Avicii's guest mix on Diplo and Friends: “One of the favourite sets I’ve heard in my life”

Over the weekend, Diplo introduced his BBC Radio 1 show with a curveball mix: an hour from Swedish superstar Avicii. “Tonight is probably our biggest show to date,” the host said. “One of the favourite mixes I’ve heard, period, in my life. This is a phenomenal mix, and it’s very special, exclusively for Radio 1.”

The mix showcases a less stadium-sized side to the DJ, from a slow-burning start via The Isley Brothers and Smokey Robinson through to the Eric Prydz remix of Paolo Mojo’s 1983, some Jessie Ware and a selection of throwback house. Avicii has recently been in the studio with disco legend Nile Rodgers, who quipped that working with the young protégé “is funkier than should be legal”. The Chic frontman, who also worked with Daft Punk on that could-drop-any-minute album, has clearly had an effect on the Swede.

“I’ve put together some old classics that inspired my music,” Avicii says in the introduction, “as well as some great music I can’t always play in my sets. And there’s also a bootleg of my favourite Major Lazer track, Get Free, in there.” After Avicii’s set, trap and hip hop authority RL Grime put together selections more common to Diplo’s show, with tracks from TNGHT, What So Not, Hudson Mohawke, Flosstradamus, Kendrick Lamar and more.

On Saturday, Future Music Festival had to break the bad news that Avicii was unable to play the first weekend’s shows due to “stomach related issues”, with Dutchman Hardwell extended to a two-hour set. Future has advised that the headliner “looks forward to playing the remaining shows”.

Avicii – Diplo and Friends – 03-03-2013 by Mixing.Dj Livesets on Mixcloud