Kavinsky, the French DJ, producer, and actor whose iconic electro-pop track "Nightcall" soundtracked the opening credits of Drive, has died. CNN reports that Kavinsky was found dead in his Paris home on Tuesday, and local authorities are investigating his cause of death. According to the BBC, Kavinsky had been complaining of headaches, and authorities believe that he may have suffered from a stroke. Kavinsky was 50.
Kavinsky, born Vincent Pierre Claude Belorgey in Paris, started out as an actor in the early '00s. In 2007, he appeared in Steak, a film directed by his friend Quentin Dupieux, the French producer also known as Mr. Oizo. By that time, Kanvinsky was making music of his own. This was the peak of the blog-house moment, and he had his own twist on it. In animated videos, Kavinsky appeared as a blue-skinned, red-eyed zombie. His sound was deeply influenced by the synth-haunted soundtracks of '80s films, and he invented an entire character backstory about a character who died in a 1986 Ferrari crash before coming back as a zombie.
In 2006, Kavinsky released Teddy Boy, the debut EP that included the internet hit "Testarossa Autodrive." From there, he opened Daft Punk's famous Pyramid tour, and he also toured with his peers in Justice. In 2010, Kavinsky collaborated with CSS singer Lovefoxxx on "Nightcall," the single that would become his signature song. It played during the opening credits of the movie Drive and became a top-10 hit in France.
Kavinsky released his full-length debut OutRun in 2013, and it included "Odd Look," a collaboration with the Weeknd. From there, Kavinsky took a long hiatus before returning with 2022's Reborn. At the Paris Olympics Closing Ceremony in 2024, Kavinsky performed "Nightcall" with Phoenix and Angèle. The performance went viral, and "Nightcall" became a hit all over again, with the new version reaching #3 in France.
Upon the news of Kavinsky's death, French president Emmanuel Macron posted that he was a source of "French pride forever," while culture minister Catherine Pégard tweeted, "From the film Drive to the Paris Olympics, the entire world had pulsed to 'Nightcall.' Both danceable and nostalgic, his music will continue to resonate across generations and borders."
