You don’t stand on seats, and hell.. it sounds like we’ve been listening to the same song for two hours now!” Duly noted. For people over a certain age, the 4/4 beat clearly seem to be the only part they can audibly interpret when subjected to electronic music.
So, just how crazy have the past three years been for the bright-eyed young star, who now firmly plants himself atop an increasingly hungry market of American electronic music fans who now idolize him, and other DJs /live acts such as Deadmau5 and Skrillex, in the same way that our kid-sisters thought of New Kids On the Block in the late ‘80s? Here’s what he had to say following his blowout performance...
How does it feel knowing you’ve now joined legends such as The Beatles performing on that stage? Avicii: “Amazing really. It’s such a great venue, for sure. From the first time I walked in the hall to do a photo shoot the other day, I was just in awe, the room itself is just breathtaking. Especially from my point of view up on top of the head. It was such an amazing experience, seeing the whole floor and all the upper levels completely packed. Just amazing!”
You seem to keep reaching higher and higher levels, no pun intended. For instance, this past WMC you had Madonna join you on stage during your Ultra Gig. How did that develop? Is there a genuine friendship there or was it more of a PR stunt?
A: “Well, it was more of just a fun thing really. She’s been reaching out to us for awhile and I kind of just got the idea to have her come out to Ultra. So it was really just a big honor having her there, she’s such an iconic figure. It was just an honor really. It was definitely nothing close to a PR. stunt, that’s a bit of a stretch I’d say.”
Your ascension to this level has all taken place over such a short time since your first gig here in the US back in 2009. How crazy has the ride been so far? A: “Its been so hectic and busy that its almost hard to even think back at it all clearly. All of this was definitely not what I was expecting! It all happened so fast, it’s been like a whirlwind honestly. It’s a new gig every day, and especially over the past year or two things have just become crazy.”
With the touring and media hype being as hectic as they’ve been for you, do you think you can keep up this pace for a long time? A: “Well, I miss having lunch with my my friends and dinner with the family of course. Honestly, over the next year or two I’ll definitely be slowing down on the touring. I want to spend more time in the studio, focus on making music for a bit and just slow things down for awhile. But I’ll be doing this for as long as I can. As long as it remains fun, and the people want me to continue, I’m not going to stop any time soon.”
So when did the spark ignite for you? When did you begin DJing and producing? A: “I started producing around 16 or so. A friend introduced me to FL Studio, which I still use to as of late? A “I think I’ve always had a good run here in the States. I actually started touring here more than anywhere. Of course, once the EDM explosion happened, things just got so much bigger. Bigger shows, so many people, it’s just getting huge here.”
So what’s next? Once you start slowing down on the touring are there any upcoming releases or projects coming our way in the near future? A: “I’m not sure what will come out next honestly. Things have just been so, so hectic that there hasn’t been time to think really. I’m hoping to perhaps get an album out finally, and have been road testing a ton of new stuff that I’ve just got lying around basically.”
And with that, he’s back off into the fast flowing river that is his life. Despite sending some follow- up questions, we don’t gleam anymore information on the phenomenon named Avicii beyond his ever up-dating Twitter feed, a rolling parade of international arrivals and departures, packed parties and retweeted fan well-wishing. The EDM sun is shining and Avicii is making hay, embodying the American dream of making it to the top through hard work and determination, but with a sound that resolutely reflects his Swedish start.
“OF COURSE, ONCE THE EDM EXPLOSION HAPPENED, THINGS JUST GOT SO MUCH BIGGER. BIGGER SHOWS, SO MANY PEOPLE, IT’S JUST GETTING HUGE HERE.”