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Kavinsky, “Nightcall” French DJ, Found Dead at 50
Kavinsky, the French electronic musician best known for his 2010 track "Nightcall", has died at the age of 50. He was found dead at his home in Paris on Wednesday, and while a cause of death has not been officially confirmed, French newspaper Le Figaro reported that he may have suffered a stroke after complaining of headaches in the preceding days; prosecutors in Paris have opened an investigation into the circumstances.
Born Vincent Belorgey in 1975, Kavinsky moved from acting into music in 2005 and released early EPs before "Nightcall", co-produced with Daft Punk's Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, brought him global recognition after featuring in the 2011 film Drive. The song later appeared on his 2013 debut album OutRun, which reached number five on the Billboard Top Dance Albums chart, and he went on to release a second album, Reborn, in 2022. French president Emmanuel Macron and culture minister Catherine Pégard both paid tribute, with Pégard saying France had "lost one of its most unique voices".
In short
- French DJ Kavinsky, of "Nightcall" fame, died aged 50
- Found dead in Paris; stroke suspected, investigation opened
- Tributes paid by President Macron and France's culture minister
Explained simply
Kavinsky was a French musician known for synthesiser-based electronic music. Born Vincent Belorgey in 1975, he initially worked as an actor before moving into music production in 2005. His career took off with "Nightcall", released in 2010, which he made with Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, a member of the influential French band Daft Punk.
"Nightcall" became widely known after appearing in the 2011 film Drive, introducing Kavinsky to audiences far beyond electronic music fans. The song became one of his defining works, showcasing the atmospheric, retro-futuristic sound he specialised in. His debut album OutRun came out in 2013 and reached number five on the Billboard dance chart, establishing him as a major figure in the genre.
Kavinsky remained active over the following years, releasing a second album called Reborn in 2022. In France, he was recognised as an important cultural figure, with the country's culture minister describing him as one of its most unique and distinctive voices.