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Tim Bergling[a] (8 September 1989 – 20 April 2018), known professionally as Avicii,[b] was a Swedish DJ, remixer, and record producer. At age 16, he began posting his remixes on electronic music forums, which led to his first record deal.[2] He rose to prominence in 2011 with his single "Levels". His debut studio album, True (2013), blended electronic music with elements of multiple genres and received generally positive reviews. It peaked in the top 10 in more than 15 countries and topped international charts; the lead single, "Wake Me Up", topped most music markets in Europe and reached number four in the United States.

Key Information

In 2015, Bergling released his second studio album, Stories, and in 2017 he released an extended play, Avīci (01). His catalog also included the singles "I Could Be the One" with Nicky Romero, "You Make Me", "X You", "Hey Brother", "Addicted to You", "The Days", "The Nights", "Waiting for Love", "Without You", "Lonely Together" and "SOS". Bergling was nominated for a Grammy Award for his work on "Sunshine" with David Guetta in 2012[3] and "Levels" in 2013. Several music publications credit Bergling as among the DJs who ushered electronic music into Top 40 radio in the early 2010s.[4]

Bergling retired from touring in 2016, after several years of stress and poor mental health. In 2018, he died by suicide while on holiday in Muscat, Oman. His third and final album, Tim, was released posthumously in 2019.

Life and career

[edit]

1989–2010: Early life and career

[edit]

Tim Bergling was born in Stockholm on 8 September 1989,[5] the son of Klas Bergling, who ran an office supply business, and actress Anki Lidén.[6] He had three siblings: David Bergling, Linda Sterner, and actor Anton Körberg. He started mixing in his bedroom at the age of eight.[7]

Inspired by his brother, who was also a DJ, he began making music at the age of 16,[8] teaching himself to use a pirated copy of FL Studio.[6] In May 2007, Bergling signed on with the Dejfitts Plays label.[9] He was a member of the Laidback Luke Forums, where he refined his craft and, at times, demonstrated his distinct deep house style.[10] By 2009 or 2010, Bergling was a prolific producer and was releasing music incredibly quickly. His remixes during this period were "Sound of Now", "Muja", "Ryu" and "Even". Bergling adopted his moniker Avicii, which is a respelling of Avīci, which according to Bergling means "the lowest level of Buddhist hell." He chose the moniker because his real name was already used upon creating his Myspace page.[11][12] In 2010, Bergling released the hit song "Seek Bromance", which reached the top 20 in several countries, including Belgium,[13] France,[14] the Netherlands,[15] United Kingdom,[16] and Sweden.[17] He also remixed Nadia Ali's classic single "Rapture" for her album Queen of Clubs Trilogy: Onyx Edition. In October 2010, Bergling signed with the European A&R team with EMI Music Publishing.[18]

2011–2013: "Levels"

[edit]
Avicii at the Inox Festival in September 2011

In 2011, Bergling's track "Fade into Darkness" was sampled by Leona Lewis on her single "Collide". The sampling was not accredited and led to controversy as Bergling attempted to block the single's release. The matter was resolved out of court, with "Collide" being made a joint release between Lewis and Bergling.[19] In October 2011, Bergling released "Levels", which launched him into the mainstream. "Levels" reached the top ten in Austria,[20] Belgium,[21] Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Denmark,[22] Finland,[23] Germany,[24] Greece, Ireland,[25] Italy,[26] the Netherlands,[27] Slovenia and the United Kingdom,[28] whilst topping the charts in Hungary,[29] Norway[30] and Sweden.[31]

In 2012, his collaboration track "Sunshine" with David Guetta was nominated for a Grammy award under the category for Best Dance Recording.[3] On 23 March 2012, Bergling's unsigned single "Last Dance" was previewed on Pete Tong's show on BBC Radio 1.[32] The song was later released on 27 August 2012. At Ultra Music Festival 2012 in Miami, he premiered two tracks, "Girl Gone Wild" (Avicii's UMF Remix) with Madonna[33] and "Superlove" with Lenny Kravitz.[34] Bergling's UMF Remix of "Girl Gone Wild" was released on 20 April 2012, and "Superlove" with Kravitz was released on 29 May 2012. After reaching two million followers on Facebook, Bergling released a new song titled "Two Million". It was put out as a free download on his official SoundCloud page. On 27 April 2012, Bergling released "Silhouettes". The song featured vocals from Salem Al Fakir and peaked at number 5 on the UK Dance charts[35] and number 4 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs.[36]

Avicii during an interview in May 2012

Bergling was a featured performer on 4 August 2012 at Lollapalooza festival in Chicago's Grant Park.[37] On 12 August 2012, he released "Dancing in My Head" (Avicii's 'Been Cursed' Mix) on Beatport.[38] The track features vocals from Eric Turner. A radio edit of the track, titled "Dancing in My Head" (Tom Hangs Mix) was released on 14 August 2012 on iTunes, and a remix EP was later released on 30 October 2012 featuring remixes from Charlie Bernardo and Michael Woods. On 26 September 2012, Bergling made history as the first DJ to headline the world-famous Radio City Music Hall in New York City.[39] He performed two sold-out shows on 26 and 27 September. He was supported by Matt Goldman and Cazzette at the two shows. At his Radio City Music Hall shows, he played a preview of his new track with Mike Posner titled "Stay with You".[40]

On 29 December 2012, Bergling premiered many new songs at Lights All Night, Dallas Convention Center, some of which made it on to his first album, True. These unreleased songs included "I'll Be Gone" and "Let It Go".[41] The instrumental of "Let It Go" was mixed with the cappella of "Addicted to You" to become "Addicted to You (Avicii by Avicii)".

On the same day, Bergling released "I Could Be the One" with Nicky Romero.[42] After first being debuted at his shows almost a year earlier, the track finally got released via Bergling's record label Levels. The new vocal version was released along with an instrumental version, a radio edit, and remixes from Audrio and Didrick. On 9 January 2013, Bergling launched the Avicii X You project, a partnership with Ericsson[43] designed to create the world's first "crowdsourced" hit song.[44] The project enabled fans to send in basslines, effects, melodies, rhythms and vocals to Bergling as sound files over the Internet.[45] Each week, Bergling would choose his three favorite sounds and put these samples up for public vote. Once all the sounds were selected, Avicii began working on a track incorporating all the beats. Bergling acted as executive producer and created the finished song officially titled X You, which was released on 26 February 2013.[46] On 30 January 2013, Bergling released "Three Million" featuring Negin to celebrate three million fans on his Facebook page.[47]

Bergling was nominated for a Grammy for Best Dance Recording with "Levels" at the 2013 Grammy Awards.[48] He was nominated alongside Calvin Harris and Ne-Yo, Skrillex, Swedish House Mafia and John Martin, and Al Walser. The award show took place on 10 February 2013. From late February to early March 2013, Bergling toured Australia as one of the headline acts in the Future Music Festival alongside The Prodigy and The Stone Roses.[49] In late February 2013, Bergling made his first South American tour, with concerts in Venezuela, Argentina, Colombia, Brazil and Chile.[50]

2013–2014: True

[edit]
Main article: True (Avicii album)
Avicii's logo for his album True

In March 2013, Bergling announced and premiered new tracks from his forthcoming new album True—which was released in September that year—during his Main Stage set at Ultra Music Festival in Miami. The new tracks were experimental in nature. For example, Bergling brought out a stomping band to play through the new bluegrass-tinged song "Wake Me Up".[51][52] Many of these new songs received mixed critical reviews after the concert.[53]

On 11 April 2013, Bergling released his new album promo mix on SoundCloud. It contained some songs from True and some of his non-album singles.[54] It also contained some of his IDs such as "Black and Blue" and "Enough is Enough (Don't Give Up On Us)".

The EBU and SVT announced on 15 April that Bergling, along with ex-ABBA members Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, had composed the anthem for the Eurovision Song Contest 2013. The song was performed for the first time in the Final on 18 May.[55]

On 14 June 2013, the world premiere of Bergling's new single, "Wake Me Up", was previewed by Pete Tong on BBC Radio 1, featuring vocals from Aloe Blacc.[56] The song was later released on iTunes and radio on 25 June 2013. It is the first single from Bergling's album True, which was released on 16 September 2013. "Wake Me Up" was number 1 on the Spotify Global Chart and Bergling was at 2 in most streamed artist worldwide.[57] "Wake Me Up" later went on to set a then record of 14 weeks as the number one hit on Billboard's Dance/Electronic Songs list.[58] The Official Charts Company announced on 21 July that "Wake Me Up" had become the UK's fastest selling single of 2013 after overtaking Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines", having sold 267,000 copies in its first week on sale in the UK.[59] "Wake Me Up" subsequently became a major hit, topping the charts in over 20 countries including Australia,[60] Germany,[61] Ireland,[62] Italy, Sweden,[63] the Netherlands,[64] and New Zealand.[65]

On 19 October 2013, the DJ Mag 2013 Top 100 DJs List was announced, with Bergling ranking number 3 on the list. Hardwell became the new World No.1, displacing Armin Van Buuren.[66] On 28 October 2013, Bergling released the single "Hey Brother" with vocals by Dan Tyminski.[67] On 10 November, Bergling won his first award—"Best Electronic"—at the MTV EMAs.[68] On 24 November 2013 he won the American Music Award for favorite Electronic Dance Music Artist.[69]

In December 2013, Bergling released his fourth single off the album, "Addicted to You", which reached number 5 in Australia,[70] with vocals from Audra Mae, who also sings on "Shame on Me" and "Long Road to Hell", both tracks on the album.[71] Bergling also released the single "Lay Me Down", featuring vocals from Adam Lambert and guitar from Nile Rodgers.[72] On 29 December 2013, Bergling debuted his new track "Dreaming of Me", featuring vocals from Audra Mae, via episode 19 of his LE7ELS podcast.[73] It is unknown whether it will be released in the future.

