, the brain lets the mind fly through the billions of connections it has with Nell’s life… but as it flies, it also flies to her death… there is something holy that happens now.”

That emotional duality—light and dark, joy and grief—permeates Anxious. Smith’s music was deeply rooted in the raw intensity of teenage experience: apprehension, love, travel, ambition, gratitude, and loss. Even in its heaviest moments, her debut finds a way to let light shine through the shadows, a testament to the creative spirit that continues to echo far beyond her years. Check it out below:

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Chris Ryan

Chris Ryan is an accomplished promoter, event planner, producer, activist, counselor, poet and blogger. Within the course of two and a half years Chris Ryan has worked with some of NYC's most established promoters/event planners, been named 2007′s GaySocialite of the year, granted a promoter of the year award from NYC's most famous gay establishment, Splash. He's worked in some of NYC's top venues including; Avalon, Capitale, Cipriani, Cielo, Pacha, Element, Le Poisson Rouge, XL, G Lounge, Plumm, Hilton Hotel, Indigo Hotel, Spirit, Myst/Quo, Splash, The Ritz, Vlada, Roseland Ballroom, Heaven, etc.In 2008, Chris Ryan has begun to unveil some of the most innovative & unique parties New York City has ever seen. The Fusion events "fuse" together all disciplines of art into an event that remains diverse yet cohesive at the same time. ChrisRyanNYC.com won best gay promotions website from NYC Event Patrons in 2008 & he was granted an award from the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club, Gov. Patterson & Michelle Clunie (QAF) saluting him for his hard work in nightlife. Chris Ryan has also begun working with many renown companies, including; doctors, lawyers, physicians, modeling agencies & more. Chris Ryan has been responsible for wide-scale promotions for all these companies & generating tremendous business. Chris Ryan has even started to become National with events taking place in LA & Miami this year.In May of 2009 Chris Ryan received the very prestigious honor of being named a "40 Under 40″ Gays in America by the Advocate Magazine. He also created three successful parties that generated over 1,500 patrons each. In January of 2010 Chris Ryan was featured as one of the top promoters to look out for in Noize Magazine Chris Ryan joined forces with legendary promoter/event producer, Lee Chappell and created one of the most talked about events of all 2010, Desire @ Capitale. Chris Ryan and Lee featured one of the most outstanding artists NYC has ever seen, "Oh Land." Her performance coupled with an exquisite and unforgettable set design added to this extravagant event that held over 1,000 patrons in one of NYC's most successful PRIDE events! Chris Ryan then joined forces with legendary Pacha promoter, Rob Fernandez in addition to Jake Resnicow and Tommy Marinelli to bring one of the largest and most successful parties worldwide to NYC, MATINEE. The event on Governor's Island saw over 2,000+ attendees and one of the most ambitious productions ever.In 2011 Chris Ryan started Emerge Music Promotions with business partner Darren Melchiorre. Emerge Music promotions began signing artists with plans to develop and market the artists to the community at large. Emerge Music promotions has big events planned for 2012 and 2013. Chris Ryan debuted the IMAGE events which took place on top of two of NYC's most beautiful rooftop venues, Rare View and Indigo Hotel. The events were blogged everywhere and featured the fashion designs of several clothing designers, artists and photographers. Chris Ryan felt that fashion and art should be displayed at every event and attracted the likes of Malan Breton, Calvin Klein and even Katy Perry. Chris Ryan began an extremely successful event which incorporated the concept of a house party into a nightclub atmosphere. The event Twist'D at G Lounge has been one of the most talked about events in NYC and allows it's audience to play nearly-naked Twister, beer pong, flip cup & more with other attendees. Chris Ryan was granted an excellence in volunteering award from AVP (Anti-Violence Project) for all his efforts in supporting the organization.2013 has a very promising landscape on the horizon and Chris Ryan is complacent in saying "you haven't seen anything yet!"

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