“Pure Grinding” is one of two singles (alongside “For A Better Day”) released alongside the tracklist announcement of Avicii’s Stories.

Vocals are handled by uncredited singers Kristoffer Fogelmark and Earl St. Clair, singing about working toward the top – even if they’re not quite there yet. It’s a subversion of the “started from the bottom” trope.

The production takes harsher electro-house and funk influences. Avicii describes the song as so on his Levels podcast:

[“Pure Grinding”] is a little bit different than what I would usually do, but the whole album is gonna be different.