On 28 February 2014, Wake Me Up became the first song in history to surpass 200 million listeners on Spotify, making it the platform's most-streamed track at the time. The song held the top spot as the most-played track on the platform for 506 days until it was overtaken by Ed Sheeran's Thinking Out Loud in May 2015.[74]

On 8 March 2014, Bergling's Instagram account confirmed a collaboration with Madonna, and he is credited for co-writing and co-producing some of the tracks on her Rebel Heart album, released in 2015.[75][76] On 21 March 2014, Bergling released a remixed edition of his album True titled True: Avicii By Avicii containing remixes by himself of all the tracks, excluding "Heart Upon My Sleeve" for unknown reasons. The promotion of this album was supposed to begin at the 2014 Ultra Music Festival, but Bergling announced he had been hospitalised on 28 March, and was unable to play his closing set at the festival.[77] On 28 March 2014, FIFA and Sony Music Entertainment announced that Bergling would be collaborating with Carlos Santana, Wyclef Jean and Alexandre Pires for the official FIFA World Cup Anthem titled "Dar um Jeito (We Will Find a Way)". The anthem was performed at the FIFA World Cup closing ceremony on 13 July 2014.[78]

In July 2014, Bergling released his single "Lay Me Down".[79] He also produced and collaborated with Chris Martin from Coldplay, co-writing and co-producing the track "A Sky Full of Stars" from the band's sixth studio album Ghost Stories, released on 19 May 2014.[80] He also played and recorded the piano parts on the track. "A Sky Full of Stars" was released on 3 May as the second single from Ghost Stories.[81] "Lovers on the Sun", a track Bergling co-produced with David Guetta, was released on 30 June 2014.[82]

2014–2015: Stories

[edit]
Main article: Stories (Avicii album)
Logo of Avicii's album Stories

In July 2014, Bergling told Rolling Stone that he had worked on 70 songs for his next album Stories, which would include collaborations with Jon Bon Jovi, Serj Tankian of System of a Down, Chris Martin, Wyclef Jean and Matisyahu.[83] Describing the album, Bergling said that "it's going to be a lot more song-oriented".[84]

During his tour for True, he also performed his upcoming single "No Pleasing a Woman" with vocals from Billie Joe Armstrong of the American rock band Green Day. It has a similar instrumental to "Wake Me Up" albeit different chord progressions. Along with "No Pleasing a Woman", Bergling also performed other upcoming songs like "In Love with Your Ghost" with Daniel "Danne" Adams-Ray, "Love to Fall" with Tom Odell and "Million Miles" with LP, which is the demo version of "Trouble", a song from Stories with vocals from Wayne Hector.[85]

"Lose Myself", a collaboration between Bergling and Chinese singer Wang Leehom, was released on 1 September 2014. On 8 September 2014, his 25th birthday, Bergling decided to cancel all of his remaining performances of 2014 due to health concerns.[86] The following day, he announced through Denim & Supply that he would release his new single "The Days" later in 2014; a video was also featured with a preview of the track.[87] "The Days" is a collaboration between Bergling and Robbie Williams, and was released on 3 October 2014 via PRMD. On 16 September 2014, it was announced through EA Sports that Bergling was debuting a new track called "The Nights" exclusively on FIFA 15.[88] On 17 November 2014, it was officially announced that the track is to be released as a part of an EP together with "The Days".[89] On 17 November 2014, Wyclef Jean released a track titled "Divine Sorrow" featuring Avicii, which was part of Product Red's "Share the Sound of an AIDS-Free Generation" campaign.[90][91]

Avicii performing at Ushuaïa Nightclub in August 2014

On 2 March 2015, Bergling performed live at Australia's Future Music Festival his upcoming single "Heaven", with another collaboration with Chris Martin on vocals. The vocals were later resung by singer Simon Aldred from Cherry Ghost, who sang the track at the Avicii Tribute Concert in 2019.[92][93] However, the version with Martin on vocals was finalized in 2018/2019 after Bergling's death and was released on the posthumous third album Tim, which credits Martin for co-writing "Heaven".[94][95] On 27 March that year, during his live performance at Ultra Music Festival in Miami, Bergling premiered new tracks from Stories, and a month later he released three full sets on the internet,[96] which included "Heaven", "Waiting for Love", and some of his IDs "For a Better Day", "City Lights", "Can't Catch Me", "True Believer", "What Would I Change It To", "Can't Love You Again" (previously leaked on the internet under the name "Don't Call") and "Attack".[97][96][98]

On 25 April 2015, Bergling announced on episode 35 of his LE7ELS podcast that he would be playing some of his unreleased songs on his show. He also previewed his bootleg of Kings of Tomorrow's song "Finally" and one of his old songs that he did with ASH, titled "Papa Was a Rolling Stone".[99]

On 6 May 2015, Bergling released his rework of Nina Simone's version of "Feeling Good",[100] composed in 1964 by the English songwriters Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse. On 8 May 2015, Bergling previewed his song "I'll Be Gone" via episode 422 of Tiësto's Club Life podcast,[101] which has a very similar instrumental to "Liar Liar" (Avicii by Avicii) albeit different vocals and chord progressions. It was leaked into the internet between 2013 and 2014 via the name "Stars" and is yet to be released. It also shares a similar drop to one of Bergling's ID's "Black and Blue".[102] On 22 May 2015, Bergling premiered another single from Stories, "Waiting for Love". The track was co-produced by fellow DJ and producer Martin Garrix, and featured vocals from Simon Aldred of Cherry Ghost.[103] On 25 May 2015, Bergling previewed three old tracks on episode 36 of his LE7ELS podcast: "Tracks of My Tears", "Sorry Mr. Atari" and "Time to Get lll",[104] all of which are songs that Bergling had made years ago. "Tracks of My Tears" is the original version of Bergling's "All You Need is Love". On 27 May 2015, it was confirmed by a Swedish newspaper through an interview with Bergling that his second album Stories would be released in late 2015.[105]

On 12 June 2015, the Canadian indie pop band Walk Off the Earth released the track "I'll Be Waiting". The song was written by Avicii in collaboration with the band members and is part of their album "Sing It All Away". A music video for the song was released on 3 May 2016.[106]

On 3 July 2015, Bergling previewed two tracks from his album Stories on episode 37 of his LE7ELS podcast: "Broken Arrows", featuring Zac Brown Band, and "Can't Catch Me", featuring Wyclef Jean and Matisyahu.[citation needed] He also played a full version of his track "Heaven" and said that he was doing another track with Chris Martin on vocals called "True Believer". Later, Bergling said that he is also singing on that track.[107] On 18 July 2015, it was announced by Bergling that he had finally finished production on Stories after 2 years of work.[108]

A couple of weeks later, on 4 August 2015, it was announced that the final singles before the release of Stories would be "For a Better Day", featuring American singer Alex Ebert, and "Pure Grinding", featuring vocals from Kristoffer Fogelmark and Earl St. Clair. On 27 August, Bergling released a teaser video on Instagram with the song "Pure Grinding" playing. The tracks "For a Better Day" and "Pure Grinding" were released the following day through Spotify and iTunes.[109] On 26 September, Bergling announced "Stories – Megamix" on Spotify.[110] Stories was released on 2 October 2015 alongside 3 promotional singles: "Broken Arrows" with Zac Brown, "Ten More Days" with Zak Abel and "Gonna Love Ya" with Sandro Cavazza.[111]

On December 9, 2015, Avicii remixed his song "Broken Arrows" to be featured as part of the soundtrack for that year's YouTube Rewind.

2016: Retirement from touring

[edit]
Avicii's logo, which he used throughout his career

On 15 January 2016, Bergling released his remix of Morten's "Beautiful Heartbeat".[112] Coca-Cola had partnered with Bergling for a global campaign anthem, "Taste the Feeling", featuring Conrad Sewell.[113] The song was released on 19 January. On 25 January, Bergling once again teamed up with Coldplay to co-produce the band's single "Hymn for the Weekend", which was released as the second single from their album A Head Full of Dreams.[114] In 2016, according to a report by Inc. magazine, Avicii Music AB was the 6th-fastest-growing company in Europe, with a revenue of €7.7 million in 2014.[115][116][117]

On 19 March 2016 at Ultra Music Festival, Bergling debuted new demos featuring Sandro Cavazza such as "We Burn (Faster Than Light)", "Lord", "Our Love", & "Unbreakable", as well as a collaboration with Australian pop star Sia called "All I Need"; they remain unreleased to this day.[118] On 29 March, Bergling announced via his Facebook page that he would be retiring from performing later that year, citing health concerns.[119] On 7 April 2016, Bergling announced that he was working on a third studio album.[120] On 3 June 2016, Bergling released a collaboration with Otto Knows titled "Back Where I Belong".[121]

On 15 July 2016, Bergling released a remix of his own song, "Feeling Good". The remix was titled "Feeling Good (Avicii by Avicii)".[122] This track was only released on Bergling's official YouTube channel. On 1 August, the track was pulled from YouTube with the video being made private. On 28 August 2016, Bergling performed his final show at Ushuaïa Ibiza Beach Hotel.[123]

On 22 December 2016, a representative of Avicii Music AB announced that Bergling had parted ways with long-time manager Arash Pournouri and At Night Management along with Pournouri's record label PRMD. The representative also announced that Bergling had signed on to Universal Music Sweden and was expected to release his third studio album in 2017.[124]

2017–2018: Avīci (01) and Avicii: True Stories

[edit]
Main articles: Avīci (01) and Avicii: True Stories

In June 2017, British singer Rita Ora debuted a semi-acoustic version of "Lonely Together" at a private event at Annabel's in London.[125] "Lonely Together" was later released as the second single from Avīci (01). From 13 July to 2 August, Bergling shared one-minute snippets on Instagram, captioned "New music coming very very (very) soon!", with track titles as hashtags.[126][127] Bergling uploaded teasers of each track from the EP online upon release.[128][129][130]

On 10 August 2017, Bergling released the six-track EP Avīci (01).[131] Bergling said of the release: "I'm really excited to be back with music once again. It has been a long time since I released anything and a long time since I was this excited over new music! My focus on this first EP of the album was to get a mix of new and old songs: some that fans have been asking about and waiting for mixed with brand new songs that they haven't heard before!"[131]

In an interview with Pete Tong on BBC Radio 1, Bergling stated that the EP is one of three parts of his third studio album.[132] On 11 September 2017, Bergling announced a documentary directed by his close and long time collaborator Levan Tsikurishvili, titled Avicii: True Stories. The documentary chronicles the artist's retirement from touring and features interviews from his colleagues David Guetta, Tiësto, Wyclef Jean, Nile Rodgers and Chris Martin of Coldplay.[133]

On January 4, American singer Anderson East released the single "Girlfriend". The song was co-written with Avicii for Anderson's album Encore.[134]

On 10 February 2018, Bergling released "Ghost", a collaboration with Swedish singer-songwriter Daniel Adams-Ray, who was credited as Human. The song, which was leaked on the internet in 2014/2015 under the title "(I'm Still) In Love with Your Ghost", marks the second collaboration between the two, following "Somewhere in Stockholm" from Bergling's album Stories.[135]

In March 2018, Bergling posted previews of him working with collaborators such as Bonn, Carl Falk, Joe Janiak, Albin Nedler, and more. The songs previewed during these clips ended up being the tracks that were finished and released as part of the posthumous Tim album.

