French musician and producer Kavinsky, whose real name was Vincent Belorgey, was found dead at his Paris residence on Tuesday evening at age 50, officials said. Authorities have opened an inquiry into the cause but reported no early indications of criminal involvement.
Kavinsky helped shape the synthwave genre with his signature mix of 1980s-inspired electronic sounds drawn from films, video games and neon culture. His 2010 track Nightcall, featuring Lovefoxxx, gained wide attention as the opening song for the 2011 film Drive and became a defining piece of the style.
Earlier an actor, Belorgey formed ties with directors such as Quentin Dupieux. His Kavinsky persona centered on a fictional story of a man returning from a deadly crash as a spectral being, which influenced both his recordings and visuals. This concept featured in his 2013 debut album OutRun, a key release in the genre.
After a long break, he issued his second album Reborn in 2022 and performed Nightcall with Phoenix and Angèle at the Paris 2024 Olympics closing ceremony, reaching new listeners.
French Culture Minister Catherine Pégard called him one of the nation’s most distinctive musical voices, while President Emmanuel Macron noted his impact on French electronic music and global culture.
Over more than twenty years, Kavinsky shaped electronic music and influenced work in film, television and games. No details on surviving relatives have been released.
