As a prerequisite for attempting to break into any industry, it is essential to learn about those that have come before us. This week, I’ll give my best attempt in better understanding Avicii’s impact on electronic dance music.
Being that I have set the declaration of releasing a debut album (95 DAYS), and given the type of music I make, I felt it was time to take a more nuanced look at a documentary I recall watching once before.. featuring Avicii, one of my favorite artists. The documentary I watched is called: Avicii - True Stories.
The way I was reminded of this documentary was by watching the wonderfully made “Avicii: 1989 - Forever // Lionheart - Timberman” video. (I highly recommend watching this as honestly towards the end it had me tearing up.)
After searching all over the internet to find a way to watch the Avicii: True Stories documentary, and being unsuccessful on finding a way to watch the flick…
I finally came across it on a streaming platform named Hoopla which is made accessible by entering your information from a local library card. (Next week, I will write on the wonders of a local library card, but here highlights another great reason to get yourself one).
HOOPLA!
Right off the bat, for the Avicii: True Stories documentary, this message below flashed across the screen.
This movie was fascinating right from the very start. As it started with relaying Tim Bergling’s (Avicii) upbringing and how he was determined to make it in the music industry.
This resulted in many late nights for Avicii and his good pal: Otto Knows, eating old spaghetti and pesto… trying to rip off someone else’s sounds. Until they both put in enough work, got creative enough, and developed their own sounds.
Avicii got started in his music career seriously in 2007, and this resulted in 0 shows, as he took the legitimate time to develop his sound before performing live.
Despite not performing live, Avicii’s music career was beginning to take shape, which led to his excitement in creating his own original tracks. He was sending out 5 tracks a week to the musician Laidback Luke, as well as sharing his tunes with various blogs.
Needless to say, his career took quite a jump especially after the release of his hit instrumental “Levels”.
From 2008 - 2012, Avicii and his very committed manager booked and performed an astounding 550 shows.
We are talking performances on ALL DAYS: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and yes, even the holy day (Sunday).
The Toll That Touring Takes
550 times performing live increased to 657 the following year, then 657 increased to 725 total live shows Avicii performed in by the year 2014. (THAT’S ALOT).
“As an artist they just want you on the beat, like a machine... and then you burn out.”
Needless to say, Avicii was becoming exhausted, and never really felt like himself while touring.
Often times, Avicii relied on his “magical cure” of having just a couple drinks before performing.. as a result of witnessing other DJs doing the same, to numb their nerves, before their performances.
However, this was not working.. eventually leading Avicii to begin to have legitimate health issues (pancreatis). As well as developing continual anxiety at the thought of his next live show.
The intense touring schedule not only impacted Tim’s mental and physical health, it also vastly impacted his creative output. Tim’s first album: “True” was created in two months, whereas, his following album: “Stories” took him nearly two years.
In the summer of 2015, Avicii released his second album: Stories, and immediately cancelled his next 8 months of touring. A break was much needed.
“You can tell that he was working on himself.”
Instead of touring and performing before live audiences, Tim and some of his collaborators toured by producing great music at exotic locations, creating some really wonderful tracks such as “Without You”.
Tim and his buddies were creating outdoor studios in some of the most awesome places from mountain tops to deserts! This was an example of how Tim’s life vastly revolved around him being able to create his own music.
Was he doing the part to get to perform live or was it because he just loved the music?
Following the music production tour, Avicii found himself stuck in a previously agreed to series of summer performances that he had to take part in.
This was the pivotal moment when Avicii decided he was to retire from touring @ the young age of 26 years old.
“I have too little left for the life of a real person behind the artist”
First - Avicii had to follow through on his commitment of touring for one last time for his latest album release. This was it. It had to be.
It didn’t get any easier for him.
“I saw how the happy the fans were… and I had to pretend to the fans that I liked it.”
The grueling tour schedule had only began, and Avicii felt as though he couldn’t do it due to overwhelming anxiety.
“I don't see any upsides to doing one more show. I don't see any downsides either.”
Avicii was stuck in the business, but only wanted to be for the music itself. He didn’t care so much about making money and felt his sanity was more important than any deals he was a part of. Unfortunately, as the music biz is, he was stuck.
However, there were still moments where he could still find genuine happiness in performing live.
Before Avicii’s very last show, he had stated that he felt like he was in 6th grade and about to play prom. He made it through.
Here’s a link to 20 minutes of his incredible last live show.
From 2008 - 2016, Avicii performed 813 shows live.
The Life of a Creative Composer
Avicii was a true artist, and struggled with the reality in which many electronic dance musicians now face. Battling through the gripping tour schedule that is so commonly expected from musicians in the industry.
Rather than being viewed as merely a DJ, other artists viewed Avicii as more akin to a creative composer as musician, Nile Rodgers, explained in the documentary. We should view Avicii in the category of a composer, as this generation’s Johann Sebastian Bach, Beethoven or Mozart.
In the future, how do we create a sustainable career for a composer like Avicii, if they do not want to go on tour as frequently or let alone ever? Can web3/crypto help solve this, creating a more sustainable way for one to monetize their work?
The future of electronic dance musicians will be something incredibly interesting to watch, as it’s unfortunate that we expect such an intense workload from musicians. And also it is unfortunate that we didn’t have a working solution for Avicii to continue doing the thing he loved (music creation) in a healthy way while he was still with us.
I personally ascribe to the view that Avicii was indeed more of an electronic music composer with his overall body of work, despite his incessant touring schedule that he had no desire to do (especially at the end of his young career).
I find great inspiration from Avicii’s story however, as it displays not only his artistry, but also his willingness to create something wonderful out of nothing.
To be a live performer is one thing, to know how to work a crowd is another, whereas, to be able to create a song/movement that has the whole world singing along is an entirely different ballgame. Avicii did this better than any electronic dance musician has ever done and probably ever will.
Being an Avicii fan has made me a better person, as well as a better musician.
We all have a lot to learn from Avicii’s life story.
I cannot think of a better tribute than this gripping performance of “For A Better Day” at the brand new Avicii Arena in Sweden.
RIP Avicii.
Cheers to lifelong learning,
Adam Bartley
PARTING NOTE
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