Following Bergling's death that April, news outlets reported that at the time of his death, he had over 200 unreleased songs, some finished and others still in development;[136] it was suggested that his unreleased material comprised some of his best work.[137][138] In August 2018, producer Carl Falk, who co-produced some of the songs on Stories in 2015 and Avīci (01) in 2017, stated that he was putting the finishing touches on the Chris Martin collaboration "Heaven" (originally written during the Stories sessions) and that it might be posthumously released in a few months along with the third album.[139][140]

Posthumous releases and tribute activities

[edit]
Main articles: Tim (Avicii album) and Avicii – I'm Tim

In April 2019, it was announced that the album Tim, which Bergling was working on before his death, would be released on 6 June 2019, with the lead single, "SOS", released on 10 April.[141] All proceeds from the sale of the album went towards the Tim Bergling Foundation.[142] Later that month, it was announced that an official biography of Bergling, written by Måns Mosesson, would be released in 2020, with the proceeds also going to the foundation.[143] The second single from the album, titled "Tough Love", was released on 9 May 2019,[144] followed by a music video on 14 May.[145] The third single, "Heaven", was released on 6 June; it was co-written by Coldplay's lead singer Chris Martin. Martin spoke about the collaboration on his social media, stating that he co-wrote the song with Bergling back in 2014, but it was completed by Bergling in 2016. The music video used old clips of Bergling on vacation in Madagascar after his retirement from touring in 2016 and was released on 24 June 2019.[146] On 28 June, Billboard cited "Heaven" as one of the best dance songs of the first half of 2019.[147] "Fades Away" was released on 5 December as the fourth and final single, after being performed in Stockholm at the Avicii Tribute Concert for Mental Health.[148]

On 24 January 2020, another posthumous single by Avicii was released: "Forever Yours", a collaboration with Kygo and Sandro Cavazza. The song was previously performed by Bergling during his final tour in 2016, starting with Ultra Music Festival. Kygo and Sandro Cavazza performed the song together live at the Avicii Tribute Concert, held at Stockholm's Friends Arena in December 2019.[149] On 15 February, Tiësto premiered three unreleased Avicii singles on the latest episode of his radio show Tiësto's Club Life: a fifth collaboration with Aloe Blacc called "I Wanna Be Free", a fifth collaboration with Sandro Cavazza called "We Burn", and a fifth collaboration with Wyclef Jean called "Now That We Found Love".[150]

On October 30, 2020, the American singer Cam released the track "The Otherside", co-written by Avicii. The version included in the album of the same name does not feature the DJ's original instrumentals, as they were removed to align with the album's country style, but it retains the lyrics written by Avicii.[151]

A biography titled Tim – The Official Biography of Avicii was released in the UK and North America on 16 November 2021.[152][153] Kitty Empire of The Guardian described it as "An honest study of the shy young man turned superstar DJ".[154] A second tribute concert was held at the Avicii Arena on 1 December.[155] A third tribute concert, titled "Together for a Better Day", was also held at the Avicii Arena on 6 December 2023.[156]

On 14 February 2024, Zac Brown Band's lead singer Zac Brown, who had worked with Bergling on "Broken Arrows", announced that Bergling's remix of their song "Beautiful Drug" would be released on 16 February.[157] On 19 April, it was announced that the documentary Avicii – I'm Tim would premiere at the Tribeca Festival on 9 June 2024.[158] Directed by Henrik Burman, the film will feature interviews with David Guetta, Chris Martin and Nile Rodgers, among others.[159] On 23 May, a SiriusXM radio channel titled "Avicii Radio: Music for a Better Day" was launched.[160]

On 14 June a photobook about Avicii's childhood and life was released by Swedish author Måns Mosesson, the same author of Avicii's biography. The profits from the photobook sales were directed to the Tim Bergling Foundation.[161]

On 31 December. Netflix released Avicii's final live performance, titled Avicii: My Last Show, which took place on August 28, 2016, at the Ushuaïa Ibiza Beach Hotel. The performance was launched simultaneously with the global release of the documentary Avicii: I'm Tim.[162]

On February 14, 2025, the single "Forever Yours (Tim's 2016 Ibiza Version)" was released. The song was already finished in 2016, but since the documentary was released, the pressure to release the song was higher.[163] A "Creative Journey" video was posted on the same day in tandem to the song's release. It featured rare studio footage of Bergling listening to the demo with friends and performing it on his last concert at Ushuaïa Ibiza Beach Hotel.[164] A greatest hits album, Avicii Forever, was released on 16 May 2025.[165]

Artistry

[edit]

Influences

[edit]
Daft Punk (top) and Swedish House Mafia (bottom) were both influences on Avicii's music.

In response to the question "Which musicians influenced Avicii?", asked on Quora, Avicii replied:

"Initially when starting out, sound-wise it was mostly the swedish house producers, mainly Eric Prydz and Axwell, but also Steve Angello and Seb Ingrosso. Nowadays for some, this is quite a different question. Id say the musicians that has influenced me the most in terms of lyrics, melody and arrangement has been: Earth wind and fire, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Etta James, Coldplay, RHCP, SOAD, Paul Simon, Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson, Little Dragon, Of Monsters and Men, Mumford and Sons, The Beatles, Nile Rodgers - I could go on forever here (Guess I kind of already have :) - BUT my production, meaning the electronic music that is always there, sometimes more apparent and sometimes not as much, I still owe to Eric Prydz, SHM and Daft Punk."[166]

Musical style

[edit]

Bergling's early work was deep house and progressive house, usually based on a four-chord structure, sub-bass and a simple synth melody.[2] His debut studio album True featured a blending of music genres, including folktronica.[167] While making the album, Bergling wanted to fuse the electronic music genre with soul, funk, blues, folk and country, as he felt that EDM had become too focused on "dirty drops".[168] Its first single, "Wake Me Up", is a folk music crossover, which, as noted by Katie Bain of The Observer, "tapped into the market potential of mixing EDM and country, a template many artists have since recreated".[169] A Variety editor commented that Bergling's "distinct sound" was made up of "soaring synths and keening melodies".[167] Musicians such as Kygo, Skrillex, Diplo, Gryffin, Martin Garrix and Cheat Codes have cited him as a source of inspiration.[170]

Philanthropy

[edit]

After achieving widespread commercial success, Bergling began working with his manager and executive producer Arash Pournouri to start House for Hunger in 2011,[171] a charity dedicated to alleviating global hunger. The pair wanted to showcase the giving spirit fostered by the house music community. Bergling explained, "You have to give something back. I am so fortunate to be in the position where I can actually do that. I feel lucky every day when I wake up and am able to do what I love and make a living." In addition to donating $1 million to Feeding America, a charity founded by John van Hengel, House for Hunger has helped fund the efforts of The Feed Foundation, started by Laura Bush,[172] allowing it to distribute over 2 million school meals throughout Africa.[173] He also supported campaigns against human trafficking and gang violence when he directed the videos for his tracks "For a Better Day" and "Pure Grinding".[174]

Personal life

[edit]

Bergling enjoyed playing World of Warcraft in his youth. He developed anxiety at a young age,[6][154] with his parents taking him to a therapist at the age of 14.[6]

Relationships

[edit]

From 2011 to 2013, Bergling dated Emily Goldberg, an American student.[175] He then dated Racquel Bettencourt, a Canadian student and model; they lived together in California before splitting up in late 2014.[6] On the podcast Sofia with an F, Bettencourt revealed she and Bergling got back together in the beginning of 2016. The reunion resulted in a pregnancy that was miscarried.[176] At the time of his death, he was dating Tereza Kačerová, a Czech model; they had decided to keep their relationship private.[6]

Health

[edit]

In January 2012, Bergling was hospitalised for 11 days in New York City with acute pancreatitis caused by excessive alcohol use.[6][177] Between 2012 and 2014, Bergling was prescribed opioids for the pain caused by his pancreatitis, including OxyContin and Vicodin, to which he developed an addiction. In 2014, Bergling underwent surgery and had both his appendix and gallbladder removed. In 2015, Bergling entered a rehab facility, later announcing in March 2016 that he would be retiring from touring.[6] In the 2017 documentary Avicii: True Stories, directed by his close and longtime collaborator Levan Tsikurishvili, Bergling spoke about his physical and mental health struggles. The documentary depicts the pressure from his management to continue performing live in spite of his objections.[178]

Following his retirement, Bergling took up transcendental meditation, which he credited with reducing his anxiety, and started seeing a therapist.[154]

High pressure from management and fans to continue touring and maintaining his public persona were cited as key reasons for his suicide, according to GQ. In a statement from the article, "Bergling feared upsetting fans. He was sensitive to the 'flood of hate mail' after cancelled gigs."[179]

