Mike Posner created one of the most memorable tracks to come out of 2016: ‘I Took A Pill In Ibiza’.
However, despite having an upbeat melody, the song contains a much deeper story within the lyrics, which is based on a real-life experience of Posner’s.
Speaking on the Impaulsive podcast, the singer revealed this darker meaning.
Before the song was released, Posner described himself as a ‘one hit wonder’.
Having enjoyed global success with his first single ‘Cooler Than Me’, the next tracks he released did not gain the same traction.
Posner revealed it was Avicii who continued to believe in him, and support him through this rough period, as he recalled: “When I was sitting at home with an empty calendar, he asked me to work on his album.”
So, he flew over to Sweden in a bid to resurrect his career.
Avicii was then set to play a few shows in Ibiza, so Posner headed to the party islands.
He described the experience as ‘the saddest thing ever’, as he was ‘looking at all these people having fun’, yet he was ‘alone’.
Then came the next day, as Posner explained: “Avicii came and played his show. I was in the crowd and - this was when I still drank, I don’t drink anymore - I’m looking at him on the stage and I was just thinking, ‘Man, I f***ed this up man, that used to be me, I wish it was still me and it's not’.
“Imagine the sadness of this moment. I’m just in the GA [General Admission] f***ed up at is show by myself.
“I was hoping somebody would recognise me to make me feel good."
Much to his shock, a few men recognised him and offered him a pill, assumed to be MDMA; after taking it, he recalled being ‘up all night’.
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Posner continued: “I woke up the next day and I felt like hell. So, that song is about that darkness and that low in my life.
“The infinite irony of it is that these guys remixed this heart-breaking song and made it into a club banger.”
Evidently choosing to reflect positively on the situation, Posner added: “On the other hand, I can kinda zoom out and put rose-coloured glasses on and see people are having a good time to my sadness.
“As artists we try and take our suffering, our pain, our negativity, and make something beautiful out of it.”