Born in 1975 in Seine-Saint-Denis, France, Kavinsky – real name Vincent Belorgey, began his musical career in 2005 releasing French house music and leading the wave of the ‘80s action movie-inspired ‘synthwave’ subgenre. After releasing his first song ‘Testarossa Overdrive’ and his debut EP ‘Teddy Boy’ in 2006, his biggest success came after releasing the single ‘Nightcall’ in 2010 – a slow, pulsating synthwave track with old-school keyboard effects that absolutely drips with 80s vibes, produced by Daft Punk’s Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo. ‘Nightcall’ was picked up for the opening credits of the 2011 Ryan Gosling-led action drama Drive, and became one of the most memorable components of the flick.

Kavinsky released two albums – ‘Outrun’ in 2013, which included both ‘Testarossa Overdrive’ and ‘Nightcall’, and ‘Reborn’ in 2022, before returning to the spotlight when he was invited to perform at the closing ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. During the festivities at the Stade de France, Kavinsky appeared on stage with glowing red sunglasses piercing through the blue smoke that filled the stadium, playing a live mix of ‘Nightcall’ with the French band Phoenix and live vocals from Belgian singer Angèle. In the wake of the show, NME reported that ‘Nightcall’ broke the record on music-indentifying app Shazam for the most searched song in a single day, being scanned nearly 7 million times.

Belorgey was found dead at his home in Paris by French authorities at around 10:30pm yesterday, Tuesday July 28, according French paper Le Figaro. They report that the cause of death is not being treated as suspicious and is believed to be a stroke, as he had told those close to him that he was experiencing severe headaches in the days before his death.

Tributes have been paid by numerous French officials, including President of France Emmanuel Macron – he wrote in a post on his official Facebook account that Kavinsky was a source of “French pride forever.” French Culture Minister Catherine Pégard wrote on social media site X that “With the sudden passing of Kavinsky, France has lost one of its most unique voices.” She continued “From the film Drive to the Paris Olympics, the whole world was moved by Nightcall. Both danceable and nostalgic, his music will continue to transcend generations and borders.” Emmanuel Gregoire, the Mayor of Paris, remarked “A child of Paris, he carried the colours of the French electronic scene high across the world, establishing a unique musical universe imbued with both nostalgia and modernity.”

Past collaborators have also sent their regards, including Canadian pop star The Weeknd, also known as Abel Tesfaye, who worked with Kavinsky on a 2013 remix of his track ‘Odd Look’. The Weeknd wrote “So heartbreaking to hear the news. An inspiration to so many, including myself. I will continue to honor your name and your music. Rest easy Kavinsky”. Angèle also posted a photo from the Paris Olympics with a caption that read “Thank you for letting me experience that unforgettable moment on stage with you, and the entire adventure that followed.” Fellow French DJ David Guetta posted a sweet message on X – “Just learned about Kavinsky’s passing. A true icon of French electronic music. Thank you for creating a sound that was entirely your own and for leaving us with music that will continue to inspire. Thank you for your kindness and simplicity. My thoughts are with his family, friends, and loved ones. Rest in peace.”