Kavinsky, whose “Nightcall” scored GTA IV drives, dies at 50
Vincent Belorgey, the French electronic musician known as Kavinsky, has died at 50. His single “Nightcall” became widely associated with driving sequences in Grand Theft Auto IV.
Vincent Belorgey, who performed as Kavinsky, has died at age 50. No details about the cause or the timing of his death have been released.
Belorgey rose to wider recognition with the single “Nightcall” and the album OutRun, which combined pulsing synthesizers and cinematic production. “Nightcall” was licensed for use in visual media and became closely associated with nocturnal driving scenes in video games, including Grand Theft Auto IV.
Kavinsky’s recordings featured neon-tinged synths, heavy reverb and steady, driving tempos. Critics and listeners credited his work, and the OutRun album in particular, as a reference point for the synthwave style that grew in the 2010s.
He developed a consistent visual and narrative persona tied to vintage car culture and film-noir imagery. That persona appeared in his cover art, videos and live performances, which used a backstory and arcade-era motifs to create a cinematic presentation.
Kavinsky’s catalog included singles, EPs and a full-length album. He collaborated with other electronic musicians and licensed tracks for films, trailers and game soundtracks, which broadened his international audience.
At the time of this report, no official statement from family members, record label representatives or longtime collaborators had been published. Further information about the circumstances of his death and any planned memorials or tributes is expected to come from his representatives.
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