Tim: The Official Biography of Avicii

With this meticulously researched authorized biography, Swedish journalist Mosesson relies on interviews and thousands of electronic texts to explore the short life of Avicii (1989–2018), the Swedish DJ/composer/producer who delivered melodic, experimental electronic dance music. Born Tim Bergling, the musician was a reclusive, fragile child who became fascinated with video games and computer-based music and eventually took the stage name Avicii, derived from Buddhism’s Sanskrit name for the lowest level of hell. Mosesson charts Avicii’s meteoric rise to worldwide fame: performing at global events such as the Ultra Music Festival in Miami and creating hits such as “Seek Bromance” and “Levels,” amid a nonstop flurry of interviews and merchandise deals and an overwhelming 300-gigs-a-year schedule, masterminded by music management and marketing whiz Arash Pournouri. Mosesson vividly details Avicii’s personal relationships, his collaborations with musicians (Chris Martin of Coldplay; Mike Einziger of Incubus), and his stress-related decline, which Mosesson posits led to Avicii’s alcohol and opioid addictions, pancreatitis, and retirement from touring in 2016. The book ends with Avicii’s triumph over opioid addiction, his obsession with marijuana and meditation, and his depression-related suicide in early 2018.