At the Ultra Music Festival in Miami, Avicii polarized his fans with the revelation of his new, quite different material. The bluegrass tinged dance pop caused many to take to their computers, raging over what they had thought, would be the end of Avicii’s career. Six months later and it appears the Swede has had the last laugh. With the No. 1 spot around 63 different countries, Wake Me Up is a certified smash hit and even sold faster than Blurred Lines. Not bad for a track I thought to be nothing more than a cheesy dance track crossed with Mumford and Sons.
So out of all the EDM artists, how did Avicii climb to the top? In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, the pop sensation revealed his sentiments about the state of todays EDM: “It’s ridiculous, I still don’t really feel like I’ve had time to slow down and really realize where it has all come to. A lot of dance music has gotten more and more repetitive – too focused on the dirty drop. I was always interested in the melodic part of house music.”
It appears that Avicii isn’t the only person interested in the melodies, for 63 countries can’t be wrong. By teaming up with pop legends such as Nile Rodgers and Mac Davis, Avicii is clearly making sure that his melodies hit all the right notes. And not just the bass notes.
Original Rolling Stone article
If only other thought the same way as him! I wasn’t a fan of Levels, but his open minded attitude to the scene will be serve him well! Fair play to him, lets hope others learn from him!
I agree. Well done for making a stand, Avicii.
So who still feels that deadmau5 was talking alot of crap about this modern house music? Well looks like he isn’t alone.. The likes of Avicii, Axwell and Steve also have the same idea, so do I.
excision has melodies, AND DIRTY DROPS.
If I agree with Avicii? YES, FUCK YES! Those “dirty drop”-tunes dominating the hype makes me sick to my stomach. Mindless “music” with a total lack of aesthetics or soul. The first one was cool, then came the horde of copycats and ruined everything.
The problem is that there’s too many producers who are forgetting their fans and listening crowd. Instead they only produce tunes that are aimed specifically towards festival crowd pleasing.
wake me up is lame. melodic and heavy both have a place in edm.
Forgot to mention Aloe Blacc in this article…he’s 1/2 the reason this song is No 1 in 63 countries.
The interesting thing is I already knew it before, but.. who wants to listen such zero, even if it’s telln the truth..
I don’t think Avicii should complain about EDM. I think that EDM is EDM, and there is a place for both Melodic types of EDM, and Heavy types of EDM. Honestly, I think he shouldn’t complain, because he’s one of the many frontmen in EDM today as it is.
He is the top DJ because he panders to the largest demographic not because he is the best. Now I admit “Wake Me Up” is a great track but Avicii lacks two things most other creative artist are overflowing with. 1. Attitude 2. Direction in his sets. He goes from one melody to another melody to another melody with vocals in between it never arrives anywhere or changes.
As a fan, I think he’s a little bit like Daft Punk. EDM, as much as others hate it, was never gonna be a underground scene. It will always change, evolve, be it better or worse. He is one of the best right now because of his openness to change, to not be afraid of doing what nobody does in the EDM scene. And he’s right ; a lot of what we hear are the same drops we are hearing for years.
Okay, I hated Levels for being a mainstream “pop” tune… now I realize maybe this guy is onto something.
I think Avicii is talking about real progressive house or pop music. He just has to decided which way he wants his career to go.
well said, Billy Corgan!
Idk its true that alot of artists focus on the drop but the drop is what makes you dance, and plus even in the softer parts of the songs there are still little things in the backround or only half a bar long that add to the mix and make it a good song. I try to make sure most EDM I listen to is not only a “Dirty Drop” but also well produced and has a unique clear sound. I agree with Avicii but I disagree on some of his points as well. and someone please GIVE ME INPUT on what I have said here cause maybe my opinion is just not coming from someone who is necesssariy super experienced. But from someone who listens/makes/djs music all day every day lol.
So many people in the EDM movement have no clue of how many non-EDM related people actually like his melodic/near-to-pop music.
At least he is not colaborating with pitbull or nicky minaj.
Regardless of the actual song, I think the production on Wake me Up sucks. Avicii has no idea how to mix, especially mix actual instruments like an acoustic guitar. There are so many producers out there that could have made that song sound so much better.
House music is getting shitty and heavy bass isn’t. I used to love house until everything started to sound the fucking same. and a dirty drop? they aren’t even dirty… they are complete trap drops. I used to listen to only dubstep, then I found my love for house. now house is going to shit. Go trance, go dubstep and go hardstyle and whatever you want to classify Big Grizmatik under…. Jazzstep?
ironic
Every time I hear this song, I throw up in my mouth a little bit.
stop hating, avicci rocked that set…different is good. if everyone is doing the same thing as an artist you should take that q and do something else, explore more. Avicci has done this very well.
Leave EDM the way it is.
personally I do not really care for Avicii’s new track.