Avicii

Avicii

Photo: Rich Polk/Getty Images for Rolling Stone

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Adam Lambert, Rita Ora, Kygo, David Guetta & More To Play Avicii Tribute Concert

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The newly announced show will support mental health research via the Tim Bergling Foundation and feature DJ sets and live performances of the late DJ/producer's biggest songs
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Sep 3, 2019 - 5:41 pm

The Tim Bergling Foundation recently revealed details for the Avicii Tribute Concert, to honor the late, beloved DJ/producer in his hometown of Stockholm on Dec. 5, at Friends Arena.

Fellow EDM DJs Kygo, David Guetta, Laidback Luke, Nicky Romero, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike will offer DJ sets, while over a dozen more artists will perform live versions of Avicii's music. Past collaborators including Adam Lambert (2013's "Lay Me Down) Aloe Blacc (2013's "Wake Me Up" and 2019's "SOS") Rita Ora (2017's "Lonely Together), Joe Janiak (2019's "Bad Reputation" and "Never Leave Me") and Vargas & Lagola (2019's "Piece of Mind," "Tough Love" and "Excuse Me Mr Sir," as well as co-writes on earlier hits, including 2013's "Hey Brother") are slated to bring his songs to life with a 30-piece live band.

All proceeds from the show will benefit mental health awareness via the Tim Bergling Foundation, which the artist's parents set up in his honor earlier this year to "focus on supporting people and organizations working in the field of mental illness and suicide prevention," following his suicide last April.

The concert will mark the first time many of his songs, namely those from his 2019 posthumous album TIM, are performed live, as well as the first time so many of his collaborators gather together to showcase his music that moved so many. The proceeds from TIM were also earmarked for the foundation, which also supports non-profit organizations with causes close to Avicii's heart, including climate change, endangered species preservation and ending global hunger.

Related: Avicii Remembered In Stockholm, At Coachella, And By Fellow Artists

"Tim had plans for his music to be performed together with a large live band, and now we are realizing his dream and giving fans a chance to experience his music in this unique way," Klas Bergling, Avicii's father, said in a statement.

"We are grateful that his friends, producers, artists and colleagues are coming to Stockholm to help. They have all expressed a sincere interest and desire to engage in efforts to stem the tide of mental illness and lend their support to our work with the Tim Bergling Foundation. We are very much looking forward to this evening, which will be a starting point for the foundation's work going forward… We want this concert to help put the topic on the agenda and pay attention to the stigma surrounding mental illness and suicide. Policies and tools are needed to detect the risks and prevent suicide, especially among young people," Bergling added.

Tickets for what is sure to be a powerful concert go on sale Sept. 5 at 10:00 a.m. CET via Ticketmaster. The full lineup can be found here, with more artists to be announced later.

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Avicii

Avicii

Photo: Tiffany Rose/Getty Images

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Avicii's New Posthumous Album 'TIM' Honors The Late Dance Music Hero

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"He told me that this was the first time he'd enjoyed making music in years, so I had to make this as good as I possibly could to honour him and our friendship," said Carl Falk, one of the co-producers of the LP
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Jun 6, 2019 - 4:35 pm

Today, June 6, TIM was released. It is the project that Tim Bergling aka Avicii left about two-thirds completed when he took his life last April, and arrives as a powerful tribute to the late dance music icon.

Seeing as his music connected with so many young people, and his collaborators saw the GRAMMY-nominated producer at his happiest in years while working on the tracks, his family reached out to several of them to help complete the album. The LP is filled with powerful vocals, including on the moving Chris Martin-assisted "Heaven" and "SOS," which reunites "Wake Me Up" vocalist Aloe Blacc with Avicii for another epic collab.

Not long before the one year anniversary of his death on April 20, Avicii's family announced the Tim Bergling Foundation, a Sweden-based non-profit they set up in his honor that "will initially focus on supporting people and organizations working in the field of mental illness and suicide prevention." Shortly after, the announced TIM, for which a hundred percent of the proceeds from the album will go to the org.

"When someone close to you passes, the emptiness becomes a mission. He told me that this was the first time he'd enjoyed making music in years, so I had to make this as good as I possibly could to honour him and our friendship," Carl Falk, one of TIM's co-producers, told The Guardian.

Falk, who met Avicii back in 2010, completed "Ain't A Thing," "Bad Reputation" and "Fades Away" for TIM, which they had started together. "There was never an ego with him," he also told The Guardian. On "Bad Reputation," Falk sampled "Levels," as Avicii sometimes used the same technique, reusing bits of his older tracks in new songs. The steel-drum beat on the track was inspired by a song from Kaliffa, a Swedish rapper the late producer loved.

Vincent Pontare and Salem Al Fakir, who make up the Swedish songwriting/production duo Vargas and Lagola, are two of the other main co-producers on the album. They worked on "Piece of Mind," "Tough Love" and "Excuse Me Mr Sir" on TIM, all of which they co-wrote with Avicii prior to his death.

"Tim getting out of that bad place, exercising and meditating. He was strong. Everyone could see it," Al Fakir told the news outlet.

