Photo Credit: Kavinsky / Instagram
French electronic music producer and DJ Kavinsky, born Vincent Belorgey, has died at the age of 50. The artist was found at his home in Paris on Tuesday evening, with French authorities confirming that an investigation has been opened, though no suspicious circumstances have been identified.
Kavinsky became one of electronic music’s most recognisable figures thanks to his unmistakable blend of synthwave, electro and cinematic nostalgia. While he had already built a devoted following throughout the late 2000s, his career reached global heights with “Nightcall“, the haunting 2010 collaboration featuring Lovefoxxx and co-produced by Daft Punk’s Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo. The track achieved iconic status after opening Nicolas Winding Refn’s 2011 film Drive, becoming synonymous with the film’s neon-soaked aesthetic and introducing millions to Kavinsky’s retro-futuristic sound.
Born in Paris in 1975, Belorgey initially moved within France’s thriving electronic scene alongside artists such as Justice and SebastiAn before signing with Record Makers. He crafted a distinctive fictional persona for Kavinsky, a zombie-like race car driver resurrected after a fatal Ferrari crash in the 1980s, a persona that became inseparable from his music, visuals, and live performances. His debut album, OutRun, arrived in 2013, followed by Reborn in 2022, further cementing his reputation as one of synthwave’s defining artists.
Beyond his solo work, Kavinsky collaborated with artists including The Weeknd, who featured on a version of “Odd Look,” helping introduce the French producer to an even wider audience. His influence also extended into gaming, fashion and film, where his nostalgic take on 1980s electronic music helped shape the resurgence of synthwave throughout the 2010s and beyond.
One of the defining moments of his later career came during the closing ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, where he performed a new rendition of “Nightcall” alongside French indie band Phoenix and Belgian singer Angèle. The performance reintroduced the song to a new generation and reinforced its status as one of the most enduring electronic tracks of the century.
Tributes have poured in from across the music world and beyond. French President Emmanuel Macron described Kavinsky as “a source of French pride forever,” while Culture Minister Catherine Pégard praised his ability to create music that was simultaneously nostalgic and timeless. Fans and fellow artists have also remembered him as a pioneer whose work helped define the modern synthwave movement and inspired countless producers around the world.
Watch Kavinsky perform at a PLAYY. Magazine event in 2012:
