On April 20, 2018, well-known and loved Swedish electronic dance music (EDM) star Avicii, real name Tim Bergling, passed away in Muscat, Oman. He was only 28 years old when he died.
While the circumstances around his death and the cause of his death are still unknown, it’s no doubt that the loss of one of EDM’s brightest stars has hit everyone in the music community hard. Avicii was a trailblazer for EDM.
Many of Avicii’s fellow EDM colleagues took to social media to bid farewell to their friend and often times, collaborator. Skrillex was quoted as saying Avicii was “truly a genius and an innovator, yet sensitive and humble.”
Another star, Diplo, wrote “You were the best of this generation…[sic] A real superstar.” Avicii’s impact can be seen in many of fellow EDM artists’ work, and it’s no doubt that he’ll have an impact for years to come.
Avicii’s influence reached far beyond just the EDM scene and stretched into much of what we call popular music today. Fellow artists such as Imagine Dragons and Charlie Puth have noted Avicii’s influence on their work, crediting him with helping them get to where they are today.
His rise to fame was a hallmark of the generation. Where countless DJ’s before him had spent years honing their skills and climbing tooth and nail to get to the top, Avicii started in his bedroom, gathering a following by posting videos online.
He only became a true DJ once the touring demand got high enough and called for him to start performing his music live. Shows for EDM musicians and other musicians of the DJ scene require a different level of performance than that of a band or singer.
With EDM shows, you have to incorporate lights and other visual elements as there’s really no ‘performance’ from the main star, since they don’t really sing or dance.
It’s no secret that Avicii was suffering from health issues. He was hospitalized for 11 days in January of 2012 for acute pancreatitis. In March 2013, he was again hospitalized and doctors suggested that his gallbladder be removed but he rejected their advice. The next year, his gallbladder became blocked and his appendix burst, requiring both to be removed.
In 2016, he was hospitalized and after his release, he retired from touring, never to return to the stage again.
In October 2010, Avicii released “Seeking Bromance” under the alias Tim Berg, and it topped Billboard’s Dance Club Songs chart and hit number 13 on the UK singles chart. He went on to release a few more songs, such as “Fade into Darkness” and “Blessed”, which were released under the same alias. He later released “Levels” under the name Avicii and it became a hit in the 2011-2012 scene.
His controversial album, “True” debuted in 2013. Avicii was criticized for the stylistic choices, in which he used banjos and instruments associated with country music and included voice tracks from soul and country singers. However, songs like “Wake Me Up” and “Hey Brother” from “True” became billboard smashing hits that skyrocketed Avicii’s fame tenfold.
Avicii will be missed dearly by his family, friends and fans all around the world. He was instrumental in making EDM what it is today, and in some ways, making pop music what it is today.
Jeri Hensley
Graphic Designer