
Oliver Tree Nickell, born in 1993 and raised in Santa Cruz, California, discovered his passion for music early on. He first gained attention in 2013 with his EP, Demons, which included a popular cover of Radiohead’s “Karma Police.” In 2016, he went viral again with the songs “Forget It” (with Getter) and “When I’m Down” (with Whethan).
Soon after, he signed with Atlantic Records and released the EP Alien Boy, followed by albums like Ugly Is Beautiful, Cowboy Tears, and Alone in a Crowd, as well as hit songs such as “Miss You” and “Life Goes On.” His most recent album, Love You Madly Hate You Badly, came out in April 2026, and he began a world tour in May, including a stop in São Paulo, Brazil on June 6.
Tree is also known for creating distinctive and often outlandish personas. In a 2023 interview with Billboard, he explained that his unconventional image unexpectedly gained him more attention than his music. He believes it reflects society’s current state, noting that while things may seem silly, experimentation is important for innovation and creating something new.