It was June 2019. The world was still reeling from the loss of Tim Bergling, known to us as Avicii, when his posthumous album TIM finally dropped. Among the tracks, one stood out with a title that felt like a direct message to the fans who had been holding their breath: "What We're Waiting For."
The song isn't just another EDM banger. Honestly, it’s a bit of a time capsule. It features Vassy, the powerhouse vocalist who previously collaborated with David Guetta, and it carries that signature Avicii blend of melodic euphoria and underlying melancholy. But why does this specific track—and the broader sentiment of what we're waiting for Avicii to represent in the music industry—still carry so much weight today?
People are still searching for his unreleased IDs. They’re still scouring old Ultra Music Festival sets from 2013 to 2016, looking for that one melody that hasn't been officially cleared for Spotify. It’s a strange, beautiful obsession.
The Sound of What We're Waiting For Avicii and Why It Works
Musically, "What We're Waiting For" is a masterclass in tension and release. Tim had this uncanny ability to make a synth feel like it was crying and cheering at the exact same time. It’s basically the sonic equivalent of a sunset at the end of a long summer.
The track utilizes a driving 128 BPM house beat, but the layering is what makes it "Tim." You have these bright, staccato piano chords—a staple of his "Levels" era—juxtaposed against Vassy’s soulful, almost desperate delivery of the lyrics. It’s about anticipation. It’s about that "almost there" feeling.
Vassy herself has spoken about working with Tim, noting his perfectionism. He wasn't the type to just throw a beat together and call it a day. He’d obsess over the micro-seconds. That’s probably why even his "unfinished" demos sound more polished than most people's final masters.
The Posthumous Polish
When TIM was being finished by his frequent collaborators like Albin Nedler and Kristoffer Fogelmark, they had a massive responsibility. They weren't just finishing songs; they were interpreting a legacy.
In the case of the tracks on that album, including the themes found in "What We're Waiting For," the team used MIDI data and notes Tim left on his phone and computer. They literally had to ghost-read his mind. It’s heavy stuff. They didn't want to make it sound like a "tribute" album; they wanted it to sound like a Tim Bergling album.
Why the Fans Are Still Searching
The phrase what we're waiting for Avicii fans often use refers to more than just one song title. It refers to the "Vault."
- The Unreleased IDs: There are dozens, maybe hundreds, of tracks that Tim played live but never released. "Stay With You" (featuring Mike Posner) and "Our Love" are legendary among the Reddit communities.
- The Change in Style: Toward the end, Tim was moving away from the big-room house sound toward something more organic, almost folk-inspired.
- The Emotional Connection: Music today often feels manufactured by committee. Tim’s music felt like it came from a guy in a hoodie who just wanted you to feel something.
I remember watching the True Stories documentary. You see him sitting there, exhausted, yet his eyes light up when he finds the right chord progression. That’s the magic. We aren't just waiting for new music; we're waiting for that feeling of genuine human connection in an increasingly AI-generated landscape.
The Controversy of Posthumous Releases
Not everyone thinks we should be digging through Tim’s hard drives. There is a real, valid debate about artist intent. If Tim didn't release it while he was alive, did he want us to hear it?
Some purists argue that tracks like "What We're Waiting For" should have stayed in the studio. But then you see the impact. You see the Bergling family using the proceeds to fund the Tim Bergling Foundation, which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention.
Suddenly, the music becomes more than just a song. It’s a lifeline.
Breaking Down the Lyrics
Wait for it, wait for it. The hook is simple. But in the context of Tim's life, it feels prophetic. He spent his whole career waiting for a break, waiting for the tour to end, waiting to find peace. When we listen to what we're waiting for Avicii created, we're essentially listening to his search for balance.
The production on this specific track is less "country-EDM" than Stories and more "classic club" with a modern sheen. It reminds me of his work on the Avīci (01) EP—crisp, loud, and unapologetically melodic.
The Technical Genius Behind the Melodies
Let's talk about the "Avicii Lead." If you're a producer, you know the one. It’s usually a layered sound involving a "pluck" and a "saw" wave, heavily compressed with a sidechain that makes it "pump" with the kick drum.
But Tim didn't just use presets. He would layer five or six different instruments to create a single melody line. He understood frequency masking better than almost anyone in the game at that time. He’d carve out space for the vocals while letting the lead synth pierce through the mix.
In "What We're Waiting For," the interplay between the bassline and the kick drum is tight. It doesn't muddle. It’s clean. That’s why his music translates so well from a pair of cheap earbuds to a massive festival rig.
How to Keep the Legacy Alive Properly
If you're a fan still waiting for more, there are ways to engage with his work that actually respect his memory. It isn't just about pirating leaks.
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- Support the Tim Bergling Foundation. They are doing the heavy lifting in the electronic music community to ensure other DJs don't face the same pressures Tim did.
- Listen to the Podcasts. The "Avicii Tribute" episodes of various radio shows often feature high-quality versions of tracks that never made it to albums.
- Analyze the Songwriting. Don't just listen to the drop. Listen to how he builds the bridges. He was a songwriter first, a producer second.
The search for what we're waiting for Avicii to "drop next" might never truly end because his influence is everywhere. You hear it in the way pop music uses acoustic guitars over electronic beats now. You hear it in the vulnerability of modern lyrics.
Tim changed the DNA of popular music. He made it okay for a DJ to be sad, to be human, and to be a musician instead of just a party-starter.
Honestly, we might be waiting a long time for another artist who can capture that specific lightning in a bottle. Until then, we have the discography he left behind—a collection of anthems that remind us that even in the waiting, there is beauty.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Producers
- For Producers: Study Tim’s use of "Call and Response" in his melodies. He rarely just repeated a loop; he made the synths "talk" to each other.
- For Fans: Dive into the TIM album with a good pair of headphones. There are layers of percussion and background foley that you simply miss on a phone speaker.
- Mental Health: If you’re a creative feeling the "burnout" Tim described so often, prioritize your health over your output. No track is worth your peace of mind.
- Stay Updated: Follow the official Avicii YouTube channel; they occasionally release "Making Of" videos that provide incredible insight into his creative process.
The music is there. The legacy is set. We don't have to wait anymore; we just have to listen.