Why Oliver Tree’s final album almost never saw the light of day before his death

The singer’s battle with his record label nearly stopped the album from being released

Just weeks before his death, Oliver Tree was locked in a public battle to ensure his latest album would see the light of day.

In April 2026, the singer revealed that his new project, Love You Madly, Hate You Badly, had been shelved amid a dispute with his longtime label, Atlantic Records. Tree claimed the album's release had been canceled and announced plans to part ways with the company after years of collaboration.

The musician openly criticized the lack of support he felt the album was receiving, alleging that there was little marketing behind the project and expressing frustration over what he described as the music industry's growing focus on creating viral social media hits.

Tree said the album represented more than two years of work and reflected experiences gathered while traveling across dozens of countries. He described the possibility of the project being abandoned as devastating after investing so much time and effort into its creation.

The dispute quickly attracted attention from fans, many of whom rallied behind the singer online and urged the label to release the music. Following negotiations, an agreement was eventually reached that allowed Love You Madly, Hate You Badly to be released through Tree's own imprint, Alien Boy Records.

The album finally arrived on April 24, ending months of uncertainty and giving fans the music Tree had fought so hard to share.

Tragically, the release would become one of the final milestones of his career. Less than two months later, Tree died at age 32 following a helicopter crash in Brazil while traveling during his world tour.

In the wake of his death, many fans have revisited his final statements about the album, viewing his determination to release the project as a testament to his dedication to music and creative independence.