His manager, Arash Pournouri, admitted that he knew of Bergling's anxieties but refused to label them a problem of mental health. Furthermore, his management team only became aware of his painkiller addiction in November 2014. They staged two interventions for him, neither of which were successful. Pournouri rescheduled many shows in order for Bergling to recover in Stockholm. Having discovered his client's alcohol issues earlier, Pournouri set out to forbid his promoters from offering him alcohol, clearing out his minibar and focusing on his recovery. Problems worsened, however, when there was no crew to "keep tabs" on Bergling during his recuperation.[179] Pournouri met with Bergling's father Klas in 2014 to share concerns about Bergling's health.[6]

Against his client's wishes, Pournouri claimed to have cancelled two more world tours, which would have added up to approximately US$2.9 million in profits.[179]

Death

[edit]
Skogskyrkogården, the cemetery where Bergling's funeral service was held
A plaque in memory of Bergling, amongst others, at the Hedvig Eleonora Church where he is buried

Bergling died on 20 April 2018 in Muscat, Oman, where he was on holiday, at the age of 28.[180] No cause of death was immediately given.[40][181][182] On 21 April, the Omani authorities stated that there was "no criminal suspicion" or evidence of foul play in Bergling's death.[180][183] A day before Bergling's death, a friend expressed concern about his mental state to his father Klas.[6] TMZ later reported that he died by suicide, using a glass shard to cut himself.[184][185] On 26 April, his family released an open letter stating:[186][187]

Our beloved Tim was a seeker, a fragile artistic soul searching for answers to existential questions. An over-achieving perfectionist who travelled and worked hard at a pace that led to extreme stress. When he stopped touring, he wanted to find a balance in life to be able to be happy and to do what he loved most – music. He really struggled with thoughts about Meaning, Life, Happiness. He could now not go on any longer. He wanted to find peace. Tim was not made for the business machine he found himself in; he was a sensitive guy who loved his fans but shunned the spotlight. Tim, you will forever be loved and sadly missed. The person you were and your music will keep your memory alive. We love you, The Family

On 22 May, Bergling's family announced plans for a private funeral with "the people who were closest to him".[188] The funeral service was held on 8 June at the Skogskyrkogården cemetery in Stockholm,[189][190] and his remains were buried at Hedvig Eleonora Church later that month.[191][192]

Tributes

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From fellow musicians

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On 20 April 2018, several hours after learning of Avicii's death, Kygo concluded his set at Coachella by playing "Without You" in memory of Bergling. Onstage, Kygo described Bergling as "a true musical genius".[193]

On 22 April 2018, American band OneRepublic paid tribute to Bergling by performing his song "Wake Me Up" during their show in Mumbai.[194]

On 20 May 2018, American DJ duo The Chainsmokers and American singer-songwriter Halsey paid tribute to Bergling at the 2018 Billboard Music Awards before presenting the winner of the Top Hot 100 Song.[195] The Chainsmokers' Drew Taggart said, "His passing was a great loss for the music world and for us. He was an artist who inspired so many in so many ways, and simply put, he meant so much to us and everyone in the EDM community." Halsey then delivered an emotional discussion about mental health and emphasized the need for people to love and support each other.[196]

On 21 May 2018, Tiësto played a medley of Bergling's songs at EDC Las Vegas. Aloe Blacc joined him on stage to perform "Wake Me Up".[197]

On 27 May, at BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend, Rita Ora, Bergling's most recent collaborator, paid tribute to the late DJ, describing him as "a really good friend" who "changed [her] life".[198][199] A similar tribute was also paid by Ora during King's Day and Capital's Summertime Ball.[200]

The 2018 edition of Tomorrowland saw several tributes to Bergling from Axwell Λ Ingrosso, Don Diablo, Nicky Romero, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, and Zedd. All DJs honoured his memory by playing his music in their sets during the festival which Michael Thivaios (Like Mike) described as Bergling's home. Thivaios continued calling Bergling "one of [his] best friends" and "a great inspiration".[201][202] Avicii's songs "Levels" and "Wake Me Up" came second and eighth respectively in Tomorrowland 2018's most played songs.[203][204]

On 27 July, Russian DJ and producer Arty released a song called "Tim" as a tribute to Bergling. "I made a track for my friend", he stated. "I just want to honor his memory. I want to do something right, and in my opinion it's the right thing to do."[205]

During the 2018 version of Creamfields, Kaleidoscope Orchestra performed a special tribute performance, where they played out Bergling's greatest dance hits.[206][207]

On 12 October, Vicetone released a song called "South Beach", which they stated was influenced by Bergling's music and was one of the first songs they created, and that they decided to finish and release it as a tribute.[208]

In addition to the live tributes, many other artists—including Eric Prydz, Imagine Dragons, Skrillex, Calvin Harris, Hardwell, Deadmau5, Marshmello, Zedd, and Robbie Williams—also paid tribute to Bergling on Twitter.[209]

One year after his death, tributes on social media continued to be paid by Nicky Romero, DJ Snake, Nile Rodgers, and the organisers of Tomorrowland, amongst others.[210][211] In 2019, Madonna paid tribute to Avicii in her song "Funana" from her album Madame X.[212] In 2021, Basshunter recorded the song "Life Speaks to Me" as a tribute to Avicii.[213]

Other tributes

[edit]
A fan memorial gathering in Stockholm the day following his death

On 21 April 2018, a collection of Avicii's songs were played on the carillon within Dom Tower of Utrecht, performed by Malgosia Fiebig.[214]

On 21 May 2018, during the first night of the finale of the fourteenth season of reality television singing competition show The Voice, coach Alicia Keys performed Avicii's "Wake Me Up" as part of her coach duet with the last remaining artist on her team, Britton Buchanan. During the performance, Keys made a verbal tribute to Avicii.

On 16 November 2018, Bergling's family organised a public memorial service at the Hedvig Eleonora Church in Stockholm. The service saw a huge turn-out, with hundreds of fans filling the church to mourn and pay their respects. The service featured an orchestral choir which played music linking to events in Bergling's life and ended with a version of his 2013 number one hit "Wake Me Up". One fan described it as a "very moving" service and "a great tribute to Bergling".[215]

On 30 April 2019, the Mounted Royal Guards and the Life Guards' Dragoon Music Corps of the Swedish Army paid tribute to Avicii during a ceremony at Stockholm Palace, where brass renditions of his songs "Without You", "Hey Brother", and "Wake Me Up" were played.[216][217]

A giant book in tribute to Avicii (top left of image) as part of the Tomorrowland mainstage in 2019

The 2019 edition of the music festival Tomorrowland included a tribute in the decoration of the Main stage of the festival.[218]

In September 2019, it was announced that a tribute concert would be held in Stockholm on 5 December 2019 in memory of Avicii. The concert saw David Guetta, Kygo, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Nicky Romero, and Laidback Luke headlining, along with a number of vocalists that Tim had worked with playing alongside a 30-piece orchestra, fulfilling one of Avicii's dreams for his music in a live setting. All profits went to the Tim Bergling Foundation.[219] Following the start of ticket sales, the concert sold out in 30 minutes.[220]

In October of the same year, Madame Tussauds revealed a wax figure of Avicii.[221]

In the same month, it was announced that the video game Avicii Invector would be released. Gameplay includes single and multiplayer versions where players would use the game to recreate 25 of his hits throughout the years. A portion of the profits are set to be donated to the Tim Bergling Foundation.[222][223][224] Rebecca May of The Guardian rated the game 4/5 stars, describing it as "an immersive musical tribute".[225]

On 19 May 2021, Stockholm's Ericsson Globe was renamed the Avicii Arena. To commemorate the new name, the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra recorded a performance of the Avicii song "For a Better Day", with vocals provided by 14-year-old Swedish singer Ella Tiritiello.[226][227]

On 8 September 2021, Google Doodle celebrated what would have been Bergling's 32nd birthday with an animated video featuring "Wake Me Up",[228] in support of National Suicide Prevention Week.[229]

On 20 April 2023, five years after his death, Tomorrowland paid tribute to Bergling by playing his biggest hits and the album Stories the whole day on One World Radio.[230]

On 28 April 2024, DJ Nicky Romero dedicated his radio show, Protocol Radio, to playing Avicii's music. The one-hour program featured songs and remixes exclusively by Avicii.[231]

Legacy

[edit]
"Standing Waves" a statue in Humlegården, designed by Adèle Essle Zeiss and Liva Isakson in honor of Avicii.[232][233]

Music innovation

[edit]

Many artists in the EDM genre have cited Avicii as influences on their work, many of whom paid tribute to him after his death. Alan Walker and DubVision described him as an "icon" in EDM.[234] Norwegian DJ Kygo cited Avicii as "[his] biggest inspiration and the reason why [he] started making electronic music." Other artists such as Diplo, Sebastian Ingrosso, Felix Jaehn, and Martin Garrix, the last of whom collaborated with Avicii on his 2015 single "Waiting for Love", have also cited him as a source of inspiration, with the songs "Levels" and "Seek Bromance" being specifically mentioned as points of inspiration.[235]

On the day of his death, The Washington Post wrote an article citing Avicii as a pioneer artist in the attempt to bridge the gap between country and electronic music, crediting his 2013 hits "Wake Me Up" and "Hey Brother" as good examples of this movement.[236] Avicii is also credited for influencing other attempts at continuing this genre crossover, including songs such as Zedd's "The Middle" and Hailee Steinfeld's "Let Me Go".[237]

Avicii also influenced a number of mainstream artists outside electronic music. Nile Rodgers said that in terms of melody writing, Avicii was "maybe one of the best, if not the best I've ever worked with."[238] Mike Einziger of Incubus said "Some of the work we did together is some of the music I'm most proud of in my whole life."[239] Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons said "working with [Avicii] was one of my favorite collaborative moments."[240] Charlie Puth said that Avicii was "The man who really opened my eyes as to what my productions could one day sound like."[240] Eric Clapton, who never publicly worked with Avicii, said he was "inspired by Avicii", and dedicated a song off his Christmas album, Happy Xmas, to him.[241]

