Avicii’s ‘Stories’ turns 10 in 2025, a genre-blending album that reshaped EDM with influences from pop, rock, and country.

October 2, 2015. That’s when Avicii dropped Stories — an album that didn’t just evolve his sound, it expanded what EDM could be. As we approach the Avicii Stories 10th anniversary, it’s time to reflect on its lasting impact.

Instead of doubling down on the festival-ready style of True, he went rogue. Stories pulled from pop, rock, reggae, even country, and still carried that unmistakable Avicii melodic punch. The features alone showed how far he was pushing: Chris Martin (Coldplay), Wyclef Jean, Zac Brown (Zac Brown Band), and Sandro Cavazza, who would later become a longtime collaborator. Martin Garrix also had a hand in co-writing, including on “Waiting for Love.”

The industry wasn’t sure what to make of it at the time — too polished for purists, too experimental for mainstream radio. But that tension was the point. Stories showed EDM didn’t have to live inside the big-room formula. It could stretch, blend, and tell stories without losing its connection to the dancefloor.

Ten years later, it’s clear the album helped lay the groundwork for the genre-blending sound dominating electronic music today. Avicii didn’t just change direction with Stories — he changed the rules for everyone.