Avicii has died today at the age of 28 and while I wrap my head around this incredibly sad news, I want to share with you something special to me.
In 2010 I was 16 years old and just falling in love with electronic dance music, which has since become my career. Avicii was the first artist I ever wrote a blog post about, back at a blog which was lucky to see 5 readers a month.
Avicii was also responsible for the first mix that I ever fell in love with; one of which I know every song and transition of to this day. It’s a mix that truly strikes an emotional chord in me and as soon as I hit play to begin writing this it prompted a cascade of tears. I think it’s perhaps the best piece of music history to briefly explain Avicii’s incredible success.
This aired on BBC Radio 1 just as the Swedish youngster was first blowing up. It features two hours of mashups, originals and forgotten Avicii live edits that display just where his head was at prior to the radio success he experienced further along in his career with “Wake Me Up” and “Hey Brother.”
Avicii Essential Mix 2010
To me, this will always be the most pure form of Avicii. Prior to finding the level of commercial success that he would discover in the years to come, Avicii’s 2010 BBC Radio 1 essential mix is centered around the electro and progressive house chops that took EDM to the next level in dance music’s biggest surge of popularity in history.
This young producer stood at the forefront of it, and even prior to his death various edits of “Levels” have smashed the festival circuit on a regular basis since its release in 2013.
Since 2010, the mind-blowing quantity and staggering quantity of top notch releases from Avicii, real name Tim Bergling, is barely conceivable. From “Silhouettes” and “Fade Into Darkness” to his collaboration with Nicky Romero on “Nicktim,” released as “I Could Be The One,” his early years were absolutely packed with melodic progressive house hits.
Alongside Swedish House Mafia’s push into radio-worthy house music, Avicii incorporated folk and country influence to result in his biggest hit (and radio main stay to this day) “Wake Me Up” and smash accompaniment “Hey Brother.” From there he’s collaborated with industry titan Martin Garrix for his most recent album, Stories, released in 2015, and has worked with multiple massive brands like Volvo and Coca-Cola.
However, Avicii paid a dear price for his success. During his mid-late career, Tim Bergling was plagued by health issues which lead to multiple show and tour cancellations before Avicii retired from DJing in 2016. But, it didn’t stop him from releasing incredible music. The Swedish DJ returned with a massive, hit-filled new EP (part 1 of 2) in 2017. The 2nd was expected sometime this year.
While the man himself has died to reasons yet unknown — this rich history of releases, which I just barely glazed over above, shows just how long-lasting his influence has thrived and will continue to in the future. Avicii inspired an entire generation of producers and paved the way to super-stardom for many others at the same time.
He played a major role in inspiring my choice to drop out of college and pursue a career in EDM. A choice I have never regretted. I’ve always dreamed of meeting Tim, and now that I never will, I’m diving into his music and history more than ever to get to know the young man who ignited a passion in so many others.
I hope you do the same.
Rest in peace, Avicii. The world will not forget you.
Photo by Rukes.com
This article was first published on Your EDM. Source: Avicii Died Today, But His Music Will Live On Forever Through Me & So Many Others
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House Music is the soul survivor of a murdered disco dynasty. A dynasty that brought freedom of experession through dance and fashion. A definite anti-establishment media HIT job programmed and pushed thru corporate radio. - Jason Ring
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