On 21 November 2019, Billboard named Avicii's 2011 hit "Levels" one of the 100 songs which defined the 2010s,[242] while his 2013 single "Wake Me Up" came 13th (and was the highest-charting EDM song[243][244]) on the Official Charts Company's chart of the decade.[245]

Mental health awareness

[edit]
Main article: Tim Bergling Foundation

On 26 March 2019, Bergling's family launched a mental illness and suicide prevention foundation, named after the late DJ, the Tim Bergling Foundation. The foundation works internationally and aims to educate people and businesses on the issues surrounding suicide and mental health. The foundation also works to tackle climate change, manage business development, and conserve endangered species. Since 2019, a number of music industry figures cited Avicii's death as a reason for the increased mental health awareness in the industry.[246][247][248][249]

Museum

[edit]
Main article: Avicii Experience

On 9 June 2020, it was announced that an Avicii Tribute Museum would open in Stockholm in the summer of 2021.[250] The renamed Avicii Experience was opened in February 2022 by Prince Carl Phillip and Princess Sofia, alongside Bergling's father Klas, in Space Stockholm, a new digital culture centre near Sergels torg.[251][252][253] The museum features reconstructions of Bergling's childhood bedroom and Los Angeles mansion, as well as offering recordings of Avicii's most popular work and the ability to remix them, as well as unreleased music.[252]

The museum was the idea of Bergling's parents, who wanted to give fans a place to remember and celebrate the work of their late son and learn about his process for creating music. The interactive museum also includes exhibitions from various stages in Bergling's life, including a simulation of the high-paced lifestyle he experienced before his retirement from touring in 2016, which are designed to give visitors an understanding of the health issues faced by the star. Exhibitions are also dedicated to raising the awareness of mental health problems in young people and the wider music industry.[254][255]

Filmography

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2017 Avicii: True Stories Himself Documentary[133]
2024 Avicii – I'm Tim

Discography

[edit]
Main article: Avicii discography

Studio albums

Concert tours

[edit]

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Avicii
[edit]
  • Avicii was depicted on a Swedish postage stamp issued 15 January 2015 by PostNord Sverige.[257]
  • Avicii was named in the 2015 song "I Took a Pill in Ibiza" by American singer and songwriter Mike Posner. Posner recounts the event when he went to an Avicii show in Ibiza and got a mystery pill from someone, with the starting lyrics "I took a pill in Ibiza / To show Avicii I was cool". The song was made in the week they wrote a song together in Sweden called "Stay with You".[258]
  • Avicii was the codename of the OnePlus Nord, a smartphone released in 2020.[259][260]
  • On 8 September 2021, Google released a doodle to pay homage to Bergling on what would have been his 32nd birthday during National Suicide Prevention Week.[261][262]

See also

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Notes

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References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Avicii

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Tim Bergling (8 September 1989 – 20 April 2018), known professionally as Avicii, was a Swedish DJ, remixer, and record producer who propelled electronic dance music into mainstream global popularity through innovative melodic house productions blending folk, country, and electronic elements. His breakthrough single "Levels" (2011), featuring an unauthorized sample of Etta James' "Something's Got a Hold on Me," achieved viral success and defined his signature sound, while "Wake Me Up" (2013) topped charts worldwide as the lead from his debut album True. Bergling's rapid ascent, fueled by relentless touring schedules exceeding 800 performances by age 25, generated immense commercial success—including Grammy nominations for Best Dance Recording ("Levels") and high rankings in DJ Magazine's Top 100 DJs (third place in 2012 and 2013)—but exacted a heavy toll through chronic health deterioration. Acute pancreatitis, triggered by excessive alcohol intake amid grueling travel and performance demands, led to multiple hospitalizations starting in 2012, surgeries removing his gallbladder and appendix in 2014, and battles with opioid addiction and mental health crises that prompted his 2016 retirement from live shows. Despite this withdrawal, persistent personal struggles culminated in his suicide by self-inflicted wounds from broken glass in Muscat, Oman, where he had sought respite. His posthumously completed album Tim (2019) underscored a legacy of musical innovation marred by the causal destructiveness of fame's unrelenting pressures on vulnerable individuals.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

1989–2010: Childhood, family background, and entry into electronic music production

Tim Bergling was born on September 8, 1989, in Stockholm, Sweden, into a family with connections to the entertainment industry; his mother, Anki Lidén, worked as an actress, while his father, Klas Bergling, later managed aspects of the music business. He grew up in a creative household alongside siblings, including an older brother who pursued DJing and introduced him to electronic music influences. Bergling's interest in music developed during his teenage years through exposure to artists via the internet and family, leading him to experiment with production software. At around age 16 in 2005, he began self-teaching himself electronic music creation using FL Studio, a digital audio workstation, initially with a pirated version obtained from a friend. This hands-on approach, without formal training, focused on house music, drawing from online resources and trial-and-error methods. By 2006, Bergling started sharing early tracks anonymously on Swedish online forums and platforms like MySpace to gather feedback and build a small following, using aliases such as Tim Berg. His initial productions, including a track titled "Brain," demonstrated basic loops and stems typical of novice electronic experimentation. In May 2007, he signed his first management deal with Dejfitts Plays, marking his entry into professional circles. In 2008, under the alias Tim Berg, Bergling won Pete Tong's Fast Trax competition on BBC Radio 1, leading to the release of his debut single "Manman" on Tong's Bedroom Bedlam label, which gained initial international exposure in electronic music communities. To establish a distinct online presence on MySpace, where his preferred name "Avici" was already taken, he adopted the stage moniker Avicii—a respelling of Avīci, the lowest level of hell in Buddhist cosmology, suggested by a friend for its edgy connotation. This shift facilitated unsigned uploads and remixes, laying the groundwork for his production career before mainstream recognition.

Breakthrough and Mainstream Success

2011–2013: Discovery with "Levels" and early hits

"Levels", released on October 28, 2011, via the LE7ELS imprint and PRMD Music, marked Avicii's breakthrough track in electronic dance music. The progressive house song incorporated a looped sample from Etta James' 1962 recording "Something's Got a Hold on Me", creating an uplifting motif that propelled its viral spread after an initial premiere as an untitled preview on BBC Radio 1's Essential Mix in December 2010 and subsequent upload to YouTube in November 2011. By 2012, it achieved commercial dominance, peaking at number 4 on the UK Singles Chart and number 1 in Sweden and several other countries, driven by streaming platforms and club play that introduced broader audiences to EDM's melodic house subgenre. The track amassed over 1 billion streams on Spotify by September 2024, underscoring its enduring algorithmic favor and role in mainstreaming producer-driven electronic music. Following "Levels"' momentum, Avicii secured a U.S. singles distribution deal with Interscope Records in November 2011, partnering with Troy Carter's Atom Empire imprint to expand reach amid rising demand for his sound. This agreement facilitated high-profile remixes, including his Ultra Music Festival mix of Madonna's "Girl Gone Wild" in 2012 and an extended tour version of Coldplay's "Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall", debuted at Tomorrowland in 2011, which blended indie rock elements with house drops to captivate festival crowds. Performances at Ultra Music Festival in Miami—spanning 2011 through 2013—further amplified hype, with sets featuring "Levels" prototypes and new material that showcased his live production skills and contributed to EDM's festival circuit explosion. Early collaborations bolstered his ascent, notably "Sunshine" with David Guetta, released in August 2011 as part of Guetta's album Nothing but the Beat, which earned a Grammy nomination for Best Dance Recording in 2012 and highlighted Avicii's chord-progression expertise in progressive house. Other 2012-2013 singles like "Silhouettes" and "I Could Be the One" (with Nicky Romero) built on this foundation, achieving top-10 placements in Europe and reinforcing label investments through consistent radio and digital traction. These releases, supported by LE7ELS as an artist-driven sublabel, emphasized Avicii's shift toward vocal-driven anthems, causal to his rapid integration into global EDM circuits via targeted promotions and peer endorsements.

2013–2014: Release of True and genre-blending innovations

Avicii released his debut studio album, True, on September 17, 2013, via PRMD Music and Island Records. The project marked a deliberate evolution from conventional house tracks toward hybrid fusions incorporating folk, soul, blues, country, and funk elements, driven by Avicii's intent to move beyond repetitive "dirty drops" prevalent in EDM at the time. Production emphasized collaborative songwriting sessions with live musicians rather than prefabricated beats, featuring contributions from artists such as Nile Rodgers. The lead single, "Wake Me Up" featuring Aloe Blacc, exemplified this genre-blending approach with its fusion of acoustic folk guitar and bluegrass-inspired vocals over EDM drops, achieving number 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in October 2013 and topping charts in over 20 countries. Other notable tracks included with bluegrass singer Dan Tyminski and "Addicted to You" featuring Audra Mae, which integrated R&B and soul influences. This shift drew criticism from EDM purists, who viewed the folk infusions as a dilution of the genre's core energy; the track's live debut at Ultra Music Festival in March 2013 elicited boos from portions of the audience. True debuted at number 5 on the Billboard 200 and achieved over 2 million pure album sales globally, reflecting commercial validation of its innovative sound despite purist backlash. The album earned a Grammy nomination for Best Dance/Electronic Album in 2015, underscoring its impact on broadening EDM's stylistic boundaries.

Peak Career and Emerging Strains

2014–2015: Stories, global touring, and commercial dominance

Avicii released his second studio album, Stories, on October 2, 2015, through PRMD, Island Records, and Universal Music Group. The album featured collaborations with artists including Zac Brown Band on the track "Broken Arrows," Wyclef Jean, Martin Garrix, and others such as Adam Lambert and Nile Rodgers. Singles from Stories included "Waiting for Love" featuring Simon Aldred of Cherry Ghost, which peaked at number one on the Swedish Singles Chart. Throughout 2014 and 2015, Avicii maintained an intensive global touring schedule as part of the Stories World Tour, performing 82 shows in 2014 and 67 in 2015, headlining major festivals such as Tomorrowland in Belgium in both years and Ultra Music Festival in Miami in 2015. These performances contributed to his commercial success, with Forbes estimating his earnings at $28 million for 2014, driven primarily by touring revenue exceeding $21 million that year. Early signs of physical strain emerged during this period, including a March 2014 hospitalization in Miami for acute pancreatitis, gallbladder blockage, and related complications, which necessitated the removal of his gallbladder and appendix and led to cancellations such as his Ultra headlining slot. Medical reports attributed these issues to overwork and excessive alcohol consumption amid the demanding tour schedule. Avicii received nominations for Best Electronic Act at the 2014 MTV Europe Music Awards, reflecting his dominance in the genre, though the award went to Calvin Harris.

