Klas Bergling gave an exclusive interview directed by Pete Tong during a wider conversation entitled MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS DEBATE at IMS Ibiza 2019.
Following the tragic loss of Swedish DJ and producer Tim Bergling, known as Avicii, aged 28 last year, his father Klas Bergling join International Music Summit Ibiza, to share the ethics and philosophy of the newly created Tim Bergling Foundation, once again drawing attention to the importance of recognising and treating the early signs of deteriorating mental health, anxiety and depression for performing artists and those working in the music industry.
“ We are setting up the foundation to focus preventative work for mental illness and suicide, we are also looking at threatened animals and nature which was Tim’s passion as well as climate ”.
– Klas Bergling
Interviewed by BBC Radio 1’s Pete Tong, exercising great sensitivity and following on from his own emotional tribute to Avicii at last year’s summit. Klas Bergling paid tribute to his son and outlined some of the areas that may have contributed to a deterioration of his state of mind pointing at a punishing schedule, lack of sleep, pressure to perform and alcohol abuse all contributing to depression and anxiety.
“ It’s not many jobs that you can drink while you work, or you’re allowed to. If you start drinking at your job, your manager is supposed to take care of you quickly & it’s a part of the problem in this industry where you can drink and nobody is telling you anything.. “
– Klas Bergling
« He thought that he can continue.. »
Expressing that he was very concerned about his son’s welfare he tried on more than one occasion to intervene, with the full support of his team, friends and family and even professional help but admitted it had limited effect.
“ Life as a DJ and travels where you don’t get any rest between, you travel a lot you sleep less. The pressure is great depending on the individual, some people handle it perfectly, others don’t ”.
– Klas Bergling
During his successful career Avicii always had a strong interest in charity and had previously supported many social initiatives including hunger relief, starting the not for profit DJ tour ‘House for Hunger’ with other high-profile DJ’s. He also supported campaigns against human trafficking and gang violence.
To celebrate Tim’s life and to continue his legacy the Tim Bergling Foundation was created on the 26th March 2019, funded solely from the estate left by Avicii.
Working internationally but starting initially in Sweden the foundation aims to educate people and businesses on the issues surrounding suicide and mental health, also focusing on climate change and endangered species, causes that were very close to Tim’s heart.
Klas Bergling was joined by world renowned music artist and mental health campaigner Professor Green, esteemed DJ and producer Luciano, ground breaking DJ Sasha and many other industry professionals and health practitioners.
« The isolation is the problem as an artist, when you’re alone, in your hotel room or in the plane etc.. The interactions help you to get away from the troubles. »
– Sasha
The discussion centred on what the music industry could do to protect the health of all those that work within it. Example of these concordant voices, the legend of the electronic music Sasha, testified to his own experience as he indicated above. The video of the debate like other keynote will be soon published on YouTube by International Music Summit, stay tuned.