Kavinsky, French DJ-Producer Whose Chilly ‘Nightcall’ Defined ‘Drive,’ Dead at 50
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The French DJ-producer Kavinsky, best known for the track "Nightcall" from the 2011 film Drive, has died at his home in Paris at the age of 50. He was found dead on Tuesday evening, and French authorities have opened an inquiry into the cause of death, though first responders reported no suspicious circumstances at the scene. His death drew tributes from senior French figures, including President Emmanuel Macron and culture minister Catherine Pégard, reflecting his stature as one of France's most distinctive electronic musicians.
Born Vincent Belorgey in Seine-Saint-Denis in 1975, he initially pursued acting before turning to music, drawing on 16-bit video games, French house and synthwave for inspiration and creating the "Kavinsky" persona around a fictional zombie backstory. Though he had released music since 2006 and toured with Daft Punk, it was "Nightcall", featured in Drive, that brought him mainstream success, becoming a diamond-certified Top 10 hit in France and a gold-certified hit in the UK. His 2013 debut album OutRun, alongside collaborations with the Weeknd and Phoenix, further cemented his international profile.
- French DJ Kavinsky, creator of "Nightcall", has died aged 50
- Found dead at his Paris home; cause of death under inquiry
- Macron and France's culture minister paid tribute to him
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