Kavinsky – the French DJ and electronic music star behind the hit song ‘Nightcall’ – has died, aged 50.
The musician, real name Vincent Belorgey, was found in his home in Paris by authorities at around 10:30pm local time last night (Tuesday July 28).
According to French news outlet Le Figaro, the discovery was made after a concerned neighbour reached out to emergency services and said that he had not seen the artist around the building for a few days.
The newspaper reports that the cause of death is believed to be due to a stroke, and that in the days ahead of his passing, the artist told those close to him that he was struggling with severe headaches.
As reported by France24, local police in Paris have shared a statement saying that “an investigation into the causes of death has been opened in order to determine the origin of the death”, and also added that “no suspicious elements were discovered at the scene by the first responders”.
Kavinsky is best known for his hit song ‘Nightcall’, which featured prominently in the soundtrack for 2011 film Drive, starring Ryan Gosling.
The DJ also performed the song live at the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics in 2024 – leading to it breaking the record to become the most Shazamed song ever in a single day.
Tributes have already come in for the late artist following news of his death. On X, former Secretary of State for European Affairs and Minister for Transport in France Clément Beaune wrote that the nation had lost an “immense artist”.
“From ‘Odd Look’ to ‘Nightcall’, and with so much emotion during the Games, Kavinsky made generations dance. And he will continue to make many more dance,” the MP wrote.
Broadcaster Canal+ added that the artist was an “iconic figure of French Touch”, and one fan said that they were “heartbroken” by the news, adding that the DJ was “very kind and had a brilliant vision/story”.
La dernière danse.
La France perd un immense artiste.
De Odd Look à Nightcall, et avec tant d’émotion pendant les Jeux, Kavinsky a fait danser des générations. Et il continuera d’en faire danser bien d’autres. pic.twitter.com/FPXQqiIRCq
— Clément Beaune (@CBeaune) July 29, 2026
Kavinsky Forever.
Nightcall Forever.
French Touch Forever. pic.twitter.com/rVJScDHhHf— Jack (@JackCanalPlus) July 29, 2026
rest in peace kavinsky💔you were very kind and had a brilliant vision/story. i’m so heartbroken. pic.twitter.com/4f4OqLOZxS
— cris 🌐 (@gesaffelsteyen) July 29, 2026
Triste nouvelle, le DJ et producteur Kavinsky nous a quittés à l’âge de 50 ans. 🖤
Figure incontournable de la French Touch, il était notamment à l’origine du tube "Nightcall", emblématique générique du film "Drive". pic.twitter.com/FkUnQ3xO3l
— CANAL+ (@canalplus) July 29, 2026
CSS singer Lovefoxxx sang on the original version of ‘Nightcall’, and the track then went on to gain more notoriety after its release when it was covered by London Grammar in 2013.
The Weeknd also sampled it before joining forces with the DJ for the song ‘Odd Luck’, and Avenged Sevenfold used the song to kick off their 2024 live shows.
Belorgey released his first record under the moniker, ‘OutRun’, in 2013, before taking an extended break from releasing music. He returned in 2022 with the album ‘Reborn’.
