Bella Union released “Billions of People”, the latest single from Nell Smith’s upcoming and posthumous debut solo album Anxious—an album already earning critical acclaim, including a 4-star review in MOJO magazine describing it as “dreamy and swirling as Clouds Taste Metallic-era Flaming Lips.”
The new single is especially poignant for the Fernie community. Written in September 2022 in collaboration with local indie-folk heroes Shred Kelly, “Billions of People” captures a deeply personal time in Nell’s life—fresh off tour with The Flaming Lips, while navigating the growing pains of teenage life in a small town.
“We met every week to work on songwriting together,” said Sage McBride of Shred Kelly. “Nell brought in the chorus of Billions of People one session. About 30 minutes in, she got a message from someone she had a connection with who was leaving town. She said she was going to bike to the bridge to say goodbye and would be back in a few minutes. That moment fuelled the inspiration for the verses.”
The song was later brought to life in studio with UK dream-pop outfit Penelope Isles and is now one of the standout tracks from Anxious, available to buy here.
Penelope Isles posted,”Go and listen to the new single by our very own @nellsmithmusic ‘Billions of People’… a song she wrote when she was 13 about falling in love. We miss you, Nell. These posts are really hard to write but this album we made together deserves to be played everywhere.”
The track now carries an added emotional weight. Like all of Nell’s work, “Billions of People” takes on a new and poignant resonance following her passing—an echo of her spirit, curiosity, and creative fire.
The music video—crafted by Fernie’s Alex Hanson of Hipgnosis Media—features footage from Nell’s earlier videos, live shows with The Flaming Lips, and intimate glimpses into her musical journey.
Produced by Jack and Lily Wolter of Penelope Isles and mixed and mastered in the UK and BC, the song is a global effort with deep local roots—crafted in Fernie, recorded in Brighton, with additional vocals tracked in Nanaimo by Howard Redekopp. BUY THE ALBUM HERE
“Billions of People” is supported by Creative BC and the Province of British Columbia.
Support Nell’s Memorial Fund to support young musicians here.
