Avicii Delves Into the Many Layers of New Album ‘Stories’ and Shares His Thoughts on Genre Bending

Stephanie Hernandez

There must be something in the water in Sweden and whatever it is Avicii has been drinking the Kool-Aid since the release of “True” in 2013. His debut album hit American airwaves just two years ago, gained him two Grammy nominations and sky rocketed the Swedish DJ to the top of the charts while giving the world songs like ” Sunshine,” “Levels” and “Wake Me Up” to salivate over. “Wake Me Up” is a track that Avicii tells us “took about four hours from start to finish” to complete, an impressive feat for a first time solo artist to achieve. Now with the release of his highly anticipated sophomore album “Stories” finally dropping this Friday, fans and clubs nationwide will have exactly fourteen new tracks to revamp their Friday night dance parties. Taking his experimentation and collaborations to new heights with a sharpened ear, “Stories” shows just how and why Avicii holds his title as today’s reigning DJ.

Not one to take his success lightly, Avicii knew he had something to prove the second time around and it is this sense of duty and commitment to producing music he can stand behind that sets Avicii apart from many of his electronic counterparts. His signature is clear and makes you feel as though for once, someone in this genre is taking full ownership of his or her work, no gimmicks, just energetic well-produced dance music, plain and simple. The delayed release of “Stories” may have been due to the sheer amount of tracks Avicii wrote and produced in preparation for his sophomore effort. Over 70 songs were completed and then painstakingly weeded through before the final cut was made earlier this year. This task is easier said than done, “That’s always such a difficult part of the process. There are also different versions of some of the tracks that I have to choose from, in which case, I bring in my manager Ash or a trusted friend to give me their opinion.”

The result is fourteen of the best tracks Avicii has ever put out for public scrutiny and enjoyment since his days as a club DJ in Sweden. Avicii’s almost wizard-like ability to pump out hits has gained him not only huge industry respect but also the influence to work with just about anyone he pleases, no questions asked. “I’ve worked with so many incredible artists; I can’t even name a favorite. Working with Chris Martin and Madonna was a dream come true! I still can’t’ believe it. Wyclef Jean was another incredible artist I had the pleasure of working with. He’s always had an incredibly open and creative mind about making music that crosses and connects genres. He doesn’t limit himself – and I feel the same way.” This sense of a limitless world of creativity is exemplified by the sheer spectrum of skill and influences expressed throughout the tracks on “Stories.”

Utilizing vocalists from all genres and musical styles, Avicii shows himself to be a musical curator of sorts, keeping himself open to new inspirations and ideas no matter where they may come from. “My mindset was just to keep going. “True” was the beginning of my experimenting with different genres and I got a lot out of it. Because I’ve done house music for so long, to be able to make rock songs and ballads, and explore reggae, blues and jazz. Yes, it’s a challenge, but it’s also a lot of fun. “Stories” builds upon “True” and refines what I didn’t feel was perfect the last time.” Not one to rest on his laurels, it has became obvious Avicii’s hardest critic is himself.

“Stories” opens with the record’s lead single, “Waiting For Love,” an interesting mix of melancholy and exaltation, full of highs and lows. The lyrical content is some of Avicii’s best to date. “I picked this track because I could just picture it being a summer anthem. It was definitely a festival favorite during my tour this summer!” From here on out the listener is taken through everything from disco funk infusion on “Touch Me,” to country ballads on “Broken Arrows,” to reggae on “Can’t Catch Me.” There is jazzy inspired hip-hop, to soft rock elements involved in “Ten More Days” as well as the classic EDM calling cards on “City Lights” and “Sunset Jesus.” Avicii even brings Coldplay’s Chris Martin into the picture, taking his signature sweet voice and turning it out to be a powerful cry on “True Believer.” The mixes of these various genres, and even the vocalists he assigns to sing them, show Avicii’s understanding of the interconnectivity of music as a whole. Eclectic in nature, the album does have slight air of multiple personalities with so much going on all at once, but it truly is all a part of the fun. It is satisfying to be taken down the road less traveled, down a path you have no idea where it leads, especially if Avicii is the guide.

Overall “Stories” finishes and leaves you with a sense of complex euphoria. What some might consider a fragmented collection of tracks, it is an artistic coming together of stylistically and instrumentally sound arrangements that much prefer to be deemed odd than a familiar and homogenized collection of tracks. This layering was done purposefully, “’Stories’ has more layers than ‘True,’ and I hope that people love each song not only at the first listen, but at the fiftieth. I want people to discover something new with each listen.” This is a task that won’t be difficult to achieve, as you will find yourself addicted soon enough.

Avicii‘s new album “Stories” is available on Apple Music Oct 2.