Avicii in a nutshell

Precocious talent

Avicii was eight when he started making mixes in his bedroom. He produced a number of mixes like the remix of Lazy Jones which was the theme song for the Commodore 64 game.

Early influences

The Wake Me Up singer described electronic dance music trio Swedish House Mafia and DJ Eric Prydz as his main influences early in his career. He also named Daft Punk, Armand Van Helden, Sebastian Ingrosso, Tiësto, Laidback Luke, Steve Angello and Axwell as musicians who influenced his style.

Mainstream hit

Levels was released in 2011 and became a huge mainstream hit. It greatly influenced Avicii’s popularity. Written by the musician, it contains a vocal sample from the 1962 gospel-inspired Something’s Got a Hold on Me by Etta James.

Donating his pay

Avicii was a philanthropist to the core and showed his charitable nature after just a year into stardom. He announced that he was giving a million-dollar paycheque to Feeding America, a US-based network of food banks fighting hunger around the world.

Fighting child trafficking

In his songs, Avicii drew attention to child trafficking. In two of his music videos he spoke out against human trafficking. “The promise of a better life often traps families and children into being used as tools for some of the most despicable people on earth,” he said in a statement.