Relentless Beat of the Week: Avicii – ‘Wake Me Up’

Last Friday, a star was pulled from the world and taken to a place of peace. Tim Bregling needs little introduction and his moniker, Avicii, requires even less. Tim opened doors and minds to a world of production that has forever changed the electronic music landscape. His passing leaves all who worked with him and admired him in a state of despair and disbelief. 28 is just too young.

In the weeks’ time that we have been morning this loss, advancements have been made in figuring out the cause of death.  In a statement that was released today by his family, we are faced with a sad truth.

“He really struggled with thoughts about Meaning, Life, Happiness. He could not go on any longer. He wanted to find peace. Tim was not made for the business machine he found himself in; he was a sensitive guy who loved his fans but shunned the spotlight. Tim, you will forever be loved and sadly missed. The person you were and your music will keep your memory alive.”

Today, we honor Avicii with our Beat of the Week, “Wake Me Up.”

As a true artist, he used his dark pain to create beauty.  He channeled it into the emotive, bombastic choruses and revealed it in his lyrics. Today, “Wake Me Up” speaks differently to us than when it was first released in 2013–we can all agree on is that this song will never sound quite the same.

In a poetic full-circle, the video for “Wake Me Up” is centered around finding a place where you belong. When you were at an Avicii set, you felt like you were exactly where you needed to be. Tim gifted hundreds of thousands of people a place to belong in a world where he wasn’t always happy and sometimes felt out of place. For this, and so many other reasons, we cherish and honor Avicii. You will be missed; rest in peace Tim Bregling.

Connect with Avicii: Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud