News of Avicii’s death broke last Friday, shocking not only the world of dance music, but the world at large. Even as the producer and DJ had struggled with substance abuse and healthy problems for most of his professional career, the news still came as a kick to the gut, the first death of its kind in the dance music world to be certain.
People have been waiting for an official cause of death since last week, and the unfortunate reality, according to Avicii’s family, is that it was suicide. The statement, obtained by Variety, was originally released in the family’s native Swedish, a language in which sources say the pre-translated speech “made the implication [of suicide] more overt.”
To be perfectly clear, there was no suicide note found at the scene of his death, as some other media outlets have reported; the only indication of apparent suicide comes from his family’s statement.
The statement said: “Our beloved Tim was a seeker, a fragile artistic soul searching for answers to existential questions. An over-achieving perfectionist who travelled and worked hard at a pace that led to extreme stress.
“He really struggled with thoughts about Meaning, Life, Happiness. He could not go on any longer.”
It continued: “He wanted to find peace. Tim was not made for the business machine he found himself in; he was a sensitive guy who loved his fans but shunned the spotlight.
“Tim, you will forever be loved and sadly missed. The person you were and your music will keep your memory alive.
“We love you, Your family.”
via Variety