![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZTELARK3XAWEQDO7UJJYCKCG5I.jpg?smart=true&auth=d63b6a59d3d4b353ff47574c953b6fdd1a2d4a95da9092931edd3d7f32dc5d2a&width=400&height=225)
“What happens is that you need to adjust yourself to live with that new reality. Tim had a very big effect in my life and I understand that it won’t change the fact that he is gone, but it is just something I felt like I can do for him.”
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YAFYEGXIPAXZ47UJIYB7BI4DAY.jpg?smart=true&auth=8fe84e731890623e2edd9e2bcae7fe361b901d54b6452f2ea621eb5951a02966&width=400&height=225)
Swedish DJ Avicii spent 19 days in Madagascar after his final show at Ibiza in 2016. Photo by Levan Tsikurishvili
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MN3EAXWSHGW3WPYNFOJBVKVJNE.jpg?smart=true&auth=506942a47bccd0961399861ef922d0d0ef1cdd0f688b411499a8adf23e458729&width=400&height=225)
During his stay in Madagascar he pondered his next career move, and did somewhat worry about 'being forgotten'. Photo by Levan Tsikurishvili
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RDMXLAFWENRVABPBCCGTWHTJJQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=b2fcbe515f2c1ffaa35df21a351ba20ec901b621c12056cda808794fac69ec1c&width=400&height=225)
Deeply affected by Avicii’s passing, and with hours of unused footage of their Madagascar trip together, his friend and filmmaker Levan Tsikurishvili decided to honour his late friend by returning to the island nation in April and retracing their journey. The end result is the nostalgic and affecting music video – officially approved by the Avicii estate – for the track Heaven.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FX2RQQWKYQXFAG4HJUF4F32ETA.jpg?smart=true&auth=59e9bb2642c0062873624604db9d52d53f926e051c54314ea6c1f9426422d153&width=400&height=225)
“He was in a great place mentally when I saw him,” Tsikurishvili tells The National of Avicii in Madagascar. “He was in good spirits and also very reflective. We would sit together, laugh and joke around, and at the same time he was interested in analysing his life and what we both went through together over the years.”
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QHNNGCZOGX77QE3PADT7ZACGVQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=9281271d026a1b0256878a0fd37bc54c5a113ffb88a0f875bcdfca62f448477e&width=400&height=225)
Avicii committed suicide while in Muscat, Oman last year. He's pictured here in Madagascar.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RGEUWA2ZGQXFFVVO3E7XXKQQ2A.jpg?smart=true&auth=56f516029c28d9a689893f5dd9db90e09a70d2e56e1b4d65b75c41d0e4122669&width=400&height=225)
“It honestly makes me feel disappointed that someone has to suffer to that extent for people to finally sit down and listen to each other,” Tsikurishvili says. “But it shows that Tim, before and after, has changed the music industry in different ways. The fact that people are talking about mental health is positive. But Tim is my friend and collaborator; I still find it hard that all this is happening because he has gone.”
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Q3KLUBBNJJPCEJAYDGDBXILMQE.jpg?smart=true&auth=d6ce892c34126e03515fe0bb72a527d207588b864666ab0f606a261a33f2d56d&width=400&height=225)
While Heaven is a touching tribute to Avicii, Tsikurishvili doesn’t view the project as a form of closure. The grieving process, he says, ebbs and flows. “You don’t really get over something like this,” he says.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZTELARK3XAWEQDO7UJJYCKCG5I.jpg?smart=true&auth=d63b6a59d3d4b353ff47574c953b6fdd1a2d4a95da9092931edd3d7f32dc5d2a&width=400&height=225)
“What happens is that you need to adjust yourself to live with that new reality. Tim had a very big effect in my life and I understand that it won’t change the fact that he is gone, but it is just something I felt like I can do for him.”