On "Tough Love," a duet which opens with an Arabic-inspired string arrangement, Vargos and Lagola spoke to Avicii's family and decided to not include any new vocalists on the track.

"The duo re-recorded their guide vocals from the demo with Pontare and his wife, the Swedish singer Agnes, to keep it as close to the last Bergling-approved version as possible," The Guardian explains.

"Even the interviews talking about the process are part of the therapy for us. [Avicii] loved these songs, and wanted them to come out. That's the sad part. He's not here, and I feel like he'd just started something," Al Fakir said.

Avicii's Family Establishes Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Foundation

Aloe Blacc & Maya Jupiter in "I Do"

Aloe Blacc & Maya Jupiter in "I Do"

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Watch Aloe Blacc Get Romantic This Valentine's Day In New "I Do" Video

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The touching new song is the first single from the artist's long-anticipated follow-up to his 2014 GRAMMY-nominated album, 'Lift Your Spirit'
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Feb 14, 2020 - 6:01 am

In case your social media feed hasn't reminded you what day it is yet, surprise, it's Valentine's Day! To celebrate the heart-shaped-everything holiday, GRAMMY-nominated crooner Aloe Blacc has dropped a sentimental new song and video dedicated to his wife, Maya Jupiter.

"I Do" is the first single from the golden-voiced artist's long-anticipated follow-up to his 2014 GRAMMY-nominated album, Lift Your Spirit. The song was inspired by his longtime partnership with Jupiter, who is also a musician, and his decision to re-propose to her on their recent 10 year anniversary.

More Aloe Blacc: Musical Message-Maker | "Required Listening"

"Luck brought us together despite living halfway across the world with a vast ocean between us. 'I Do' is the perfect representation of the profound love we share. I wanted to create a song for Maya that was personal and universal," Blacc shared in a statement with the new music video. It also notes that this heartfelt track is one of his most personal songs to date, being the first time he's written about his relationship.

"Thought I was good / I was good on my own / I was all right," he repeats in the opening refrain. "Never understood why people say love chooses you / now I do, now I do." 

The beautiful visual features both Blacc and Jupiter, along with shots from their remarriage ceremony. In the behind-the-scenes video, which you can watch below (warning: tears ducts may be activated), the couple explains how the breakout success of 2010's "I Need A Dollar" and two years on the road prevented them from having a "real" wedding ceremony. This time, Blacc makes the day extra special, gathering their family—including flying her mom in from Australia—and friends, to celebrate their love and shoot an epic music video along with it.

Blacc is also set to release more new music, including a new album for which "I Do" will serve as the lead single. No further details have been revealed about the LP yet, but it follows a busy year of collaboration in 2019 for "The Man" singer. He was featured on Avicii's posthumous album, TIM, with "SOS" earning the pair another chart-topping dance hit after 2013's "Wake Me Up."

Since the smash success of EDM game-changer "Wake Me Up," Blacc's powerful vocals have been sought out by many other big-name DJ/producers. In 2019 alone, he was featured on over a dozen tracks, including Gryffin's "Hurt People" and David Guetta's "Never Be Alone." With "I Do," Blacc promises to balance out all the recent dancefloor bangers he's contributed to with more of his own music. His soothing, energetic blend of pop, R&B, classic soul and, at times, Caribbean sounds (a nod to his Panamanian roots) is exactly what we need in 2020.

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GRiZ at Bonnaroo SuperJam

GRiZ & friends at SuperJam

Photo: FilmMagic/Getty Images

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GRiZ & Friends Honored Dr. John And Other Music Legends During Bonnaroo SuperJam Set

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"His style of writing—without that I wouldn't exist. There's this badassery to it. His breaking rules paved the way for people like myself to do similar things with music," the saxophone-toting DJ/producer told Rolling Stone
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Jun 18, 2019 - 12:49 pm

During Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival this weekend, DJ/producer/saxophone master GRiZ offered two very different sets. Both showcased his energetic sax playing, but one saw him as the bandleader of the dozens of performers he brought together for the fest's annual SuperJam event.

This year's late-night jam session, which is curated and executed by a different artist every year, was titled "G.O.A.T.: A Celebration of Music Legends SuperJam with GRiZ." The 90-minute set was dedicated to late musical greats including late GRAMMY winners Dr. John, Aretha Franklin, David Bowie and Prince, GRAMMY nominees Mac Miller and Nipsey Hussle, and others. A powerhouse house band and specials guests, all chosen by GRiZ, filled the stage and brought the music to life.

Rolling Stone reports that the Dr. John tribute, which came in the form of his 1973 song "Right Place, Wrong Time," with GRiZ assisting the house band on his sax, was worked into the set list, following his sudden passing on June 6. They spoke to GRiZ and Stu Brooks, SuperJam's Music Director, who worked on the program for five months, organizing its music and plethora of incredibly talented musicians. The pair emphasized it was important to both of them to work Dr. John's magic into the performance.

As the outlet explains, not only does the festival's name comes from Dr. John's 1974 album Desitively Bonnaroo, but Brooks performed as member of his touring band in 2015 and GRiZ is deeply influenced by the late New Orleans' jazz/funk legend.

Related: Dr. John, New Orleans Music Legend, Dies At 77

"We obviously had to pay tribute to Dr. John," Brook's told Rolling Stone. "It's a great way to process loss of someone's life—by celebrating at this [festival], it's serendipitous to the max."

"It's a really morbid situation to be in," GRiZ added, "but also kind of a blessed situation—that we had a platform that we were able to celebrate his life." The Detroit-native also spoke to how Dr. John's joyously experimental music inspired his own risk-taking in his sound and style:

"His style of writing—without that I wouldn't exist. There's this badassery to it. His breaking rules paved the way for people like myself to do similar things with music…That 'free and easy' thing—that makes me feel like I don't have to be worried about what my heart feels about this music and the way it should sound."

One simple yet poignant piece of wisdom Dr. John shared with Brooks during their time touring together, "Be free and easy," served as the thesis statement for the sprawling set. "I feel like that's the ethos of this entire SuperJam," GRiZ added.

Rapper/animator ProbCause, a regular GRiZ collaborator, and singer Chrishira Perrier, a backing vocalist for Trombone Shorty and GRiZ, were two members of his SuperJam house band who helped bring the show to life, along with a stage full of instrumentalists that included the Naughty Professor's horns.

Perrier helped lead the salute the Franklin, Prince and Rick James and Miller with respectively, "Respect," "1999" with help from K.Flay, "Mary Jane" and "Dang!," which ProbCause supported. Prob also rapped "Grinding All My Love" for Nipsey, and K.Flay channeled her inner- Kurt Cobain for Nirvana's "Lithium." Activist singer/songwriters Nahko Bear and Nattali Rize sang Bob Marley's "Could You Be Loved."

Avicii's "Wake Me Up" was also on the 25-song set list, as well as Bowie's "Let's Dance," Queen's "We Will Rock You," in honor of Freddie Mercury, as well as their collab "Under Pressure." Walk The Moon frontman Nicholas Petricca helped lead the glam-rock classics.

While the loss of Dr. John and the other transcendent musicians has left a void in our hearts and in the music world, their powerful music will allow their legacy to live on for generations. As GRiZ told the outlet, the power of performing the songs was palpable:

"Every time we get a featured vocalist or a featured [musician who played with the artist we cover], the energy explodes. You can close your eyes in that moment and feel like you're in the presence of that person performing that song."

GRiZ Talks Pride, Snoop Dogg Collab, Detroit's Music Scene, Giving Back & More

Attendees at 2019 Pride Parade in New York City

Attendees at 2019 Pride Parade in New York City

 

Photo: Erin Lefevre/NurPhoto via Getty Images

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Global Pride 2020 Announces Lineup Additions, Will Focus On Black Lives Matter: Todrick Hall, Adam Lambert, Kesha, Leann Rimes And More Confirmed

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Taking place June 27, the inaugural 24-hour online LGBTQ+ pride event will also feature speakers like former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, Speaker Of The U.S. House Of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and others
John Ochoa
GRAMMYs
Jun 14, 2020 - 3:00 pm

Global Pride, a newly launched worldwide 24-hour online LGBTQ+ pride event, has announced additional speakers, performers and guests for its forthcoming inaugural celebration, which takes place June 27. 

Newly added artists include Adam Lambert, Kesha, Natasha Bedingfield, Leann Rimes, Pussy Riot, Village People, Mel C of Spice Girls, Calum Scott and Mary Lambert. They join previously announced artists like Pabllo Vittar, Ava Max, Olivia Newton-John, Deborah Cox and several others. 

The event will also include newly announced speakers like former U.S. Vice President and current Presidential Democratic candidate Joe Biden, Speaker Of The U.S. House Of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Pussycat Dolls, Rita Ora, Bebe Rexha and others from the worlds of music, entertainment, advocacy and politics.

Singer, songwriter, actor and director Todrick Hall will host. 

According to a press release announcing the news, the event will "amplify black voices" and will center on the Black Lives Matters movement; Global Pride organizers are working in conjunction with the organization's founders for the event.

"As a Black woman in the LGBTQIA+ community, I feel we must confront the systemic racism and violence facing my Black brothers, sisters and non-binary siblings, in the larger culture and within the LGBTQIA+ community. I could not think of a larger platform than Global Pride to do this," Natalie Thompson, co-chair of the Global Pride organizing committee, said in a statement. 

“I am proud to work beside so many diverse colleagues from around the world," she continued. "Our community knows well that we must confront hate and prejudice head-on. We have been watching an epidemic of violence against trans people of color – mostly women – in the past decade and this larger discussion must be inclusive and all encompassing. All Black Lives Matter.”

Billed as the "world’s biggest ever LGBTI+ Pride event," per the event's website, Global Pride is a 24-hour livestreamed event comprising music, performances, speeches and messages of support. The event will be available to watch on host Todrick Hall's YouTube channel, iHeartRadio’s YouTube channel and on the Global Pride website.

Produced by Pride organizations from around the world, including InterPride and the European Pride Organisers Association, two of the world’s biggest international Pride networks, Global Pride 2020 was launched in response to the more than 500 Pride events that were cancelled or postponed worldwide due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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