WILL THE REAL AVICII PLEASE STAND UP!

30th May 2017

When you think of EDM, you naturally think raves, strobe lights and Avicii right?? Well I do….He recently shocked the dance world and fans by announcing in a statement on his website that he is retiring from touring.

“Thank you for letting me live so many of my dreams. I will be forever grateful to have experienced and accomplished all that I have with the help of the team around me and my beloved fans. Thank you to all my peers in the business for building a new movement that took the world by storm and I was lucky enough to be in the middle of it. Thank you to all my partners through the years who believed in what I have created and wanted to amplify my work to a truly global presence.”

A lot of his peers in the music scene all tweeted the Swedish DJ/Producer with support.

Avicii real name Tim Bergling has over the last 5 years worked his ass off to become one of the worlds most successful touring DJ’s alongside releasing countless hits, “Levels”  ‘I Could Be the One’ with Nicky Romero, ‘Wake Me Up’, ‘You Make Me’, ‘X You’, ‘Hey Brother’, ‘Addicted to You’, ‘The Days’, ‘The Nights’, and ‘Waiting for Love’. This guy is the real deal, so why would you not want to carry on making thousands to play music for the millions of fans you have managed to acquire?

“My path has been filled with success but it hasn’t come without its bumps. I’ve become an adult while growing as an artist, I’ve come to know myself better and realize that there’s so much I want to do with my life. I have strong interests in different areas but there’s so little time to explore them.”

“Two weeks ago, I took the time to drive across the U.S. with my friends and team, to just look and see and think about things in a new way. It really helped me realize that I needed to make the change that I’d been struggling with for a while.”

“My choices and career have never been driven by material things, although I’m grateful for all the opportunities and comforts my success has given me. I know I am blessed to be able to travel all around the world and perform, but I have too little left for the life of a real person behind the artist.”

“I will however never let go of music – I will continue to speak to my fans through it, but I’ve decided this will be my last run off tours and shows. Let’s make them go out with a bang!”

“One part of me can never say never, I could be back …but I won’t be right back.”

I have met Tim twice and I hope he doesn’t mind me sharing what those experiences were like……

First time I met him was backstage at Wembley Stadium just before he was about to DJ for 80,000 people… He was on crutches had been in some sort of crisis and was in a super silly mood. He kept bantering throughout our interview, and answering everything with a funny response.

I noticed his team around him allowing him to fully be in control off whatever he wanted to do …. no matter if it meant he wasn’t the easiest person to interview.

All this time I’m thinking this guy is only 25-years-old and is making half a million to play an hours set in some of the most amazing places in the world, yet here he is in front of me acting like a big kid.

I noticed most people that day, found him either intimidating or hard to interview. But there was something about him that I kinda rated … This guy didn’t give a shit and was in his own world.

He did look tired and like he had been raving for a week, but guess when you DJ all over the world and spend most of your time on a plane that’s normal right?

Fast forward to a few months later Avicci is back in London, to promote his new album ‘Stories’ and this time he comes on my show. He has a group of people with him and looks chilled with his work face on.

However he is serious and very chatty for a change. He starts by apologising in a playful way for the way he had been the last time I saw him… I didn’t expect it and he hadn’t offended me so I was a little surprised but appreciated it.

His label looked alittle anxious not quite sure how or where the interview would go ( think that also has a little to do with me being a little unpredictable as an interviewer, 2 free spirits together… run lol! )

Avicii just started opening up about the music, loving being in the studio and making good songs. His face would light up as he spoke about being in the studio, saying it’s where he wants to spend most of his time.

Also he spoke passionatly about making great timeless songs not just straight up dance tunes. He  seemed comfortable to open up more then he ever had in an interview before. It was a special moment that touched me.

Tim spoke about how the money and success at such a young age had been too much for him. How he had abused his body with drink, drugs and had a totally bad lifestyle.

Then went on to explain how every function in his body had started breaking down on him. Going to hospital and being at the lowest point ever.  He explained how he had to get better and start changing his lifestyle so he could be healthy and happy. This was something very recent too.

The whole studio went silent and for that 40min we were all transfixed by this guy speaking from the heart and being so real. He then went on to talk about 2 exciting things he wanted to do in the future, which sadly I promised we wouldn’t air or share until he was ready to. ( Super exciting and game changers)

At the end of that chat, Tim left me thinking ‘I really like this guy he is a musician that somewhere got a little lost with being ‘Avicii’ whatever that means. But now wants to continue making great music and to prioritise his personal happiness and enjoy this incredible career he has worked so hard to achieve.

The announcement of him retiring from touring didn’t surprise me, instead it made me smile and think ‘Go Tim’!

Recently I have spoken to friends in the music industry like Ellie Goulding and Chip who are all making big changes and wanting to grow and create in none traditional ways.

Me too … Flip Your Wig is something I have wanted to do for ages but too scared to take the plunge and go the unconvential route.

Here is to following our hearts and not living by anyones rule book. Make your own choices and believe in yourself.

Max x