French Electronic Producer Kavinsky Dies at 50; Drive Director Nicholas Winding Refn Pays Tribute

French electronic producer Kavinsky (real name Vincent Belorgey) was found dead at his home in Paris on the evening of July 28, 2026, at around 10:30pm local time, according to French media reports. He was 50. A stroke is reported as the likely cause of death. The news has drawn tributes from fans of the 2011 cult film Drive and from across the electronic music world.

Nightcall and Drive: one song, one film

Kavinsky's track "Nightcall" is best known as the opening theme of Drive, starring Ryan Gosling. Director Nicholas Winding Refn spoke publicly about Kavinsky's death in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter published August 5, calling him "an icon of French pop music whose influence extends far beyond any one song."

Refn recalled the moment the track was laid over the film's opening: "the second we put 'Nightcall' over the opening, everything clicked into place — it gave the film something it was missing." He also described their personal relationship: "What struck me was his kindness — he was hugely successful as a DJ and producer, yet he carried himself with an almost shy gentleness, with no performance to it at all."

Refn closed his tribute by saying: "'Nightcall' has become part of the language of contemporary cinema, but more importantly, his work inspired countless musicians who came after him. His sound will keep echoing long after all of us are gone."

An unfinished collaboration with The Weeknd

According to NME, in what turned out to be his final interview with the outlet, Kavinsky said a new collaboration with The Weeknd was expected to be released "soon." The pair previously worked together on "Odd Look" in 2013. Whether that new material was finished, and if or when it might surface, has not been addressed by organizers or other parties involved.