French electronic music artist Kavinsky, best known internationally for his influential track “Nightcall,” has died at the age of 50. The musician, whose real name was Vincent Belorgey, was found dead at his home in Paris on the evening of Tuesday, July 28, according to the Paris prosecutor’s office.
Authorities have opened an investigation to determine the cause and circumstances of his death. Prosecutors said emergency responders found no suspicious evidence at the property, although no official cause of death had been announced at the time of publication. Kavinsky would have turned 51 on July 31.
Born in the Seine-Saint-Denis area near Paris, Belorgey emerged as one of the distinctive figures associated with France’s electronic music movement. He began releasing music during the early 2000s and introduced the Kavinsky project with the EP “Teddy Boy” in 2006. His sound drew heavily on 1980s film scores, synthesizers, retro video games and cinematic imagery, helping shape the style that later became widely known as synthwave.
His career received an early boost when he performed alongside major French electronic acts and opened for Daft Punk during the duo’s 2007 tour. However, his international breakthrough arrived with the release of “Nightcall” in 2010. The atmospheric electro track gained global recognition after being used during the opening sequence of the 2011 film “Drive,” starring Ryan Gosling.
The song became Kavinsky’s defining work, combining a dark electronic rhythm with a nostalgic, cinematic sound. Its lasting popularity introduced his music to several generations of listeners and helped establish him as an important name in modern French electronic music.
“Nightcall” reached another major global audience during the closing ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Kavinsky performed the track at the Stade de France alongside Belgian singer Angèle and French band Phoenix, renewing international interest in both the song and his catalogue.
France’s culture minister, Catherine Pégard, paid tribute to the artist, describing him as one of the country’s most distinctive musical voices. She said his work was both danceable and nostalgic and would continue to reach audiences across generations and national borders.
Kavinsky released his debut studio album, “OutRun,” in 2013, followed by “Reborn” in 2022. His carefully constructed visual identity, retro-futuristic production and association with “Drive” made him a cult figure whose influence extended beyond electronic music into cinema, fashion and popular culture.