DJ/Music producer Avicii dead at 28 yrs

DJ and music producer Avicii, whose popular EDM tracks became the soundtrack for clubs and college parties across the globe, was found dead on Friday. He was 28.

“It is with profound sorrow that we announce the loss of Tim Bergling, also known as Avicii,” his rep said in a statement Friday.

“He was found dead in Muscat, Oman this Friday afternoon local time, April 20th. The family is devastated and we ask everyone to please respect their need for privacy in this difficult time.”

Bergling, who was working as one of the biggset touring DJs in the world, retired from performing in 2016, citing health reasons. He was one of the biggest artists behind the breakout of the EDM genre and allowed countless up-and-coming DJs to pursue the art and attempt to follow in his footsteps.

“EDM started getting oversaturated four, five, six years ago, when money became everything,” he told Rolling Stone in 2017. “From that point, I started mentally not wanting to associate myself with EDM.”

He reportedly suffered from acute pancreatitis partly from excessive drinking. In a documentary about his life released in September 2017, it appeared that the around-the-world touring was distressing for the DJ, rather than fun.

“I needed to figure out my life,” he told Rolling Stone in 2017 while discussing the doc.

“The whole thing was about success for the sake of success. I wasn’t getting any happiness anymore,” he continued.

The Swedish DJ was one of the most recognizable names in the game, and one of the most “omnipotent electronic dance producers the genre has ever seen,” Billboard reported in 2016 when he announced his retirement.

A cause of death was not revealed and his rep said that no further statements will be given.
The artist was perhaps best known for his 2013 hits “Wake Me Up” and “Levels.” “Wake Me Up” received countless awards including the Billboard Music Award for Top Dance/Electronic Song and the iHeartReadio Music Award for Dance Song of the Year, among others. In 2014, “Wake Me Up” was the most Shazamed track ever with more than 19 million queries – meaning listeners were begging to know about the artist behind the forever dance-worthy tune.

Avicii made Etta James’ classic “Something’s Got a Hold on Me” vocals even more memorable by looping them in on the club banger, “Levels.”

The Stockholm native was nominated for two Grammys for Best Dance Recording for “Sunshine” in 2012 and “Levels” in 2013. The year that both those tracks were released, Avicii was named the sixth highest paid DJ by Forbes, estimated to be raking in $20 million. He was the youngest DJ on the list at just 23.

Just a few days ago, Avicii was thankful after the Billboard Music Awards announced he was up for Top Dance/Electronic album for AV?CI (01).

“Thanks for the nomination! (prayer hands emoji),” Avicii wrote in his last post to Twitter.

Fellow musicians quickly reacted to the news of the DJ’s passing, noting he had “so much more to do.”

“I was just told my dear friend Tim @Avicii just passed away. Please let this be a hoax. If not #RIPAVICII one of the best natural melody…” Nile Rodgers tweeted.

Fellow DJ Calvin Harris also quickly took to Twitter to comment on the passing.

“Devastating news about Avicii,” he wrote. “A beautiful soul, passionate and extremely talented with so much more to do. My heart goes out to his family. God bless you Tim x”

DJ Snake called the influential producer “a legend.”

Newcomer Dua Lipa said the artist was “too young” to be gone.

“Such sad news to hear about Avicii passing,” she wrote. “Too young and way too soon. My condolences go out to his family, friends and fans x.”

Source: Nydailynews