Dance music superstar Avicii dead at 28

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New York: Avicii, one of the world’s most successful DJs who helped make electronic music take off globally but struggled to cope with a hard-partying lifestyle, died in Oman on Friday, his representative said. told He was 28 years old.

Two years after taking an unusually early retirement from tourism amid recurring health scares, the Swedish DJ has been found dead in the Gulf kingdom’s capital of Muscat.

“It is with deep sadness that we announce the loss of Tim Bergling, also known as Avicii,” his management said in a statement without giving a cause of death.

“The family is devastated and we ask that everyone please respect their need for privacy at this difficult time. No further statement will be made.”

Maitrai Joshi, a DJ at Muscat Hills Resort, said he had seen Avicii and understood the dance superstar was on holiday in Oman for the first time and had extended his stay.

“I saw him again the next day and he was friendly, humble and took some photos,” Joshi told AFP by email.

Avicii was among the first DJs to break into the mainstream as electronic dance music moved from nightclubs to Top 40 radio in the last decade. He made a global hit with Coldplay’s “A Sky Full of Stars” to which he added a layer of energetic electronica.

He also helped produce Madonna’s last album. On Instagram, the pop icon posted a photo of herself with Avicii in the DJ booth and wrote: “So sad. Goodbye dear sweet Tim. Gone too soon.”

Among his biggest solo hits was “Wake Me Up”, which went to number one across Europe in 2013 and featured soul singer Aloe Blacc.

In 2015, he DJ-ed the wedding reception of Prince Carl Philip of Sweden and his bride Sofia. The couple mourned him in a statement, saying: “We were privileged to have known and admired him as an artist and a beautiful person.”

Sweden’s Prime Minister Stefan Lofon called Avicii “the biggest name in music in Sweden in modern times”.

– Scene ‘Not for Me’ –

Avicii has spoken publicly in recent years about his health problems, including pancreatitis, which stemmed in part from excessive alcohol consumption.

The condition forced him to cancel shows in 2014 as he had to have his gallbladder and appendix removed.

In 2016, Avicii surprised fans by retiring from touring at just 26 years old.

The scene was not for me, he told music magazine Billboard after his decision.

“It wasn’t the shows and it wasn’t the music. It was always other things around it that never came naturally to me. All the other parts of being an artist,” he added.

“I was normally an introverted person. It was always very difficult for me. I took on a lot of negative energy, I think.”

Avicii later returned to the more quiet life of a studio artist. Last year, he released a six-song EP featuring British pop singer Rita Ora.

– ‘Genius and Musical Innovator’ –

Avicii, the son of Enki Lydon, a prominent Swedish actress, began uploading tracks on the Internet and was discovered by Dutch superstar Tiesto, who invited him to play at his residence in the clubbing hub of Ibiza.

Her breakthrough single, “Levels,” sampled soul singer Etta James and earned her one of her two Grammy nominations.

He took his stage name from the Sanskrit word for the lowest level of hell in Buddhism, adding an extra “i” at the end.

In 2014, he was tied with Tiesto as the third highest-paid DJ in the world on Forbes magazine’s list, with an estimated $28 million in earnings that year.

Pop star Charlie Puth paid tribute to Avicii as “a genius and a musical innovator” and said he “really opened my eyes to what my production could sound like one day.”

Deadmau5 — an outspoken DJ who mocked Avicii when he stopped touring at such a young age — offered his “sincere and most heartfelt condolences.”

“On one hand, no one can deny what he’s accomplished and done for modern dance music and I’m so proud of him,” Deadmau5 tweeted.

Fellow star DJ David Guetta, who collaborated with Avicii on “Sunshine,” wrote: “We lost a friend with such a beautiful heart and the world lost an incredibly talented musician.

On Instagram, electronic producer Diplo called Avicii the “gold standard” in setting music trends.

Diplo said, “I know you had demons and maybe it wasn’t the right place for you at times, but we need to protect real artists like you at all costs because there aren’t enough kids out there and we Losing too much.”