Avicii
A Swedish producer who fused folk melodies with stadium-sized electronic beats, bringing dance music to the top of global pop charts.
1989–2018 (age 29)·Swedish DJ and music producer·Birthday: September 8·Millennials
Biography
Born Tim Bergling in Stockholm, he began making music in his bedroom as a teenager, uploading tracks to online forums. His breakthrough came with the shimmering, melancholic track 'Levels' in 2011, a song that became an inescapable anthem and redefined the sound of mainstream electronic music. Under the stage name Avicii, he became the face of a new era of EDM, headlining festivals and collaborating with pop royalty, all while crafting melodies that felt both euphoric and introspective. His work ethic was immense, but the relentless touring schedule took a severe toll on his mental and physical health. He retired from touring in 2016 and died by suicide in 2018, a tragedy that sparked a global conversation about wellbeing in the music industry. His posthumous album 'Tim' revealed the depth of his artistry, built from folk and country influences he was weaving into his electronic palette.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Avicii was born in 1989, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Avicii Was Born
The biggest hits of 1989
#1 Movie
Batman
Best Picture
Driving Miss Daisy
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Avicii's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1989Born
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1994Started school
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2002Became a teenager
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Could drive
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2007Could vote
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Turned 21
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2018Died at 29
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
Key Achievements
- His 2011 single 'Levels' became a global phenomenon and is considered one of the defining electronic tracks of the 2010s.
- Headlined major festivals like Ultra Music Festival and Coachella, symbolizing EDM's commercial peak.
- His collaboration 'Wake Me Up' with Aloe Blacc fused country and house, topping charts in over 30 countries.
- Received a posthumous Grammy nomination for his work on the album 'Tim' in 2020.
Did You Know?
His stage name 'Avicii' is a Buddhist term for the lowest level of hell; he chose it because another Tim had already taken the username on an early online platform.
He produced the track 'Levels' using the music software Fruity Loops (now FL Studio).
He was nominated for a Grammy for his work on 'Sunshine' with David Guetta in 2012.
A documentary about his life and career, 'Avicii: True Stories', was released in 2017.
“One day you'll leave this world behind, so live a life you will remember.”
