French DJ Kavinsky, who created Nightcall from Drive, dies aged 50
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Kavinsky, the French producer and DJ behind "Nightcall," the track that opened Nicolas Winding Refn's 2011 film "Drive," has died at his Paris home aged 50. His death, discovered on Tuesday evening, prompted an investigation by French authorities, though no foul play is suspected; local media reported he had complained of headaches in the days beforehand. While already respected on France's electronic scene, "Nightcall" made him an international cult figure, and he went on to perform it alongside Phoenix and Angèle at the closing ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Born Vincent Belorgey in Seine-Saint-Denis in 1975, Kavinsky came to music after working as an actor, including in films by his friend Quentin Dupieux, before creating his "undead driver" persona inspired by 1980s action films, arcade games and sports cars. "Nightcall" was produced with Daft Punk's Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and featured vocals from Lovefoxxx of CSS. He rose through the Record Makers label in the mid-2000s, released his debut album "OutRun" in 2013 and a follow-up, "Reborn," in 2022, and though never as commercially prominent as peers such as Daft Punk or Justice, he was highly influential in popularising the synthwave genre.
- French DJ Kavinsky, creator of "Nightcall," has died aged 50
- Found dead at his Paris home; investigation opened, no foul play suspected
- Performed at Paris 2024 Olympics closing ceremony; helped popularise synthwave
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Kavinsky is the stage name of Vincent Belorgey, a French music producer and DJ who became known well beyond dance music circles for "Nightcall," the moody synth-pop track that plays over the opening credits of the 2011 film "Drive." The song, made with Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo of Daft Punk and sung by Lovefoxxx of the band CSS, helped popularise a retro 1980s-inspired electronic style often called synthwave.
Kavinsky built his career around a fictional persona, a ghostly driver figure drawn from 1980s action films and arcade games, and released two studio albums, "OutRun" in 2013 and "Reborn" in 2022. He performed alongside Phoenix and Angèle at the Paris 2024 Olympics closing ceremony, a sign of how firmly "Nightcall" had entered mainstream culture.
He was found dead at his home in Paris at the age of 50, with French authorities looking into the circumstances, though no foul play is suspected.
More coverage
- Deadline — Kavinsky Dies: French DJ Whose ‘Nightcall’ Track Opened Nicolas Winding Refn’s ‘Drive’ Was 50
- BBC World — French DJ and electropop musician Kavinsky dies aged 50
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Originally published by Variety as “Kavinsky, French Producer and DJ Behind ‘Drive’ Opening Song ‘Nightcall,’ Dies at 50”.