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YAFYEGXIPAXZ47UJIYB7BI4DAY.jpg?smart=true&auth=8fe84e731890623e2edd9e2bcae7fe361b901d54b6452f2ea621eb5951a02966&width=400&height=225)
Swedish DJ Avicii spent 19 days in Madagascar after his final show at Ibiza in 2016. Photo by Levan Tsikurishvili
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MN3EAXWSHGW3WPYNFOJBVKVJNE.jpg?smart=true&auth=506942a47bccd0961399861ef922d0d0ef1cdd0f688b411499a8adf23e458729&width=400&height=225)
During his stay in Madagascar he pondered his next career move, and did somewhat worry about 'being forgotten'. Photo by Levan Tsikurishvili
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RDMXLAFWENRVABPBCCGTWHTJJQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=b2fcbe515f2c1ffaa35df21a351ba20ec901b621c12056cda808794fac69ec1c&width=400&height=225)
Deeply affected by Avicii’s passing, and with hours of unused footage of their Madagascar trip together, his friend and filmmaker Levan Tsikurishvili decided to honour his late friend by returning to the island nation in April and retracing their journey. The end result is the nostalgic and affecting music video – officially approved by the Avicii estate – for the track Heaven.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FX2RQQWKYQXFAG4HJUF4F32ETA.jpg?smart=true&auth=59e9bb2642c0062873624604db9d52d53f926e051c54314ea6c1f9426422d153&width=400&height=225)
“He was in a great place mentally when I saw him,” Tsikurishvili tells The National of Avicii in Madagascar. “He was in good spirits and also very reflective. We would sit together, laugh and joke around, and at the same time he was interested in analysing his life and what we both went through together over the years.”
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QHNNGCZOGX77QE3PADT7ZACGVQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=9281271d026a1b0256878a0fd37bc54c5a113ffb88a0f875bcdfca62f448477e&width=400&height=225)
Avicii committed suicide while in Muscat, Oman last year. He's pictured here in Madagascar.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RGEUWA2ZGQXFFVVO3E7XXKQQ2A.jpg?smart=true&auth=56f516029c28d9a689893f5dd9db90e09a70d2e56e1b4d65b75c41d0e4122669&width=400&height=225)
“It honestly makes me feel disappointed that someone has to suffer to that extent for people to finally sit down and listen to each other,” Tsikurishvili says. “But it shows that Tim, before and after, has changed the music industry in different ways. The fact that people are talking about mental health is positive. But Tim is my friend and collaborator; I still find it hard that all this is happening because he has gone.”
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Q3KLUBBNJJPCEJAYDGDBXILMQE.jpg?smart=true&auth=d6ce892c34126e03515fe0bb72a527d207588b864666ab0f606a261a33f2d56d&width=400&height=225)
While Heaven is a touching tribute to Avicii, Tsikurishvili doesn’t view the project as a form of closure. The grieving process, he says, ebbs and flows. “You don’t really get over something like this,” he says.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZTELARK3XAWEQDO7UJJYCKCG5I.jpg?smart=true&auth=d63b6a59d3d4b353ff47574c953b6fdd1a2d4a95da9092931edd3d7f32dc5d2a&width=400&height=225)
“What happens is that you need to adjust yourself to live with that new reality. Tim had a very big effect in my life and I understand that it won’t change the fact that he is gone, but it is just something I felt like I can do for him.”
Avicii's friend gives us an insight into his last few years: the story behind 'Heaven'
Tim Bergling's friend and colleague Levan Tsikurishvili has paid homage to the DJ with new music video 'Heaven', which charts their trip to Madagascar. He also speaks to us about how he hopes the EDM scene changes
![Saeed Saeed](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2Fdfd6c0d0-f148-4163-b51c-fe3b293b0f9d.png?smart=true&auth=fbad4a9efbd3b8c272380498534cedd4e4b64afad5f5593a426d913b1da43080&width=70&height=70)
Saeed Saeed
01 July, 2019
- Listen In English
- Listen In Arabic