The Details That Matter: Reflecting on My Time Engineering Avicii's "Stories"

Avicii's "Stories"

Episode 2 of "Stories on Stories" dropped on YouTube today and I wasn't prepared for how much it would hit me. Seeing that footage again—Tim at the console, Rami working through the production, Gavin tracking vocals . I'm right back in that room.

I was the main engineer on "Stories." My job was recording piano, vocals, guitars, and capturing the production as it happened. Making sure every idea that came out of those sessions made it to tape the way it was supposed to.

Tim was incredibly specific about vocal melodies and tone. Not just the notes, the exact timbre, the delivery, the phrasing. He'd work with singers for hours on the smallest details until it matched what he was hearing. It wasn't about being difficult. He just understood that those details were what made people feel something when they heard the song.

He was always focused. You could see it. He'd come into a session knowing what he wanted to get done, and everything moved toward that. It made my job clearer in a lot of ways, but it also meant I had to stay ready. If something happened in the room, I needed to catch it.

Recording Gavin's vocals for "Sunset Jesus" and working with Rami are sessions I think about a lot. The energy was intense but it flowed. We'd spend entire days on sounds, textures, making sure everything served the song.

Tim had been filming everything with the plan to eventually show people what actually happens in the studio. I'm glad the Avicii Estate and Pophouse got this out there. These sessions should be seen.

The music still connects with people. I'm proud I was part of bringing his vision to life. I miss those days and I miss Tim. But I got to see firsthand why the details mattered so much to him—and how that shaped the music.

If you haven't seen Episode 2 yet, watch it. It's a real look at the process, and it's a good way to remember Tim.