French Talent Kavinsky Dead at 50
French DJ and electro house producer Kavinsky, real name Vincent Belorgey, has died at his home in Paris at the age of 50.
Police discovered his body on Tuesday evening after French authorities were alerted. Prosecutors have opened an inquiry to determine the exact circumstances surrounding his death, with preliminary reports suggesting police are investigating whether he suffered a stroke following severe headaches in preceding days.
Born in Paris, Belorgey emerged as one of the central figures of the 2000s French Touch electro scene. Blending 1980s cinematic aesthetics, driving basslines, and retro video game soundscapes, he helped popularise the modern synthwave genre worldwide.
He achieved global acclaim with his 2010 single ‘Nightcall’, co-produced by Daft Punk’s Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and featuring vocals from CSS lead singer Lovefoxxx. The track gained iconic status after featuring prominently in the opening titles of Nicolas Winding Refn’s 2011 neon-noir film Drive, starring Ryan Gosling.
Alongside ‘Nightcall’, Belorgey released fan-favourite tracks including ‘Testarossa Autodrive’, ‘ProtoVision’, ‘Roadgame’, and ‘Odd Look’, the latter of which was later remixed in collaboration with The Weeknd.
Most recently, Kavinsky returned to international spotlights during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games closing ceremony, performing a reimagined rendition of ‘Nightcall’ alongside Belgian singer Angèle and French indie rock band Phoenix.
Tributes from across the global electronic music community have begun pouring in, celebrating Belorgey’s lasting impact on modern electronic music and culture.
