Avicii

Avicii

Photo: Rich Polk/Getty Images for Rolling Stone

News

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

Facebook Twitter Email
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.

Lizzo, Halsey, Shawn Mendes & More To Talk Mental Health On Upcoming Radio Special

Avicii

Avicii

Photo: Tiffany Rose/Getty Images

News

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

Facebook Twitter Email
"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"

News

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

Facebook Twitter Email
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.

I’m A Seat Filler at The GRAMMYs

Peter Bjorn and John

Peter Bjorn and John

Photo: Xavi Torrent/Redferns/Getty Images

News

Peter Bjorn And John Celebrate Turning 20 In 2020 With New Album & U.S. Tour

Facebook Twitter Email
"It's about people trying to find colors in this dark world," John Eriksson, one-third of the Swedish indie-rock trio, explains
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Oct 18, 2019 - 5:24 pm

Today, Swedish indie-rock stalwarts Peter Bjorn and John revealed they'll be releasing their ninth studio album, Endless Dream, on March 13, 2020 via INGRID. The announcement comes with the LP's catchy lead single, "Rusty Nail," and dates for a supporting 2020 U.S. tour.

The start of the new decade also marks the Stockholm-based band's 20th anniversary, so what better way to celebrate then with new music and a run of shows?

The tour kicks shortly after the album drops, on March 23 in Los Angeles, at the Teragram Ballroom. After a string of dates on the West Coast, the "Young Folks" will hit up St. Paul, Minn. on April 3 and Chicago the following day. After a few more dates, including two nights in Philadelphia, they'll wrap things up with an April 10th show at the newly reopened Webster Hall in New York and, finally, at Brighton Music Hall in Boston on April 11.

Endless Dream follows their three-track EPBJ EP, released February of this year, which served as a B-sides of sorts (the music was recorded during the same time) to their 2018 album, Darker Days. A press release for the forthcoming album notes the creative journey of this album began "almost immediately after Darker Days."

"We were in a good place," Peter Morén explained, via the press release. "It's the light to the darkness—the day to the night." John Eriksson added, "This time the tone is bright. It's about people trying to find colors in this dark world."

While the work on the ninth album began not long after the eighth, they approached the creative process a bit differently, stripping things down.

"We realized we wanted to cut the crap, so we rehearsed songs in the same room and recorded together. For post-production, every guy was on his own taking care of his baby—and then we came back and had our baby together," Bjorn Yttling said.

More info on the tour, including ticketing info, can be found on the band's site.

Green Day, Weezer & Fall Out Boy Unite For 2020 Hella Mega Tou

busbee

busbee

Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

News

Busbee, GRAMMY-Nominated Hit-Maker, Dies At 43

Facebook Twitter Email
The beloved hit-maker, who worked with Maren Morris, Shakira, Lady Antebellum and many more, passed away this weekend.
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Sep 30, 2019 - 2:34 pm

Yesterday, Sept. 29, Warner Chappell broke the sad news, via a heartfelt Instagram post, that GRAMMY-nominated songwriter/producer busbee had passed away at age 43. His label, Altadena, was housed under Warner Records and he had a publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Music. Variety reports that, according to a friend of his, busbee was diagnosed with Glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer, earlier this year and was receiving treatment for it.

He spent the last two decades working with a long list of popular country and pop artists in Los Angeles and Nashville, helping pen and produce infectious hits for Maren Morris, Shakira, Adam Lambert, Lady Antebellum and many more. Clearly beloved by everyone he worked with, many have shared tributes on social media.



View this post on Instagram


Our hearts are broken by the loss of our beautiful friend busbee. He was an extraordinary human being whose generosity, spirituality and humor inspired everyone around him. An amazingly gifted songwriter, he used his talent, his music, and his love to break down boundaries and bring people together. He left us far too soon. Our deepest condolences go to his wonderful family and all his many friends. We love you. - Guy, Carianne, Ben, Ryan, Katy and the Warner Chappell family Today we lost busbee, a dear friend, business partner with his company Altadena, and one of the best and brightest creative minds in music. busbee’s kindness and legacy will never be forgotten and our hearts and prayers go out to his family at this very difficult time. With love & respect, Aaron, Tom and his Warner Records family

A post shared by Warner Music (@warnermusic) on

"The Recording Academy is heartbroken over the passing of one of our own—GRAMMY-nominated songwriter and producer, busbee," Deborah Dugan, President/CEO of the Recording Academy said. She continued:

"He was an integral member of our music community, serving as a Recording Academy Los Angeles Chapter Governor and Co-Chair of the Chapter's Advocacy Committee, where he helped advance the rights of artists, songwriters, and studio professionals. busbee was a creative spirit who was unconditionally committed to his craft. This is a devastating loss for the entire music community, and our hearts are with his family, friends, and all of his many musical collaborators."

Born Michael James Ryan, busbee grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, where his love of music blossomed from a young age through church and both Christian and jazz radio. His natural talents in music began with piano lessons at age seven and trombone in high school. He received a college scholarship to continue his studies of jazz trombone on the East Coast, later returning home and accepting a job as a music pastor at a local church.

"There's so much music at church. You can feel when a song feels like it's inspired," busbee told Ross Golan on the May 6 episode of his podcast "And the Writer Is…," as quoted by Variety. In 2000, busbee relocated to Los Angeles to pursue a deeply inspiring career in the music industry, beginning his songwriting career with notable country and pop artists.

Pop Is Different For Busbee Now That He Does It

In 2009, he saw his first Top 40 hit on Billboard's Hot 100 as a writer on Rascal Flatts' "Summer Nights." As reported by Billboard, his work earned him (and his collaborators, of course) a total of 22 charting songs to date on the Hot 100 alone. Several of his big songs are with GRAMMY-winning country queen Morris, as he worked as a producer and co-writer on both her debut LP, Hero, and her 2019 follow up, Girl. For "My Church," her hit debut single, the pair both earned nominations for Best Country Song at the 59th GRAMMY Awards. Morris also earned a Best New Artist nomination that year, and took home a win for Best Country Solo Performance for "My Church."

She shared a touching message and picture on social media yesterday, writing, "This just doesn't seem fair. I will always love you and the songs and albums I was lucky to make with you, Busbee. Rest well, my sweet friend." Today, she shared another tribute on Twitter, a video from the studio of him working on "My Church."

Dedicated to the craft of songwriting, he was a true collaborator as well as a mentor. During a songwriting panel hosted by the Recording Academy L.A. Chapter this spring, he discussed his journey that led him to becoming a hit-maker, emphasizing the important roles of faith, hard work and perseverance.

"Nobody else is going to get what's yours," busbee told the group of budding songwriters and artists. "You never know who's going to make the decision that changes the course of your life."

Keep scrolling to get a small taste of the many lives he touched, with moving tributes from more of his collaborators and friends; Shakira, Lady Antebellum, Golan, Lambert, Blake Shelton and Carly Pearce.

 
 
 
 
 

Hit-Makers Share The Specialized, Intuitive Art Of Crafting The Perfect Song