2016: Announcement of retirement from live performances

On March 29, 2016, Avicii, born Tim Bergling, publicly announced his retirement from live touring and performances through an open letter posted on his official website, stating that his scheduled 2016 shows would mark the end of such activities. In the letter, he detailed the physical and mental toll of his rigorous schedule, noting he had performed nearly 200 shows annually in recent years, which had become unsustainable despite initial enjoyment of the energy and crowds. Bergling emphasized that the decision stemmed from the cumulative exhaustion of constant travel and performance demands, rather than a complete withdrawal from music, as he intended to prioritize studio production and creative work thereafter. The announcement highlighted a deliberate pivot to mitigate health strains evidenced by prior incidents, including hospitalizations for acute pancreatitis in 2013 and 2014 linked to overwork and lifestyle pressures, underscoring a causal pattern of burnout from unrelenting itineraries exceeding 800 global appearances since 2011. Bergling expressed relief at the prospect of reduced stress, telling The Hollywood Reporter in April 2016 that he felt "happier, more stress-free than I've been in a long time" post-announcement, attributing this to escaping the cycle of obligatory live obligations that dominated his career peak. Media coverage included speculation tying the retirement to substance abuse or inherent mental fragility, often amplified by outlets recounting his past alcohol-related health scares; however, Bergling's statements consistently centered the rationale on empirical limits of human endurance under non-stop professional demands, rejecting narratives of personal weakness in favor of scheduling realism. His final live engagements fulfilled a residency at Ushuaïa Ibiza, with the concluding performance on August 28, 2016, serving as a capstone event before the full cessation of touring. This shift allowed continued musical output without the physical attrition of stage life, aligning with his post-announcement focus on composition over performance.

Final Projects and Post-Retirement

2017–2018: Avīci (01), collaborations, and creative output

In August 2017, following his 2016 announcement to retire from live performances, Avicii released the six-track EP Avīci (01) on August 11, focusing exclusively on studio production to sustain his creative momentum. The EP featured collaborations with vocalists including Rita Ora on "Lonely Together," Sandro Cavazza on "Without You," Billy Raffoul on "You Be Love," and Vargas & Lagola on "Friend of Mine," alongside tracks like "What Would I Change It To." These partnerships emphasized Avicii's shift toward introspective, melody-driven electronic pop, blending house elements with emotional lyrics, as evidenced by the EP's production credits listing co-writers such as Ali Tamposi and Brian Lee for multiple tracks. "Without You," featuring Sandro Cavazza, debuted as a lead single from the EP and topped the Swedish Singles Chart upon release, later re-entering at number one after Avicii's death, reflecting its enduring commercial appeal and the track's theme of personal resilience amid relational strain. Critics noted the EP's matured sound, with outlets describing it as a "phenomenal" return to form that highlighted Avicii's ability to craft anthemic yet vulnerable compositions without the pressures of touring. This output demonstrated his productivity in the studio, where he continued refining hybrid EDM styles through remote collaborations, building on prior successes like remixes for artists such as Coldplay while prioritizing vocal-forward arrangements. Complementing the EP, the 2017 documentary Avicii: True Stories, directed by Levan Tsikurishvili, chronicled Avicii's career trajectory, emphasizing his pivot to studio-focused work post-retirement and the creative rebirth it enabled despite underlying health challenges. The film, released in September 2017, included footage of studio sessions and collaborations, portraying Avicii's dedication to music production as a therapeutic outlet, with behind-the-scenes insights into tracks like those on Avīci (01). This period underscored his ongoing innovation, as he teased future EPs and a full album in interviews, signaling sustained artistic ambition through 2018.

Posthumous releases including TIM (2023) and AVICII FOREVER (2025)

The posthumous studio album TIM was released on June 6, 2019, assembled from unfinished demos and recordings Bergling had left behind at the time of his death. Curated by his family, including brother Anton Bergling, alongside close collaborators such as producers Carl Falk, Albin Nedler, and Kristoffer Fogelmark, as well as vocalists like Aloe Blacc and Vargas & Lagola, the album comprises 12 tracks emphasizing Bergling's evolving interest in introspective, melody-driven electronic music. Standout singles include "SOS" featuring Aloe Blacc, which peaked at number one on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Songs chart, and "Heaven," a collaboration reflecting Bergling's personal struggles. The selection process prioritized fidelity to Bergling's original visions, with minimal alterations to demos to preserve their authenticity, though some fan discussions noted the exclusion of up to four additional tracks from an initial pool of 16 considered. Subsequent estate-managed releases continued to draw from Bergling's archives. On May 16, 2025, AVICII FOREVER, a 19-track compilation, was issued via Interscope and Pophouse, blending career-spanning hits such as "Wake Me Up," "Levels," "Hey Brother," and "The Nights" with two previously unreleased pieces: the new single "Let's Ride Away" featuring Elle King and "Forever Yours (Tim's 2016 Ibiza Version)," the latter originating from Bergling's final live set in 2016. This collection, totaling around 20 tracks across some editions, aimed to encapsulate his legacy without extensive genre experimentation, focusing instead on polished completions of existing material by trusted producers to align with Bergling's stylistic hallmarks. Reception for these outputs highlighted strong commercial performance and divided opinions on completion authenticity. AVICII FOREVER amassed over 14 billion streams shortly after launch, propelling it into Spotify's top five most-streamed albums of all time and securing a number one debut on the UK Dance Albums chart. Fans expressed enthusiasm for the unreleased tracks on platforms like Reddit, viewing them as extensions of Bergling's sound, though some debated the extent of posthumous editing on unfinished demos, questioning whether additions deviated from his raw intent despite estate assurances of minimal intervention. No evidence of AI involvement emerged in production notes, with emphasis placed on human curation to maintain causal links to Bergling's files.

Artistry and Musical Contributions

Influences from folk, electronic, and global sounds

Avicii drew from electronic pioneers such as Daft Punk and Eric Prydz in developing his foundational house and progressive house elements. He credited Daft Punk as an early influence encountered prior to his familiarity with house music, followed by progression into Prydz's productions alongside Swedish acts like Axwell and Sebastian Ingrosso. These shaped his melodic synth lines and build-up structures evident in pre-breakthrough tracks like "Seek Bromance" from 2010. His incorporation of folk elements emerged prominently in the 2013 album True, inspired by exposure to American genres during U.S. tours, including bluegrass and country. Collaborations featured bluegrass vocalist Dan Tyminski on "Wake Me Up," whose banjo and acoustic guitar riffs blended with electronic beats, and country songwriter Mac Davis on "Hey Brother," integrating narrative-driven lyrics and string arrangements. Avicii noted these fusions provoked listeners accustomed to conventional EDM, reflecting deliberate genre provocation rooted in organic instrumentation over synthesized repetition. Global sounds influenced select productions, particularly Indian elements via collaborations with vocalist Sonu Nigam on "Indian Levels" in 2012, which layered Bollywood-style vocals over house rhythms, and later in "Tough Love" from 2019, incorporating northwest Indian melodic motifs during studio experimentation. These drew from exploratory recordings emphasizing vocal harmonies and ethnic scales, extending beyond Western electronic norms without reliance on African influences in released tracks.

Evolution of style: From house to hybrid EDM fusions

Avicii's initial breakthrough tracks adhered to progressive house conventions, featuring tempos around 126 BPM and layered synthesizer melodies designed for club environments. The 2011 single "Levels," for example, employed a driving four-on-the-floor beat, arpeggiated synth leads, and a euphoric breakdown structured around repetitive motifs, establishing a blueprint for melodic EDM builds and releases. This era prioritized electronic instrumentation, with minimal acoustic elements, focusing on tension-release dynamics typical of house music's 128 BPM standard range. The 2013 album True marked a pivot to hybrid fusions, integrating organic sounds into EDM frameworks. Tracks like "Wake Me Up" combined acoustic guitar strumming and folk-style live vocals in verse sections—evoking country influences—with a contrasting electronic drop at approximately 124 BPM, creating a seamless genre bridge that alternated between mellow introspection and high-energy synthesis. This approach expanded instrumentation to include strummed strings and breathy, narrative-driven singing, diluting pure house purity for broader appeal while retaining core EDM drops. Subsequent singles experimented further with soul, blues, and funk infusions, moving away from "dirty drops" toward emotionally resonant, vocal-forward hybrids. By the 2015 album Stories, Avicii's style evolved into mellower tropical house variants and pop-EDM bridges, incorporating reggae rhythms, bluegrass hints, and relaxed percussion alongside progressive elements. Songs featured slower builds with marimba-like synths or steel drums for a summery vibe, often at 120-128 BPM, emphasizing accessible hooks over aggressive basslines. This phase innovated pop-EDM transitions, using live instrumentation for verses that flowed into layered electronic choruses, but drew critiques for formulaic drop predictability and heavy sample dependence—such as looped motifs in earlier hits—which some argued sacrificed depth for mass-market catchiness. Detractors, including music reviewers, viewed these as commercial dilutions of electronic roots, prioritizing euphoric familiarity over experimental complexity.

