VICTORIA, Australia — 10 August 2026, Talae Rodden, better known by his stage name RICEWINE, a Thai-Australian artist from Melbourne, Australia, has died at the age of 27 after a tragic road accident on Mount Buller Road in Victoria.
Talae was travelling with his mother, Sally, who was driving, when a large tree branch suddenly fell onto their car.
Emergency responders and medical teams rushed to the scene to provide assistance, but Talae died before he could be taken to hospital. His mother sustained serious injuries in the accident.
For fans in Thailand, Talae, or RICEWINE, was a familiar name in the local indie music scene. He had performed in Thailand several times, including a show in Chiang Mai and an appearance at the Maho Rasop Festival 2024.
RICEWINE was a music project created by Talae, blending indie pop, lo-fi, hip-hop and folk into an emotive and distinctive sound.
His songs, including “Summer Spent”, “Maybe”, “Photo” and “Already Gone”, earned him a following among indie music fans in Australia and overseas.
His death at the age of 27 has prompted an outpouring of grief among fans and those who had followed his music in Thailand and beyond.