The eccentric mind that belonged to Oliver Tree Nickell deserves to be studied for how over-the-top and how dedicated he was to this satirical, sardonic, and dry-witted character he performed to a tee.
It felt like a total fever dream waking up to the news of the Santa Cruz-born musician dying in a helicopter crash in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He had just kicked off his world tour that was very appropriately named "World's First World Tour," centered on his latest album Love You Madly Badly. Tree was only 32 years old.
There was a whole lot more behind the facade of a bowl-cut sportster that wants to do a whole lot of everything, as many music critics have put it.
"Life Goes On," which is his most recognisable song, took a chokehold on TikTok in 2021 and most of the Internet as it was the pinnacle of his pop rock and electropop appeal coupled with his trademark bowl cut and purple parka aesthetic.
His debut record Ugly Is Beautiful could be seen as a cult classic for many listeners and critics who appreciated Tree's zaniness, juxtaposed to his follow-up country record that showed his proclivity to mix genres in an unserious manner.
Other cuts from his catalogue such as "Alien Boy" and "Miss You" showcased his quirky songwriting and vocal approach and catchy electronic production.
The bowl cut, the oversized JNCO jeans, the throwback windbreakers, and tiny sunglasses resulted in a deliberate costume for a character that had a tendency to troll and embrace meme culture. A lot of his internet compatriots saw him as a modern-day Andy Kaufman because of this alluring cast of characters and the courage to build a career on the avant-garde.
The scary part of the character and what made him such a beloved figure in modern music is that his music was actually meticulously crafted, produced, and sounded compelling.
He had a viral interview with famous music nerd Anthony Fantano of TheNeedleDrop, where an irate Tree criticised Fantano for being a critic who doesn't make music all because he gave his debut album a score of 7 (which is a very good score in Fantano's book).
While he was far too young to be taken away from the world like that, it's safe to say that he played his esoteric self and stuck to the bit all the way till the end.
