He was a bright superstar moving in the speed of light. He inspired thousands of young talents worldwide and his moniker changed the way we listen to electronic music nowadays. This morning, March 29th, Avicii aka Tim Bergling, posted a personal note sharing that 2016 will be his last year touring. As the saying goes, everυthing that has a beginning, has an end. But before we get too upset about that, let's have a look to this rare “uncensored” Avicii interview to Panos Mavraganis following, which is one of the first that he ever gave, and recall his virginal gold steps in the EDM scene.
Panos Mavraganis: How did you decide to become a professional DJ? Which creation-remix is your personal favorite till now?
Avicii: I never really decided to to be honest it just kinda happened! I was just playing around with the program I use to create music and got hooked straight away! Then I met my manager Ash and he “sold me” the vision which I now share! My personal favourite would be Bromance, just because what its done for me!
Panos Mavraganis: Avicii, in just one short year with Bromance, you managed to do what many DJs work a lifetime. What's the secret of your success?
Avicii: Hmmm, my secret is I would say is a little bit of talent, alot of hard work, and a manager that knows how to both get the best out of me creatively and what moves to take in this industry. Ash and I have a very unique team and bond and without that I wouldnt be near where I am today.
Panos Mavraganis: Swedish House music can be heard in every nightclub around the world. How does it make you feel that you have played a big part in this (along with WHM of course)?
Avicii: It feels great! Dont know how big a part of this Ive played though, theres always been so many swedish house producers whove helped mould this scene to what It is today. Im just happy and proud to be a part of it to be honest !
Panos Mavraganis: Many people believe that you are the “sound of now”. Personally, I believe you are “the sound of the future”. What should we expect from you in the near future? What's your opinion on the matter? Can you tell me a remix or an original production that you're working right now?
Avicii: Haha I would hope that Im both. Oh theres lots of stuff coming out, the one im personally looking forward to the most is a track we havnt named yet, called “ID” (Levels) by the fans! Really cant wait to see how people respond to that!
Panos Mavraganis: In your personal opinion as a new producer and a DJ, who is the most promising artist (DJ or producer) right now? Which artists, producers or vocalists would you like to work with in the future?
Avicii: I would say the most promoting DJ right now is Afrojack. I mean he's just taken the world by storm the last year and I have no doubt he will continue to do so in the future. Theres so many I would like to collaborate with, I would say my dream vocalists at the moment would be Adele, Chris Martin and ellie goulding. All of them have such a unique sound that would fit house music perfectly!
Panos Mavraganis: Have you ever heard any Greek House Producers or DJs? If no, would you like to work sometime with one of them or re-mix any of their productions?
Avicii: I have to answer this honestly and say that I haven't, I'm very bad with knowing producers and djs in this scene though I always have been. The stuff sounds great but my manager has a plan for our remixing and collaborating, thats why we've slowed down so much, and Im not sure I could make the time for it!
Panos Mavraganis: I read that the piano is your favourite musical instrument and that it plays a big role in your creative process. Would you care to tell our readers about how you create music or what inspires you?
Avicii: Well I just basicly always start with the melody, and then try to build the track around that. Theres so many things that inspire me, the people around me like my family or manager, other tracks that ive heard, or just simply a feeling or sounds I hear around me.
Panos Mavraganis: Do you have any plans to visit Greece during 2011, for a live performance maybe?
Avicii: I dont know yet! Haha my manager and agents always handles that stuff and I never hear anything about where im going until a couple weeks before! But I do hope so!
Conducted by Panayiotis Mavraganis for Eleftheros Typos Newspaper
Hello world,
Thank you for letting me fulfil 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.
First and foremost thank you to my brother and partner Ash, its truly been a crazy run and its only been possible through our collaborative efforts, yin and yang, brother to brother manager to artist. I will always appreciate this road with you no matter where it leads from here. I could write so much more but our journey is far from finished.
Thank you to everyone at At Night, a special thanks to everyone who has been a part of the team since day one and without your hard dedicated work I wouldn't be here. Εspecially to Carl Vernersson, Filip Holm, Marcus Lindgren, Victor Lee and Panos Ayassotelis.
Thank you to the teams of Johnny Tenander, Per Sundin, Max Hole, Neil Jacobson and Joakim Johansson in no particular order. Your loyalty and hard work on the label and publishing fronts have allowed me to always feel like we have had someone backing us in your court, and that has given me the musical confidence I've needed. Thank you.
Thank you Robb Harker, Malik Adunni, David Brady, Andrew Mckeough, Rob Woo and Felix Alfonzo – you helped introduce touring to me in as much of a functional way possible for a kid my age and my road could have been alot darker if it wasnt for your personal support at such a crucial point.
Semi Baddredine for all your personal support, talks and help in me growing up. I have a weird feeling i could be dead If it wasn't for you and I will always love and support you.
Thank you to ciara Davy, Michael “Curly” Jobson and the MJM team, Harry Bird and Charlie Alves for making my touring years amazing during the best of times and durable during the worst. I hope we will find a way to keep on working together.
Thank you to all artists, musicians and songwriters who have helped me develop musically and personally, the list is long but there is no one I've worked with where I haven't learnt something.
A huge thank you to all my friends in the industry. Thank you Jesse Waits at XS for having been such a huge friend to me and a rock in stormy waters.
Also huge thanks in no particular order to Jonathan Schwartz, Austin Leeds, Pete Moutso, Dave Grutman, Noah Tepperberg, Jason Strauss, Sean Christie, Carlos Correal, Rob Fernandez, Eddie Dean, Adam Russakoff, Mike Satsky, Trecia Laird, Lisa Pillette, Marcella Barrett, Zoe Stainsby, Joe Bellioti, Yann and Romain Pissenem, John and Paul in Ibiza, Fricko, Sean, Marcus, Awat, Lucas, Ludde, Calle, Johannes, Filip, Levan, Otto, Oliver, my brothers David and Anton, my sister Linda, My parents Anki and Klas.
Thank you to all the ones I didn't include in this moment. There has been too many people to mention in one sitting that had an impact on me in this industry and Im sorry I'm forgetting some of you.
But last but not least thank you to every fan who has ever bought a ticket or snuck in, bought a song or downloaded it, commented on posts or hated at them. Its your thoughts and ideas about the music that helped me evolve and I do owe everything I have to you.
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 availed 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 2016 run will be my last tour and last 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.
Yours forever,
Tim Bergling / Avicii
P.S. I've got a new phone so you can text me re all this +46769436383. Please bare with me I might not be super quick to reply. X
via Avicii.com
— Tim Bergling (@Avicii) March 29, 2016
Avicii interview to Panos Mavraganis
