True – Avicii

Released in September 2013, True is the debut studio album by Swedish producer Avicii, and it signals a bold departure from his earlier EDM tracks into a hybrid realm of house, folk, country, and pop. The record features contributions from Aloe Blacc, Dan Tyminski, Audra Mae, Adam Lambert, and others, weaving acoustic instrumentation—and sometimes bluegrass flourishes—through electronic soundscapes. It was conceived as a statement of artistic identity, an embrace of musical influences beyond the club floor, and a way for Avicii to reposition himself beyond the “festival-mainstay” label. Charting highly worldwide, True engaged listeners curious about the intersection of dance music and organic songwriting.

From the global smash “Wake Me Up” to the Appalachian-tinged theatrics of “Hey Brother,” the album repeatedly pivots between intimacy and anthemic euphoria. Its daring blend of genres and pop sensibilities invited both acclaim and debate, helping redefine what EDM albums could aspire to be. Over time, True has gained retrospective appreciation as a pivotal work in bridging electronic production with crossover appeal, influencing later efforts by producers to experiment beyond dancefloor formulas.

"f the masses leave the dancefloor, "Levels" brings them back with sunshine and light" – AllMusic

“Avicii inhabits his newfound country-pop shtick so naturally that you may wonder whether he somehow internalized Ralph Lauren’s aesthetic … It may be a sprawling hodge-podge, but all this works more often than you’d expect.” – Spin

“The Swede’s debut album picks up on this Mumford & Synths sound for a set of folk, soul and addictive house beats.” – Rolling Stone

“Avicii takes his listeners on a journey with True… it is an album that takes one type of music and moulds it into something completely different, allowing Avicii to cement himself as one of the best DJs in the world.” – PopMatters