French musician, record producer, DJ, and actor Vincent Belorgey, known professionally as Kavinsky, has passed away. He was 50.
Reuters and French media reported that Kavinsky was found dead at his home in Paris on Tuesday (28 July). French publication Le Figaro noted that the musician had reportedly been complaining of experiencing headaches in the days leading up to his passing.
Authorities believe Belorgey might have had a stroke, but Paris prosecutors have also opened an investigation to determine his cause of death.
As Kavinsky, Belorgey invented a character who possessed red eyes and blue skin. According to the fictional story behind the character, Kavinsky crashed his Testarossa sports car in 1986 and reappeared in zombie form in 2006.
“Kavinsky is a character I created because just putting my face on a record sleeve isn’t something that suits me,” the musician previously explained. “Showing my own face holds absolutely no interest for me.
“I’d much rather make music and tell a story, because for me music is linked to images. When I’m making music, I have images in my head of films and television shows I liked when I was little. So, I created this story that mixes all those memories together.”
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Kavinsky is recognised for his 2010 track Nightcall, which soundtracked the opening credits of the 2011 cult-classic neo-noir film, Drive, starring Ryan Gosling.
The record producer and DJ performed the song at the 2024 Paris Olympics closing ceremony, and it became the most Shazamed song in a single day for the music-identifying app. Last year, Irish rock band Inhaler expanded Nightcall’s legacy, performing it for triple j’s Like A Version.
Kavinsky’s second and final album, Reborn, was released in 2022 – nine years after releasing his debut album, OutRun, in 2013. The producer made his first and final appearance in Australia for the 2007 festival, Nevereverland, held in Sydney.
Paying tribute to Kavinsky, collaborator The Weeknd wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter), “So heartbreaking to hear the news. An inspiration to so many, including myself. I will continue to honor your name and your music. Rest easy Kavinsky.”
David Guetta added, “Just learned about Kavinsky’s passing 😔
“A true icon of French electronic music. Thank you for creating a sound that was entirely your own and for leaving us with music that will continue to inspire. Thank you for your kindness and simplicity.
“My thoughts are with his family, friends, and loved ones. Rest in peace.”
French President Emmanuel Macron and Mayor of Paris Emmanuel Grégoire also shared tributes for Kavinsky. Macron wrote, “Kavinsky, French pride forever,” alongside a drawing of the DJ.
Grégoire shared, “It is with deep sadness that I learned of the passing of Vincent Belorgey, known as Kavinsky. A child of Paris, he carried the colors of the French electronic scene high across the world, establishing a unique musical universe imbued with both nostalgia and modernity.
“In this moment of mourning, my thoughts go to his family, his loved ones, and all those who found themselves in his music.”
