Passion Blog – Avicii

Tim Bergling – stagename Avicii – was born in Stockholm, Sweden in 1989.  In April of 2018, he tragically committed suicide in a hotel room in Muscat, Oman.  However, underneath the crippling alcohol addiction and mental health issues lies one of the most talented DJ’s and song writers of our time.

Avicii began mixing songs in his bedroom when he was 8, and by the age of 16 he started making music.  October of 2011 was his breakthrough with the release of hit song “Levels”, topping the charts in over 15 countries.  Only a year later, his collaboration with David Guetta was nominated for a Grammy award.  The sudden meteoric rise to stardom took a significant toll on Bergling’s mental health.  He named himself Avicii after his fascination with Buddhism.  He soon realized that being a world famous DJ meant performing in front of thousands of fans, and the self-claimed introvert Avicii suffered from severe anxiety due to this.  Subsequently, he began to drink heavily before his performances to relieve his nerves, claiming that it eased him and relaxed him enough to where he could put on a great concert.  His first big spectacle came when he was chosen as a featured performer at Chicago’s Lollapalooza in 2012.  From there, he toured many venues and played concerts constantly – even to the point of where his manager and friends were worried about how often he was touring because they saw the physical and mental toll it had taken on Avicii.

Avicii channeled his emotions and frustration into his songwriting, releasing the groundbreaking collaboration “Wake Me Up” with Aloe Blacc in 2013.  It became the number 1 song in the entire world, skyrocketing Avicii to the 2nd most streamed artist in the world.  It was at the top of the charts in over 20 countries worldwide.  He won awards at both the MTV Awards and American Music Awards that year, and his stardom increased.  But all that glitters is not gold.  Avicii’s release of his biggest album, Stories, in 2015 meant he would be touring even more.  The album featured appearances from Jon Bon Jovi, Wyclef Jean, Zac Brown Band, and Coldplay’s Chris Martin most notably.  It garnered worldwide success yet again, but Avicii’s health started to decline.

In 2016 after a show in Ibiza in mid April, Avicii officially retired from touring.  He took a break from music but continued to battle his demons and struggle with depression and substance abuse.  His true peace was music, so he couldn’t stay away for too long.  Only a year after his announced retirement, he started making music again.  Tragically, before his final album could be completed, he passed away.  On April 20th of 2018, Omani police stated that Avicii had committed suicide with a broken wine bottle in his hotel room.  Avicii’s death put the spotlight on mental health awareness and the dangers of substance abuse.  Tributes from other singers and bands were met with love and sadness from across the world in the subsequent months.  Tim Bergling’s posthumous album, appropriately titled Tim, was released in June of 2019.  I remember when I first listened to the album, nearly shedding a tear.  Bands and artists from across the world worked together to finish the album that Avicii started, speaking volumes of his impact on the community.  The ballads Heaven and SOS were the most emotionally infused, and the music accompanying them is terrific.

Avicii’s short lived flame was a bright one and a widely loved one.  His passionate and poetic lyrics combine with his unique beats that have continued and will continue to stand the test of time.  He was a great artist and the only negative thing I can say about him is that it’s a shame for the world that we won’t get to see what he could come up with next for the music industry.