Philanthropy

Efforts supporting education, refugees, and youth initiatives

Avicii conducted the House for Hunger tour across 27 dates in the United States in 2012, donating the entirety of his proceeds—totaling $1 million—to Feeding America, a nonprofit combating domestic hunger that disproportionately affects children and youth by enabling access to nutritious meals essential for health and school attendance. These funds contributed to providing over 2 million school meals in impoverished African regions, indirectly bolstering educational participation by addressing malnutrition barriers. He further aided youth welfare through collaboration with (RED), an initiative fighting HIV/AIDS, which impacts vulnerable young populations; Avicii promoted donations via prize draws tied to entries, channeling funds to prevention and treatment efforts. In 2015, Avicii directed two awareness videos highlighting child trafficking's horrors, aligning with his single "For a Better Day" to spotlight exploitation of minors without endorsing specific advocacy groups. Avicii also donated nearly €1 million to Radiohjälpen, Sweden's public broadcaster charity focused on humanitarian aid, including support for vulnerable children in crisis zones, though exact allocations to education or refugee-specific programs remain unspecified. His pre-foundation efforts prioritized direct financial contributions to apolitical causes like hunger relief over high-profile events or endorsements.

Establishment and role of the Tim Bergling Foundation

The Tim Bergling Foundation was established by Tim Bergling's parents, Klas Bergling and Anki Lidén, in the wake of his death by suicide on April 20, 2018, with formal announcement of its launch occurring on March 26, 2019. The organization operates as a Swedish-based nonprofit advocating for the recognition of suicide as a global public health emergency and works to destigmatize open discussions of mental health issues, particularly among youth. Its initiatives prioritize funding research, education, and innovative programs in mental health, with initial emphasis on suicide prevention before expanding to related areas such as youth well-being in urban environments. Key activities include granting funds to targeted projects, such as a four-year award in April 2025 to Karolinska Institutet for digital training modules equipping medical students with suicide prevention skills for young patients. The foundation co-supports the "Next in Mind" incubator program, launched in October 2023 with partners like Reach for Change and The Inner Foundation, which selected 20 Nordic social entrepreneurs in May 2024 to scale interventions enhancing resilience against mental illness in emerging adults. Additional efforts encompass backing student-led initiatives like Dance for Life for mental health support in Sweden and the "For A Better Day" program, which converts youth-generated ideas into practical resources such as music studios for therapeutic expression. Funding streams derive from events and auctions, notably the Avicii Tribute Concert held on December 5, 2019, at Friends Arena in Stockholm, which featured performances of Bergling's hits by artists including Aloe Blacc and a 30-piece orchestra, directing all proceeds toward the foundation's mental health objectives. A 2024 charity auction of Bergling's personal items, including sneakers and instruments under "The Avicii Collection," further bolsters resources for advocacy and program expansion. While these contributions enable ongoing grants—totaling millions in collective investments across coalition efforts—the foundation's model centers on systemic awareness and early intervention training, which empirical reviews of broader suicide prevention strategies suggest yields variable efficacy, often more pronounced in clinical access and age-specific targeting than generalized stigma reduction alone.

Personal Life and Lifestyle

Family dynamics and relationships

Tim Bergling, known professionally as Avicii, was born on September 8, 1989, in Stockholm, Sweden, to father Klas Bergling and mother Anki Lidén, an actress. He grew up in the Östermalm district alongside three siblings: brothers David Bergling and Anton Körberg (an actor), and sister Linda Sterner, who was his older half-sister. The family provided a supportive environment that encouraged his early interest in music; Bergling began mixing tracks in his bedroom at age eight, influenced by his siblings' tastes—Linda introduced him to rock acts like Kiss, while David exposed him to hip-hop via MTV. Despite the blended family structure from prior parental relationships, the Berglings maintained close ties, with parents and siblings remaining actively involved in his life. Bergling emphasized privacy in his personal relationships, avoiding public disclosures amid his rising fame. He dated Emily Goldberg, a jewelry designer, from 2011 to 2013. Following their split, he entered an on-and-off relationship with model Racquel Natasha Bettencourt in 2013, which lasted intermittently until around 2016. Near the end of his life, Bergling was involved in a brief romance with Czech model Tereza Kačerová, lasting approximately six months and kept largely out of the spotlight. He never married and had no children.

Embrace of EDM party culture and its excesses

Tim Bergling, known as Avicii, immersed himself in the electronic dance music (EDM) scene's high-energy environment, performing at clubs, festivals, and afterparties worldwide during his rise to prominence in the early 2010s. By 2013, he was conducting around 250 performances annually, often extending the festive atmosphere beyond main events into private afterhours gatherings. These included DJ sets at post-festival parties following events like Ultra Music Festival in Miami on March 27, 2011, and Lollapalooza in Chicago on August 4, 2012. Avicii described each show as akin to a continuous party, noting in the 2017 documentary Avicii: True Stories that he initially failed to grasp the intensity of scheduling performances across multiple days weekly. This reflected broader EDM norms where mainstage sets at venues like Ushuaïa in Ibiza transitioned seamlessly into club and poolside afterparties, fostering prolonged exposure to celebratory excesses such as alcohol-fueled socializing. In a September 2013 Time interview, he affirmed his ability to participate sober, stating, "I can be sober and party," while recounting meeting his then-girlfriend during such an event, underscoring his active engagement despite shifting personal habits. The industry's structure enabled this lifestyle, with Avicii earning six-figure fees per gig that afforded unfettered access to global nightlife circuits and entourages accustomed to afterparty customs. Early in his career, he embraced the scene's hedonistic ethos, later characterizing it in a 2017 Rolling Stone interview as potentially "toxic" due to its party-centric demands, though he initially viewed it as integral to the profession's allure. Such patterns, normalized through constant touring and peer influences, heightened risks of overindulgence by embedding excess within daily routines.

Health Decline

In January 2012, Avicii, whose real name was Tim Bergling, was hospitalized for 11 days in New York City with acute pancreatitis, a condition directly attributed to his excessive alcohol consumption amid a demanding touring schedule. Medical assessments at the time linked the inflammation of his pancreas to heavy drinking, a known causal factor in acute pancreatitis cases, prompting recommendations to cease alcohol intake and adjust diet to prevent recurrence. He underwent a similar hospitalization in 2013 for pancreatitis, underscoring the persistence of these alcohol-related complications despite initial interventions. By March 2014, ongoing health deterioration led to emergency surgery in the United States to remove his gallbladder and appendix, forcing him to cancel appearances including at Ultra Music Festival in Miami. These procedures addressed acute abdominal issues exacerbated by prior pancreatitis episodes and lifestyle factors, with post-operative recovery described as partial; Avicii resumed touring within weeks, though medical advice emphasized sustained abstinence from alcohol to mitigate risks of further pancreatic damage. Reports from his team and subsequent admissions highlighted relapses into alcohol use coinciding with intensified performance demands, perpetuating a cycle of emergency medical interventions tied to chronic overconsumption.

Mental health struggles, addiction, and co-occurring disorders

Tim Bergling, professionally known as Avicii, grappled with anxiety and depression that predated his fame but were aggravated by the intense demands of global touring and performance expectations in the EDM industry. These conditions manifested in catastrophic thinking and heightened stress, prompting early reliance on substances for temporary relief. Bergling's substance misuse escalated with alcohol as a primary coping mechanism for anxiety during high-stakes shows, a practice facilitated by EDM's pervasive party culture that normalized excess to fuel creativity and endurance. Journal entries from 2011 captured this strain, with him noting, "It feels like I'm going to faint every single day now... from about the first time I went on tour," linking emotional overload directly to his touring lifestyle. In 2015, Bergling underwent rehabilitation to address dependencies on alcohol, illicit drugs, painkillers, sedatives, and anti-anxiety medications, recognizing in his journals a pattern of self-medication for underlying depression and performance-induced anxiety. Entries from this period reflected internal conflict, such as "Ouch, pain. Why me pain now?... Future deal with pain better than present Tim," and admissions of difficulty abstaining, including reluctance to forgo alcohol despite medical advice to wait at least a year post-rehab. This documentation underscored how substances initially chosen for volitional relief evolved into dependencies that amplified mental health symptoms, forming a feedback loop with his chosen immersion in EDM's substance-permissive environment. Co-occurring disorders emerged prominently through misuse of prescription opioids and sedatives, prescribed initially for pain but escalating to daily intakes of up to 20 pills to numb both physical discomfort and psychological turmoil. While industry pressures contributed, Bergling's agency in sustaining high-volume touring and cultural excesses—despite repeated interventions and personal insights into the destructiveness—highlights causal factors beyond isolated "mental illness," including deliberate participation in a scene where such behaviors were incentivized for success. This interplay reveals how avoidable lifestyle decisions intertwined with vulnerabilities, rather than framing outcomes as inevitable without accountability for repeated choices.

Death and Its Circumstances

Suicide in 2018: Factors including lifestyle fallout and untreated conditions

Tim Bergling was found dead in his hotel room at the Muscat Hills Resort in Muscat, Oman, on April 20, 2018, at age 28. He had arrived in the country on April 8 after an extended studio session, intending to relax, including participation in a meditation retreat with a friend, during which his mental state reportedly worsened. Omani police conducted two autopsies, ruling out any criminal suspicion or foul play. The death resulted from self-inflicted cuts using a shard of broken glass—possibly from a wine bottle—causing massive blood loss, according to multiple sources familiar with the investigation. No suicide note was reported, though Bergling's family described his act as stemming from an inability "to go on any longer" amid ongoing quests for inner peace. This followed documented prior suicidal ideation, intensified after his 2016 retirement from touring, when he cited unsustainable stress and health deterioration but continued grappling with unresolved psychological burdens. Key contributing factors encompassed the enduring fallout from Bergling's immersion in EDM's high-pressure, excess-laden culture, including heavy alcohol use that precipitated acute pancreatitis hospitalizations starting in 2012, followed by surgeries to remove his gallbladder and appendix, and ensuing reliance on prescription opioids for pain management. These physical ailments intertwined with persistent addiction cycles and untreated co-occurring mental health issues, notably lifelong severe anxiety, which rehab journals later revealed as self-medication drivers that sobriety efforts failed to fully arrest post-retirement. Family accounts emphasized this cumulative physiological and emotional erosion—rather than isolated incidents—as the core drivers, underscoring how prior lifestyle demands eroded his resilience despite interventions.

