Last February 25, a museum opened in Stockholm, Sweden, called the Avicii Experience tribute museum. It was inaugurated by Swedish royalties Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia.
This museum is a touching tribute to the life of the late Tim Bergling, better known as Avicii. The DJ and producer took his own life back in 2018, and since then, his parents Klas and Anki have worked on raising awareness for mental health. Avicii rose to fame with his first hit song, “Levels.” Eventually, other songs like “Wake Me Up” and “The Nights” got extremely popular for their catchy EDM beat and surprisingly meaningful lyrics.
Prince Carl Philip recited one memorable lyric from Avicii’s during the opening of the tribute museum. “One day my father, he told me/ Son, don’t let it slip away/ He took me in his arms, I heard him say/ When you get older/ Your wild heart will live for younger days/ Think of me if ever you’re afraid.”
The tribute museum features a replica of the bedroom Berling had as a teenager, complete with typical teenage boy items like World of Warcraft, some Harry Potter books, and so on. Many of the items in this room replica are Tim’s actual stuff he had as a boy, provided by his parents, Klas Bergling and his wife, Anki Lidén.
There’s also a reconstruction of the studio Tim had when he made his first hit song “Levels” back in 2011. To contrast the small stature of that studio, there is a reconstruction of the LA mansion he acquired in 2014 that overlooked the city’s sights.
The Avicii Experience also has interactive spaces, like an area where visitors can hear an unreleased version of “Levels.” They can even try and remix the hit song. They could also interact with another song, “Hey Brother,” made in 2013. Visitors can also sing VR Karaoke with songs “Broken Arrows,” “Wake Me Up,” and “Without You.” It features the singers from each song respectively: Carl Falk, Aloe Blacc, and Sandro Cavazza – they all cheer for the visitor and encourage them to sing.
The museum does not shy away from the topic of mental health and the overwhelming nature of being a famous artist. Existential questions are projected on a wall while ocean sounds play in the background, in some type of meditation room. That space is followed by an area that plays a three-minute loop of airplanes, clubs, cars, and paparazzi cameras and mirrors, which is clearly intended to put the visitor in the shoes of the introvert who was overwhelmed by the high-life of being a famous artist. It’s why Avicii decided to quit touring in 2016.
Per Sundin is the museum co-founder who worked for Universal Music in Sweden and sealed the deal for “Levels.” He talks about how Avicii’s death was apparently a wake-up call for people in the music industry. “I really think that the record labels and people working close to the artists think more about this, talk more about it,” Sundin said.
Universal music now offers therapy and financial advice for its artists, and Klas Bergling says it’s a step in the right direction but wants more from the industry.
He tells the BBC, “Don’t let young artists work 14 days in a row without resting, fly all over the continent back and forth. They should pause, sleep and rest.”
As mentioned earlier, Tim’s parents have been trying to raise awareness for mental health. The family set up the Tim Bergling Foundation back in 2019, and the organization helps fund a 24-hour helpline and also works with schools, businesses, and football clubs in Sweden.
The Avicii Experience tribute museum does not only highlight the music and legacy of Tim Bergling but also gives importance to mental health and the happiness that could be seen in his lyrics.
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