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Avicii: A musical legacy continues to break records

Avicii's song "Wake Me Up" has achieved a remarkable feat – it's the first track by a Swedish artist to reach 2 billion streams on Spotify , even five years after his passing.

But who was Avicii? Here are some facts that perhaps you do not know about this Swedish DJ and his impact on the EDM (electronic dance music) genre.

Avicii, whose real name was Tim Bergling, chose his stage name inspired by the Buddhist term "Avīci," representing the lowest level of hell. This unique name stuck with him throughout his career, starting from his MySpace days.

His breakthrough came with "Levels" in 2011, which sampled Etta James and soared to worldwide fame. This success paved the way for two studio albums, "True" (2013) and "Stories" (2015), blending electronic beats with pop and rock elements. Collaborations with stars like Madonna, Coldplay, and David Guetta followed. In 2016, health issues led to Avicii's retirement from touring, a decision explored in the 2017 documentary "Avicii: True Stories."

Beyond music, Avicii engaged in philanthropy, contributing millions to causes like hunger relief and education. Tragically, Avicii passed away in 2018 at the age of 28. His death shocked the music world and beyond, leading to an increased awareness of mental health struggles among artists. A posthumous album titled "TIM" was released in 2019, featuring unfinished tracks that he had been working on before his passing.

Today, Avicii's name stands tall in Sweden's musical legacy alongside ABBA, Swedish House Mafia, and Zara Larsson, among others.

by Viviana Levet/Riedia