Family statements and forensic details

The family of Tim Bergling issued a statement on April 26, 2018, describing him as "a seeker, a fragile artistic soul searching for answers to existential questions," noting that after retiring from touring, "he could not go on any longer" and "wanted to find peace." They emphasized that Bergling "was not made for the machinery he found himself in" and had sought to step away from it, portraying his death as a deliberate choice amid personal sensitivities rather than external coercion. A prior family message on April 23 expressed gratitude for public support while confirming the finality of his passing without detailing causes. Omani authorities, where Bergling died on April 20, 2018, officially classified the death as suicide with no evidence of foul play, a determination upheld by two autopsies that excluded criminal involvement. Conspiracy theories have circulated claiming that Bergling was murdered for his alleged involvement in the abandoned documentary "The Silent Children," which purportedly exposed child sex trafficking, with similar unsubstantiated claims linking the deaths of Chester Bennington, Chris Cornell, and Anthony Bourdain to the project. These theories have been debunked by fact-checking organizations. Reuters reported that representatives for "The Silent Children" confirmed Avicii had no involvement in the film, a crowdfunded project abandoned in 2017 before most of the deaths occurred. PolitiFact similarly affirmed that the named individuals were not connected to the proposed documentary. No evidence supports foul play, and the official suicide ruling by self-inflicted injury stands, corroborated by autopsies and family statements. Public details on toxicology were not released, though investigations included such reports; family accounts made no mention of illicit substances at the time, aligning with prior reports of Bergling's avoidance of recreational drugs during his later years. Bergling died intestate, leaving an estate valued at approximately $25 million, which passed entirely to his parents under Swedish intestacy laws prioritizing them as heirs absent a spouse or children. No legal disputes or lawsuits over the estate emerged, with assets including U.S. properties subject to applicable taxes but distributed per default succession rules.

Tributes and Immediate Reactions

Responses from musicians and industry figures

Diplo shared a personal reflection on Instagram, posting a photo of himself with Avicii and writing that the late producer "set the precedent for the rest of us producers" while recognizing his inner struggles, emphasizing the need to "protect true artists like [him]." Kygo expressed disbelief on Twitter, calling Avicii his "biggest inspiration" and later dedicating his Coachella performance on April 21, 2018, to him, telling the crowd to "dance and sing along and let's celebrate the life of a true musical genius." DJ Snake tweeted simply, "Rest in peace, Avicii. We lost a legend," capturing the widespread sense of untimely loss among peers who viewed him as an unbreakable figure in EDM. These tributes underscored admiration for Avicii's innovations amid shock at his vulnerability, with figures like Diplo admitting to the demons many in the scene faced from relentless touring and fame. Industry responses included vows to address overwork; Martin Garrix noted in 2019 that Avicii's death fostered greater solidarity among DJs, leading to more cancellations for health reasons and reduced schedules. Laidback Luke highlighted how the tragedy accelerated mental health conversations, with artists approaching him post-2018 about touring's toll, prompting broader industry pledges for sustainable practices over exploitative bookings. Critiques emerged from within, pointing to enablers like managers and promoters who prioritized revenue; while immediate condolences dominated, figures acknowledged shared responsibility for pushing artists beyond limits, as seen in calls for ethical reforms following Avicii's warnings about the lifestyle's dangers.

Public memorials and media coverage

The Avicii Tribute Concert, organized in memory of Tim Bergling and held on December 5, 2019, at Friends Arena in Stockholm, attracted more than 58,000 attendees, establishing a record for the venue. The event featured performances of Bergling's hits by various artists and raised funds for mental health initiatives aligned with his family's foundation. Media coverage of Bergling's death initially centered on widespread shock and his rapid ascent in electronic dance music, with outlets reporting the sudden loss of a 28-year-old global star on April 20, 2018. Subsequent reporting evolved into in-depth analyses of industry demands, framing his suicide as a cautionary example of burnout from relentless touring and lifestyle pressures in EDM. Publications such as Mixmag and The Independent highlighted persistent challenges like inadequate mental health resources, prompting discussions on reforming artist support structures despite ongoing excesses. Posthumously, Bergling's tracks experienced streaming surges, with his catalog accumulating billions of plays on platforms like Spotify in the years following his death, including notable increases tied to renewed interest after events and releases. Video clips of his performances and the tribute concert circulated widely online, amplifying public engagement with his work.

Legacy and Impact

Innovations in EDM and mainstream crossover effects

Avicii pioneered a folk-EDM hybrid style by integrating acoustic folk elements, such as guitar riffs and soulful vocals, with electronic production techniques, diverging from the era's dominant big room and dubstep sounds focused on aggressive drops. This innovation was exemplified in his 2013 single "Wake Me Up," which fused country-inspired melodies with EDM builds, creating a blueprint for genre-blending accessibility. "Wake Me Up" achieved unprecedented crossover success, peaking at number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in October 2013 and remaining on the chart for 54 weeks, thereby thrusting EDM into mainstream pop territory previously dominated by traditional genres. The track has accumulated over 2.8 billion streams on Spotify, underscoring its enduring metric-driven impact on listener engagement and genre expansion. This elevated EDM's commercial viability, with subsequent productions emphasizing vocal hooks and narrative structures that appealed beyond club audiences. Avicii's approach influenced production standards through melody-driven drops, prioritizing euphoric, cinematic synth lines and tension-building arrangements over raw intensity, which became hallmarks of melodic house and future bass subgenres. This shift inspired successors like Kygo, whose tropical house melded similar chilled, melodic fusions, and The Chainsmokers, who adopted pop-infused EDM with catchy, anthemic builds. Festival formats evolved in tandem, incorporating more live instrumentation and hybrid sets that balanced electronic spectacle with organic elements, broadening EDM's appeal at events like Ultra and Tomorrowland.

Contributions to mental health discussions versus critiques of industry enablement

Avicii's death in 2018 catalyzed broader conversations on mental health within the electronic dance music (EDM) sector, with his family establishing the Tim Bergling Foundation in 2019 to advocate for suicide prevention and destigmatization of mental illness among youth and musicians. The foundation has supported initiatives like awareness concerts and publications aimed at children, amplifying empirical evidence of elevated risks in the profession, such as a 2020 University of Westminster study finding 70% of musicians reported high anxiety levels and 68.5% depression, rates three times higher than the general population. Similarly, a 2024 MusiCares survey indicated 8.3% of music professionals had serious suicidal ideation in the prior year, exceeding the general U.S. rate of 5%. These efforts positioned Avicii's case as emblematic of industry-wide vulnerabilities, prompting organizations like the Association for Electronic Music to highlight burnout and stress. Critiques of this narrative, however, contend that an overreliance on "industry pressure" explanations diminishes personal agency and pre-existing conditions, as Avicii exhibited anxiety symptoms prior to fame, including doubts about his authenticity documented in biographical accounts. While some analyses frame the music business as vampirizing talent without regard for well-being, others argue this absolves artists of accountability for voluntary participation in high-stakes lifestyles, noting that ethical burdens on managers to monitor mental health are impractical without specialized training. Discussions in EDM communities emphasize that systemic blame often overlooks causal factors like individual choices in substance use and touring schedules, with Avicii's own retirement in 2016 failing to resolve underlying issues despite reduced external demands. The EDM genre's inherent party-centric ethos, glorifying extended performances, festivals, and associated drug culture, has drawn scrutiny as an enabler of self-destructive patterns rather than a mere external force, evidenced by recurrent high-profile cases like Avicii's amid limited aggregate data on DJ-specific suicides but heightened post-2018 reports of breakdowns among peers. Post-mortem responses included nascent wellness integrations at events, such as priority mental health dialogues at industry summits, yet observers note persistent excesses—e.g., non-stop global circuits and substance normalization—suggesting superficial shifts amid unchanged revenue models prioritizing volume over sustainability. This tension underscores a debate where awareness campaigns yield data-driven insights but risk causal misattribution, favoring structural reforms over reckoning with the volitional embrace of EDM's high-risk environment.

Long-term cultural influence and museum exhibits

The Avicii Experience, an interactive tribute museum located in Stockholm, Sweden, opened to the public on February 25, 2022, following announcements in 2020 for a planned 2021 debut. The 3,800-square-foot facility features 27 interactive stations that immerse visitors in Tim Bergling's life and career, including recreations of his childhood room, Los Angeles recording studio, and a mirror room, with elements incorporating audio clips, video footage, memorabilia, unreleased music, and touch-based displays to trace his progression from early productions to global stardom. The museum was inaugurated by Sweden's Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia, and as of recent assessments, it holds a 4.9 out of 5 rating on visitor review platforms based on over 200 evaluations, reflecting sustained interest in Bergling's artifacts. In October 2025, the venue hosted a pop-up extension tied to the 10th anniversary of Avicii's album Stories, opening fully to visitors on November 7 and featuring additional thematic content. Avicii's cultural footprint endures through persistent global streaming dominance, with his catalog accumulating over 44 billion plays across platforms as of 2025 and the posthumous compilation Avicii Forever—released on May 16, 2025, incorporating previously unreleased tracks alongside hits like "Wake Me Up" and "Levels"—surpassing 14 billion streams on Spotify alone, securing a position in the platform's all-time top five most-streamed albums. This volume underscores a dedicated international fanbase, bolstered by events like the January 2025 Netflix documentary Avicii: I'm Tim, which drove a 63.9% surge in global streams for key tracks such as "Hey Brother" and "Waiting for Love." These metrics highlight Avicii's lasting resonance in popular media and fan engagement, with Avicii Forever serving as a catalog reinforcement that bridges archival material to contemporary consumption, evidenced by posthumous chart penetrations including half of Billboard's top 10 Dance Digital Song Sales in early 2025. The museum and streaming persistence together preserve tangible and digital exhibits of his influence, attracting ongoing pilgrimage from fans worldwide without reliance on new live performances.

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