Another mind-blowing year of Ultra Music Festival has come to an end, with two music-filled weekends of unprecedented Miami revelry in the books. Yet amongst the many exciting sets and worthwhile bits of news to come out of the festival, one particular story has dominated the EDM headlines the past few days: Avicii’s controversial set at Ultra’s Weekend 2. For those who didn’t view or listen to the set: approximately midway through Avicii’s standard lineup of house tracks, the set suddenly came to a planned halt. The sound system stopped pumping out tunes, and instead thousands of festival-goers were treated to an unusual medley of acoustic performances (featuring bluegrass artist Mac Davis, members of alternative rock band Incubus, and rapper Aloe Blacc), all of which were apparently snippets from Avicii’s upcoming album due out this summer. 
Needless to say, this caused quite a stir in the EDM community, and amongst festival-goers and video streamers who thought they would be getting something quite different from the Swedish house icon. inthemix, the Australian dance music site, posted some of the best reactions from the DJ community (link), some of which accused Avicii of “jumping the EDM shark” and made fun of the “country music” that graced Ultra’s main stage. Now, Avicii himself has issued a response to the controversy through his Facebook:
“Wow looks like I stirred up some controversy with my set friday night at UMF. Seeing alot of people who dont understand. My full set wasn’t being streamed, only the last 40ish minutes with all new material from my album.
In a 75 minute set, I brought a 15 minute different breakdown with live musicians to a festival with nonstop dance music for 3 days straight 2 weeks in a row . I really wanted to switch things up and do something fun and different, as I always strive for, and this album is about experimentation and about showing the endless possibilities of house and electronic music. Its about how to incorporate acoustic instruments from different styles and influences you wouldnt expect and still stay true to your own sound and musicality which for me has always been about the melodies and positive energy. I will always produce music that I love and listen to. But my album is certainly not “country”, and people have gotten hung up on an instrument we used for the live cover of a song. Every song on the album is a fusion with house and electronic music.
We wanted to make a statement, and theres really no better place to make one than UMF mainstage. People will soon see what it’s all about.
My music is open to anyone who wants to listen to it and I will always stay true to my sound. Love you all who listen with open hearts and open minds. These past few months Ive been so lucky to have had the chance to work with so many talented artists and to bring them there when I launch the album was amazing and they all did an amazing job.
This was my first time performing with a band and I couldnt have asked for more a professional team, I really want to thank @MichaelEinziger and his fiancee, @vatoben and @JoseAPasillasII from Incubus, @Aloeblacc, legend @Mac Davis, @audramae and @dantyminskii for joining me on stage.”
Avicii expectedly defends his creative choices, saying that a lot of set viewers “didn’t understand,” and that “people will soon see what [this new sound] is all about.” Our take? Avicii is walking a tightrope by gambling that his name recognition can carry forth an experimental project in a music scene which, though we all love and appreciate, is still pretty young and underdeveloped. Whether such an unproven experiment can succeed in the global EDM arena remains to be seen, since for the most part producers are expected to have a consistent sound, and are known by the genre of the music they create.
In addition, the history of music in this country is full of artists who went in bizarre creative directions that were not well-received by the public. Bruce Springsteen dumped his famous “E Street Band” in the late 80s and significantly altered his sound. Kanye West’s 2008 album “808s and Heartbreak” featured none of his signature rapping, and was instead a mishmash of auto-tuned vocals. However, it’s important to note that the musical environment of this country (and worldwide) has surely changed over the past decade. Perhaps this new era of digitalized music and distribution has made these creative experiments easier, and more accessible to the public. Then again, perhaps Avicii is overestimating himself in embarking on this unprecedented creative journey and expecting the public to respond positively. Can the Swedish house magnate pull off what most people view as a strange and unexpected turn in his sound? Only time will tell.
this is awesome! it takes great skill to mix electronic beats with the acustics of a guitar. Props to Avicii to making some new music and breaking through the genre stereotype! Mixing this music is a great way to bring all people together and enjoy some good tunes! sounds great avicii!
fading in and out tracks thats a good skill
i actually enjoyed it listening at home, but if i were at ultra and he came at me with that bullshit i would be furious.
although i can also say with 100% certainty that there is no way in hell i would be watching avicii at any festival under any circumstances so thankfully i would be in the clear
“a music scene which, though we all love and appreciate, is still pretty young and underdeveloped.” Sure, the ‘EDM’ music scene, this abomination that you have created over the past few years is young. House music is not.
Oh relax with your overly stated rhetoric concerning your hatred for this newly used term. It’s just a word. And even then, house music can still be considered young, it’s only 40 years old. Look at Jazz for example. And honestly are you that insulted that house music is categorized under edm, that you feel the need to comment on this post about it.
I think it was one the best set, why the hell would i listen to the same tracks ALL the djs play, seriously i listen hit it like 30 times in one weekend
Finally, Avicii is turning into a good producer/DJ! I love new stuff that works, I can’t wait to hear the final product. You people who are complaining about this are the 2008-2012 EDM generation. Your time is up. Seriously, just go have your kids and watch the rest of your life go by already, don’t bring down a decent artist who’s evolving into something better than he was when you were in your prime.
I’m actually liking the set. The fusion aspect is nice. Sure, it’s not what people expected from Avicii but I know I would still have a ton of fun dancing around to these tracks.