Monday, March 18, 2013

One Last Tour: SHM Calls It Quits


Swedish House Mafia, an EDM super group composing of Axwell, Steve Angello, and Sebastian Ingrosso, had a huge year.  With a hit single in “Don’t You Worry Child” and having a song in an Absolut Vodka commercial, SHM was one of the biggest bands of the past 3 years.  So why, on June 24, 2012, did they announce they were breaking up?  In a statement released on their website, they said their latest tour would be their last, ending with “We came, we raved, we loved.” In August, the band release the tour dates for what they called “One Last Tour.” The majority of the dates sold out and second shows were added.
                The question everyone is asking is why did SHM call it quits? Each member was a successful DJ on their own, so from the start the team up seemed solid. Formed in 2008, they didn’t release a single as Swedish House Mafia until 2010 on Beatport.  They began to chart around the world, but didn’t chart in the United States until 2011.  With only 2 releases, one in 2010 and one in 2012, they were on the track to becoming one of the dance music legends, in the ranks of Daft Punk and Tiesto.  But why did they call it quits? Was the pressure too much for them?
                After the cryptic message was posted on the website, it wasn’t until August until Angello talked to Rolling Stone. In the interview, published August 2, he said, "We just decided that we reached a point where we don't know what the next move would be. We always like the challenge. And we don't like to repeat ourselves. We just felt like it was time." Ingrosso told Rolling Stone a couple months "Because we did this move, we hope to find ourselves in a situation where we do not know what we’re doing, which is sort of us trying to create some sort of chaos, mix shit up a bit for ourselves. It’s an experiment to ourselves."
                So that clears why they broke up in their words. But is it a good move? I feel like it was not. Two albums into your career is not an ideal time to break up.  SHM’s last single was a huge one, and showed the potential they had as a band.  SHM became a huge band in such a small amount time and I felt like they blew it. I understand the whole “going out on top” idea, but I’m disappointed in their decision.
                Even though Swedish House Mafia is now dead and gone, Axwell did hint at something during the September 22 article in Rolling Stone. While talking about Daft Punk being their role models, he mentioned that disappear after making a huge album then magically come back. He pointed out, "Yeah, they do. But you didn't really know they were gonna come back." So does that mean Swedish House Mafia will return? Only time will tell. Until then, rave on.

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