French electronic music pioneer Kavinsky has died at the age of 50 after being found at his home in Paris.
According to French authorities and local media reports, the musician — best known for the global hit Nightcall — was discovered dead this week as officials opened an investigation into the cause of his death.
The artist, born Vincent Belorgey, became an international name thanks to Nightcall, the haunting synthwave anthem that introduced audiences to Ryan Gosling’s 2011 film Drive.
The track enjoyed a remarkable resurgence in 2024 after Kavinsky performed it during the Paris Olympics closing ceremony, where it became the most Shazam-ed song in a single day in the app’s history.
French President Emmanuel Macron led the tributes, describing the late musician as “a source of French pride forever.”
According to the BBC, French media reported that Belorgey had complained of headaches in the days leading up to his death, with investigators reportedly considering the possibility of a stroke. Authorities said no suspicious items were found at the scene, while prosecutors have launched an investigation to establish the exact cause.
A self-taught pianist, Kavinsky emerged in the early 2000s, opening for Daft Punk before becoming one of the defining artists of France’s influential “French Touch” movement.
