Diplo and Logan Paul Pay Tribute to Oliver Tree at Santa Cruz ‘Celebration of Life’

Friends, family, and industry peers gathered in Santa Cruz, California, on Saturday, July 25, to honor the late musician Oliver Tree. The public “Celebration of Life” took place at the Quarry Amphitheater, arriving six weeks after the 32-year-old singer tragically lost his life in a helicopter crash in Rio de Janeiro.

True to the eccentric aesthetic that defined his multifaceted career, the memorial embraced a distinctly surreal atmosphere. Placed prominently in front of the stage were three open caskets holding mannequins dressed in Tree’s signature vibrant windbreakers, oversized sunglasses, cowboy hats, and unmistakable bowl cuts.

Among the guest speakers were high-profile figures such as Diplo and Logan Paul. Diplo described the artist as one of the most genuine individuals he had ever encountered, while Paul delivered a heartfelt yet humorous eulogy. Poking gentle fun at Tree’s iconic hairstyles, Paul joked that the late singer was likely watching from the heavens and feeling “super disappointed in this production.”

“Oliver was everyone’s best friend. He was an adventurer with an incomparable zest for life and the ultimate ability to make anyone feel seen and heard,” Paul shared with the crowd. “Oliver is a generational artist whose legacy and music will last forever, and he’d be proud of all of us for keeping our heads up high by celebrating the impact of his time here on Earth, because at the end of the day, life goes on.”

Tree’s parents also took the stage to share touching reflections on their son’s relentless drive. “I think Oliver would say trust yourself, get off the couch, produce art, and it’s really important to get in there and get your hands dirty,” they remarked, summarizing him simply as “a doer.”

All proceeds from the event benefited Dr. Oliver Tree’s Extremely Epic Grant for Baby Geniuses, a philanthropic foundation established by his estate in accordance with his final wishes. Prior to his passing, Tree frequently emphasized his desire to reinvest his success back into the creative community. Speaking on an April episode of the Zach Sang Show, he noted, “The idea is, when I die, all the money is going to go back to artists.”

Born Oliver Tree Nickell, the artist carved out a deeply influential niche across music, filmmaking, and internet culture, frequently utilizing absurdist alter egos and striking visual concepts. Over his career, he released four major-label studio albums through Atlantic Records: Ugly Is Beautiful (2020), Cowboy Tears (2022), Alone in a Crowd (2023), and Love You Madly Hate You Badly (2026)—the latter of which marked his first full-length project created without an alter ego. His breakout debut, Ugly Is Beautiful, peaked at No. 14 on the Billboard 200 and topped the Top Rock & Alternative Albums chart, while his hit single “Life Goes On” reached No. 7 on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart. Additionally, his 2022 collaboration with Robin Schulz, “Miss You,” surged to No. 4 on the Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart and secured a 2024 BRIT Award nomination for Best International Song.

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