As two years go by since Avicii’s passing, we find ourselves in a strange and uncomfortable place of social distancing and self-isolation. The coronavirus pandemic is a threat to not just our health, but our mental health. Avicii’s death and the Tim Bergling Foundation’s efforts for mental health awareness are a reminder that no one should feel alone or hesitate to seek help during these uncharted times.
DJs are humans too, and the quarantine has also put them in a range of states of mind. Some of them have shared their thoughts, which helps not only them but us.
DJs Admitting It’s A Struggle
While the lockdown is an opportunity to get more work done, English house producer Corey James revealed that it hasn’t been very productive for him. 2020 is a “mad” year so far in his books.
Alison Wonderland, who’s canceled previous shows due to sickness, has been very vocal with fans about her day-to-day quarantine struggles. She’s gone from reminding people to be there for each other to drinking to venting with Valentino Khan. She’s expressed anguish over not being able to be near friends and seeking human connection.
Whethan shared a video to depict how quarantine had him “going in circles.”
DJs Enjoying Quarantine
The lockdown and cancelation of events is actually the best thing that happened to some DJs who have been on the grind nonstop. One of them is Don Diablo, who shared his thoughts from The Netherlands during Tomorrowland’s ‘United Through Music’ livestream on April 7. The Dutch DJ said he is finally eating healthy and getting enough exercise and sleep.
“I think haven’t looked at the mirror for like almost two, three years, like properly looked looked because I was afraid of what I was going to see in the mirror. So this is a time that I was confronted with myself on the daily so I want to open up to myself, be honest with myself and kind of yeah, just be kind to myself,” he said. “And that where this sort of health regime, the fitness regime came from. Before that, I just didn’t have any energy to be honest, I was just focused on the music.”
From Belgium on March 31 for Tomorrowland’s livestream, Lost Frequencies said he was feeling “super happy.” Mr. Alive and Feeling Fine has been making a lot of music and playing some video games.
“Honestly it’s been so much time that I’ve been away for the last five years and I never spent too much time at home,” he said. “So a little bit happy to be here, but under sad conditions, it’s not the best, but I get to spend some time at home and I really appreciate that.”
Dutch DJ Nicky Romero also spoke positively about the quarantine during his Tomorrowland livestream on April 7 from The Netherlands. He has been talking to Martin Garrix, Afrojack and David Guetta, and playing Call of Duty professionally.
“It’s refreshing and I try to make the best out of it and I’m just really positive and I like to carry on these positive vibes in my set and hopefully broadcast it to you a little bit,” he said to fans.
DJs That Have Lost It? But Are Entertaining Us
Trance producer Myon has documented various days of his quarantine in hilarious videos that make us wonder if he’s actually gone nuts. They include eating whipped cream from the can and making a track from a chicken’s vocal. We hope he’s OK and it’s just for our entertainment.
Eric Prydz was open about his stay-at-home struggles early on in the pandemic, showing his drink options and tweeting that healthy people should get COVID-19 to build immunity. He quickly deleted his tweets in the face of intense backlash and said he would “stick to making music.” He’s since been productive, launching the fourth season of his EPIC Radio and dropping an unreleased track, ‘Day After Tomorrow.’
DJs Gone MIA?
The king of trance, Armin van Buuren, seems to have taken an extended vacation, which he certainly deserved after releasing his seventh studio album and constantly playing gigs. He played livestream sets for Ultra Music Festival and KISS Fest, but has Ferry Corsten guest hosting his weekly A State of Trance radio show.
Meanwhile, Porter Robinson after releasing ‘Something Comforting‘ and opening up about his creative struggles producing it, has been pretty much silent.
True Stories
Avicii’s death on April 20, 2018 took fans, friend and family by surprise as he had stopped touring and was assumed to be in a better physical and mental state. Unfortunately, he was not. In his documentary Avicii: True Stories, Tim actually said “there was never an end to the shows, even when I hit a wall,” and, “my life is all about stress.” At one point, Tim even said that touring “will kill me.”
Now in isolation more than ever, it’s important to check on your loved ones. Take it from Avicii’s friend Nicky Romero.
“Everything that’s happening right now affects all of us and I think this is also the moment to embrace and to help each other out, you know, have a look at your family,” Nicky Romero said at the end of his Tomorrowland livestream. “If there’s anyone that you can help, as long as you stay safe, I think this is also the moment to reunite with people and care for the people that mean the most to you.”
