Avicii
Who was Avicii?
Swedish DJ and producer who became one of the world's highest-paid DJs with hits like "Levels" and "Wake Me Up" before his death at 28.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Avicii (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Tim Bergling, better known as Avicii, was born on September 8, 1989, in Stockholm, Sweden. He went to Östra Real secondary school but discovered his passion for electronic music early on. As a teenager, he began posting remixes on internet forums and signed with the label Dejfitts Plays in May 2007 when he was just 17. His music focused on pop-oriented house, and he became a leading figure in the worldwide growth of electronic dance music in the early 2010s.
Avicii gained international fame in 2011 with his single 'Levels', a key anthem of the EDM era. His first studio album, True, came out in 2013 and mixed folk and country with house music. It reached the top 10 in over 15 countries, and its main track, 'Wake Me Up', was one of Spotify's most-streamed songs when released. The album showed his drive to go beyond club music and connect with a wider audience. Many music outlets credited him with helping electronic music reach Top 40 radio early in the decade.
Despite his success, Avicii faced serious health issues. In 2012, he spent 11 days in a New York City hospital with acute pancreatitis due to heavy drinking. He was given opioids like OxyContin and Vicodin for pain and developed an addiction to these drugs between 2012 and 2014. In 2014, he had surgery to remove his appendix and gallbladder and went to rehab in 2015. These health challenges led him to stop live touring in March 2016, citing the physical and emotional stresses of his demanding tour schedule.
He continued to release music after stepping back from touring. His second album, Stories, came out in 2015, and the EP Avīci (01) followed in 2017, both hitting number one on Sweden's Sverigetopplistan chart. He kept working in the studio, and after his death, the album Tim was released in 2019, reaching number one on the Billboard Top Dance Albums chart.
On April 20, 2018, Avicii died by suicide while vacationing in Muscat, Oman, at an estate of the Omani royal family. He was 28 years old. He received numerous awards, including four MTV Europe Music Awards, one American Music Award, one Billboard Music Award, and the Swedish Musikexportpriset. After his passing, his family created the Tim Bergling Foundation to focus on mental health awareness and suicide prevention. He is remembered as one of electronic dance music's most successful and impactful artists.
Before Fame
Tim Bergling grew up in Stockholm and attended Östra Real. Outside of school, he focused on electronic music. Around 16, he started posting remixes on online electronic music forums, gaining early attention from the genre's internet communities. His homemade tracks showed he was deeply involved in house music just as online platforms were starting to change how young artists shared their work and caught the industry's eye.
In May 2007, when Bergling was still 17, the label Dejfitts Plays signed him, starting his professional career. Over the next few years, he made a name for himself with remixes and original tracks, gradually catching the attention of major promoters and labels. His constant work and rising profile set him up for the surge of interest in electronic dance music in the early 2010s, and his 2011 single 'Levels' cemented his breakthrough.
Key Achievements
- Achieved global success with 'Levels' (2011), a track credited with helping bring electronic dance music to mainstream Top 40 radio
- Debut album True (2013) peaked in the top 10 in over 15 countries and spawned 'Wake Me Up', one of Spotify's most-streamed songs at the time
- Won four MTV Europe Music Awards, an American Music Award, a Billboard Music Award, and Sweden's Musikexportpriset
- Both his album Stories (2015) and EP Avīci (01) (2017) reached number one on the Swedish Sverigetopplistan chart
- Posthumous album Tim (2019) debuted at number one on the Billboard Top Dance Albums chart
Did You Know?
- 01.Avicii was hospitalized for 11 days in New York City in 2012 with acute pancreatitis, a condition attributed to excessive alcohol consumption while on tour.
- 02.His lead single 'Wake Me Up' was one of the most-streamed songs on Spotify at the time of its release and reached number one in over 70 countries.
- 03.He was signed to his first label, Dejfitts Plays, in May 2007 when he was just 17 years old, having attracted attention by posting remixes on electronic music internet forums.
- 04.His posthumous album Tim, released in 2019 using material he had been working on before his death, reached number one on the Billboard Top Dance Albums chart.
- 05.He retired from live touring in March 2016 at the age of 26, citing the physical and mental health toll of performing, making him one of the most high-profile artists to step back from live performance at the peak of his earning potential.
Family & Personal Life
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| American Music Awards | — | — |
| Billboard Music Awards | — | — |
| MTV Europe Music Awards | — | — |
| Teen Choice Awards | — | — |
| World Music Awards | — | — |
| Musikexportpriset | — | — |