A Career Built on Boldness and Originality
Tree was hard to miss — literally. His signature bowl cut and loud, retro-inspired fashion sense made him one of the most visually distinctive figures in modern music. He started in the San Francisco Bay Area, producing dubstep under the name "Tree," and released his debut EP "Demons" in 2013 through R&S Records. Things began to shift in 2016, when producer Whethan dropped "When I'm Down," a bright and energetic track that featured Tree and introduced him to a much wider audience. Within a month of that release, he had signed with Atlantic Records, putting out his first official single under the full name Oliver Tree.

It was his 2018 EP "Alien Boy" that really changed everything. The project pushed him firmly into the mainstream, not just in electronic music circles but across internet culture more broadly. The double music video for "All That x Alien Boy" — which Tree wrote and directed himself — racked up over 50 million views and introduced his retro-oddball aesthetic to audiences far beyond his existing fanbase.

His social media presence grew just as dramatically. On TikTok, he built a following of 15.4 million people. His breakout track "Life Goes On," which gained traction in 2021, has since been used in over 3.7 million videos on the platform. Another fan favorite, "Miss You," a dance-driven track with pitched-up vocals, has appeared in 1.5 million TikTok videos. At the time of his death, he was in the middle of a headlining world tour supporting his fourth studio album, "Love You Madly, Hate You Badly," which he produced entirely on his own. The tour had launched on May 30 in Mexico City, with planned stops in China, Japan, Antarctica, New Zealand, and South Africa still ahead.

Those Who Knew Him Speak Out
News of his death sent shockwaves through the music world, and tributes began pouring in almost immediately. Among the most personal came from singer-songwriter Melanie Martinez, who had previously dated Tree. Writing on social media, she described being in a state of shock. She spoke about how difficult it was to process losing someone who had once been so central to her life, calling him deeply dedicated to his craft — something she said she admired and respected greatly.

Martinez recalled the warmth he brought to those around him. His laugh, she wrote, was contagious. His ability to lead creatively while holding onto a sense of childlike wonder was something she found genuinely inspiring. "He had such a heart and was a true artist in every way," she wrote. She closed with a farewell that captured his spirit perfectly — playful, imaginative, and full of life even in grief. "Rest in peace, Oliver. I know you're making the angels giggle. I'll be here wondering what stunt and creative project you're scheming up in heaven."

The investigation into the cause of the collision is ongoing.