Oliver Tree, the genre-blurring singer-songwriter known for his distinct style and theatrical performances, died Sunday in a helicopter collision in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was 32. The crash involved two helicopters and resulted in the deaths of six people, including Argentine YouTuber Gaspar Prim, also known as Gaspi, according to Brazilian authorities and media reports.

The midair collision occurred Sunday morning, with one of the helicopters crashing into a car dealership parking lot, authorities said. An official investigation into the cause of the accident is underway.

Born Oliver Tree Nickell in Santa Cruz, California, Tree first emerged in the electronic music scene under the name Tree. He released his debut EP, “Demons,” in 2013, which featured a cover of Radiohead’s “Karma Police.” After attending CalArts near Los Angeles, he signed with Atlantic Records and released the EP “Alien Boy” in 2018, marking his major-label debut.

Tree was widely recognized for his unconventional image, including a striking bowl cut hairstyle, which he described as a deliberate rejection of conventional beauty standards. He told a local publication that his appearance was meant to stand out by appearing “silly and ridiculous” in contrast to prevailing trends.

Over his career, Tree gained popularity on the festival circuit, performing at major events such as Lollapalooza, Coachella, and Outside Lands. He collaborated with notable artists including Skrillex, David Guetta, and Zeds Dead. Tree was also known for his commitment to creative visual storytelling, emphasizing the significance of his music videos as a core part of his artistic identity. In an interview, he expressed his aspiration to transition into filmmaking as a future endeavor.

His major label debut album, “Ugly Is Beautiful,” was released in 2020, featuring the single “Life Goes On.” He achieved further international success with the track “Miss You,” a collaboration with German DJ Robin Schulz that charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Most recently, Tree independently released his fourth full-length album, “Love You Madly Hate You Badly,” in April 2026.

Tree had recently completed a performance in Buenos Aires on June 4 and had planned concert dates across Europe, Australia, and China from July to October. He also appeared as a special guest at this year’s Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival alongside electronic producer Subtronics. One of his final public mentions promoted a show scheduled for August 9 at the Quarry Amphitheater on the University of California, Santa Cruz campus.

Following the news of his death, Schulz expressed his condolences on social media, describing Tree as a “lovely soul” and “one of a kind character,” and extended sympathies to his family, friends, and fans worldwide.