Avicii’s Levels turns 15 as the track that helped define his rise and became one of dance music’s most enduring tracks

Few tracks have had the lasting impact of Avicii’s Levels, which helped turn Tim Bergling into one of dance music’s biggest names. Released on October 28, 2011, the track paired his melodic production with the unmistakable Etta James sample. That vocal had already been gaining attention through early live plays and unofficial uploads. Fifteen years later, Levels remains one of the most important releases in Avicii’s career and a key part of his rise.

How Levels Came Together Before Its Official Release

Before Levels was officially released, Avicii had already spent months playing different versions in his sets. An untitled version appeared during his BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix in December 2010. He continued playing the track throughout 2011, including at Ultra Music Festival. Live recordings and unofficial uploads also began circulating online, giving the track an audience before its formal release.

As those early versions spread, the Etta James vocal became one of the track’s most recognisable elements. Tim Bergling first heard the sample through Pretty Lights’ Finally Moving, which used her 1962 recording Something’s Got a Hold on Me. He later worked the “sometimes I get a good feeling” line into his own production. Mike Posner also recorded several vocal ideas for an early version, but Avicii kept the Etta James sample for the final release.

@fakttypek 🥹🥹 #song #avicii #levels #makingof #fyp ♬ původní zvuk – fakttypek

From Official Release to Global Breakthrough

When Levels was officially released on October 28, 2011, the attention around the track quickly translated into commercial success. It reached No. 1 in Sweden and climbed to No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart. The track remained inside the UK Top 100 for 50 weeks and also topped the UK Dance Singles Chart. Its success across Europe gave Avicii his strongest solo chart performance at that point in his career.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The release also came during a period when electronic dance music was becoming more visible outside clubs and festivals. That change was especially noticeable in the United States, where the genre was gaining a much larger mainstream audience. Levels became one of the tracks closely associated with that period. Its synth melody and Etta James sample helped it reach listeners far beyond those who already followed Avicii’s earlier releases.

The track later earned platinum certifications in several countries, including the United States. It also received a nomination for Best Dance Recording at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards in 2013. Those achievements showed how far the track had travelled beyond its early live versions. By then, Levels had become one of the most recognisable dance releases of the early 2010s.

A Turning Point in Avicii’s Career

For Avicii, the success of Levels changed the scale of his career. He had already gained attention through tracks such as Seek Bromance and his David Guetta collaboration, Sunshine. However, Levels gave him a solo release that became strongly associated with his name. It also pushed him further into the international spotlight during one of dance music’s fastest periods of commercial growth.

By 2012, Avicii had reached No. 3 in DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJs. Levels had also become one of the tracks most closely connected to his rise. Its success introduced his music to millions of listeners and helped establish him as one of the leading producers of that period. The releases that followed would take his career even further, but Levels was the track that helped make that next stage possible.

Fifteen years later, Levels remains one of the releases most closely associated with Avicii. It captured an important moment in Tim Bergling’s career and in dance music’s wider commercial growth. The track has continued to reach new listeners long after its 2011 release. Today, it remains an important part of his legacy and one of the most recognised dance records of its era.