Only days after he was nominated for a Billboard Music Award for top dance/electronic album for his EP, Avicii (01), Swedish DJ and producer Tim Bergling, better known by his stage name “Avicii”, died Friday afternoon in Muscat, Oman. His publicist released a statement noting that his family is devastated and asks everyone to please respect their need for privacy in this difficult time. No cause of death has been released at this time, but The Department of Dance team will update when more information is available.
Avicii was known to have suffered from acute pancreatitis, canceling several shows in 2014 to have his appendix and gallbladder removed. He stopped touring in 2016, releasing the following statement on his website last year:
“WE ALL REACH A POINT IN OUR LIVES AND CAREERS WHERE WE UNDERSTAND WHAT MATTERS THE MOST TO US.
For me it’s creating music. That is what I live for, what I feel I was born to do.Last year I quit performing live, and many of you thought that was it. But the end of live never meant the end of Avicii or my music. Instead, I went back to the place where it all made sense – the studio.
The next stage will be all about my love of making music to you guys. It is the beginning of something new.
Hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I do.”
Avicii played a major role in popularizing electronic dance music and launching it into the mainstream. He was nominated for two Grammy Awards- one in 2012 for his hit “Sunshine” with David Guetta, and one in 2013 for his well-known track “Levels” that was released in 2011 and was partly responsible for his international breakthrough. His debut album True earned overwhelmingly positive critical reviews and topped charts in Australia, Denmark, Sweden and the US, as well as peaking into the Top 10 in 15 countries.
After achieving commercial success in 2011, Avicii launched a charity dedicated to alleviating global hunger, House For Hunger. He explained that he was fortunate to be in a position in which he could give back and make a difference, thanks to being able to make a living doing what he loved. House for Hunger has helped fund the efforts of The Feed Foundation, allowing it to distribute over 2 million school meals throughout Africa, in addition to donating $1 million to Feeding America.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in 2016, Avicii had this to say; “When I look back on my life, I think: whoa, did I do that? It was the best time of my life in a sense. It came with a price – a lot of stress a lot of anxiety for me – but it was the best journey of my life.”
Meganne Money is The Department of Dance Copy Editor. She is also a freelance writer, music/event critic, dancer, and vocalist. Meganne has a passion for music and the EDM community, and delivers information in a creative and entertaining way.
