Last month Avicii shocked the music community when he announced on his 25th birthday that he was canceling all future shows due to his struggling health issues.

Avicii's health troubles began back in 2012 – he was hospitalized in New York for 11 days with acute pancreatitis, reportedly caused by heavy drinking. During Ultra Music Festival last year, Avicii announced that he would not be playing due to gallbladder surgery.

After canceling his shows through the end of the year, fans were seriously worried. In according to a recent interview with Billboard, Avicii spoke out about his health situation and his career moving forward.

“Since my operation, I’d just been going and going. I was dropping weight. I needed to take a break. I took a month off, but it wasn’t really a month off. I was in the studio 12 hours a day, and then went right back to touring. It’s hard to say no in this industry. You want to play everything and be everywhere. I’m going to try to slow it down. Taking a break was the absolute best thing I’ve done. I’m doing better and better.”

Avicii continued on to say..

“For once in my life, I don’t feel the rush to do anything. I can take my time and focus 100 percent on the album, which has always been where my first passion really lies — in the music.”

Several who had worked with Avicii in recent months had expressed concern and that he looked “literally terrible…,” and “was working too hard,”; Avicii simply pushes himself to the limits. Taking a break is definitely required for this hardworking producer – one wonders why his management wasn't more aware of a crisis forming. This past Friday, Avicii released his new single with Robbie Williams called “The Days.” Stream “The Days” here.