Who was Oliver Tree? Meet singer-songwriter who was killed in helicopter crash in Brazil

Singer Oliver Tree tragically died on Sunday, June 14, after being involved in a helicopter crash in Brazil. He was 32 years old.

According to multiple outlets, Tree was named as one of six victims in the collision. He was riding in a helicopter with four other passengers when their aircraft struck another helicopter with one sole passenger mid-air.

The helicopters collided while flying over an electric vehicle yard, causing at least 20 cars to catch fire after being hit in the crash.

The other victims have been identified as passengers Lucas Vignale, Gaspar Prim (also known as Argentinian YouTuber Gaspi), Lucas Brito Chaves, and pilots Alexandre Souza and Charles Marsillac.

Keep scrolling to learn more about the late singer.

He had a successful music career

Born in Santa Cruz, California, Tree first rose to fame at 17 years old in 2010 and started working with big names like Skrillex and Zeds Dead under the moniker “Tree.”

After releasing an independent album in 2013, he then took a step away from music for years to pursue studies in music technology.

He returned to music in 2020 with his first studio album, titled “Ugly Is Beautiful,” which featured his platinum hit “Life Goes On.” He followed up the project with “Cowboy Tears,” “Alone in a Crowd,” and his April 2026 album, “Love You Madly Hate You Badly.”

He was visiting Brazil as part of his world tour, titled “The World’s First World Tour.” He had just finished his June 6 show in Sao Paolo and was scheduled to pick up the tour in Lisbon on July 13.

Throughout his career, he collaborated with other big names — some of whom wrote heartfelt messages honoring the late artists’ life after his death.

Singer-songwriter Bebe Rexha wrote on X: “I’m in shock. I was in the middle of my cd signing in nyc when I found the news of Oliver tree. I can’t believe it. We recorded a record together to be on dirty blonde. He was so smart. Passionate. Talented. Kind. I’m so sad. May he rest in peace.”

Comedian Whitney Cummings wrote: “Oliver Tree is one of the most talented people on earth and usually that comes with an ego and all kinds of dickhead nonsense, but Oliver is pure love and the best version of what an artist and person can and should be. There’s no silver lining. We lost a giant.”

He dated Melanie Martinez

Tree was romantically linked to singer Melanie Martinez from 2019 to 2020. While the romance was short-lived, the artists appeared to remain amicable after their split.

In 2024, Tree addressed the breakup in a YouTube video revealing he became depressed after their breakup due to speculation from Martinez’s fans over their uncoupling.

“I had dated another artist and when we broke up, her fans came after me,” Tree said at the time. “She had asked them, ‘Hey guys, please let Oliver be. We’re on good terms.’”

He added, “She released an album recently and her fans speculated that it was about me. She responded in the comment sections on TikTok also, being like ‘Hey, the album’s not about him.’”

Martinez also honored Tree with a touching tribute shared to her Instagram Stories on Sunday.

“Been an absolute wreck today. It’s really hard to understand how someone who you once shared such a specific and formative time of your life with can all of a sudden be gone,” she wrote.

“He was so dedicated to his art which I admired and respected so deeply. I think everyone who knew him will look back on those moments of laughter and joy he so easily sparked. His laugh was so contagious and warm.”

“Rest in Peace Oliver. I know you’re making the angels giggle.”

He briefly explored polyamory

Years after his split from Martinez, Tree told influencer Logan Paul that he was “exploring” polyamory and had “a bunch of girlfriends.”

“I wish I had an excuse for this. I think it goes with the lifestyle. Well, I just have been exploring it, you know. For the right person, I could be monogamous. I was always monogamous my whole life. I was like, ‘I’m a monogamous guy. And this is all I could ever do,’” he said in the 2022 video.

“And then when you explore more. When you live the lifestyle we do. I literally am on the road. I haven’t lived anywhere for six months, and I lived for one year during COVID in LA. And then before that I was traveling for five years, no house, just suitcases. It’s hard for me to have, like a girlfriend when I don’t live anywhere.”

Most of his money will go back to artists

In one of his final interviews before his tragic passing, Tree revealed that his plans for his money to be donated back to future artists after he dies.

“I don’t believe that any of the wealth or the things that get made from [music] is mine,” he said on the “Zach Sang Show” in April.

“My will is set up that when I pass, my family — no one’s gonna get a penny. If I have a wife or kids or anything, not getting a f–king penny. I’ll get my kids through college, that’s the agreement. But, there’s not gonna be a silver spoon.”

“The idea is when I die, all of the money is gonna go back to artists. So I’ve set up a foundation, it’s called Dr. Oliver Tree’s Art Grants for Baby Geniuses, and it’s set up so that basically the interest generated from my music, we’ll take mostly that — but there’s also room for other money ’cause when I die, my art will continue to have residuals probably be worth more than it is now,” he added.