Kavinsky (Vincent Belorgey) died on the 28th of July 2026 due to a suspected stroke.
I rolled into the Synthwave scene in 2011 thanks to musicians who posted their works on MySpace, including Kavinsky, not on YouTube. Back then he only had released 'Nightcall', that featured in Drive. It was inspirational to many. For me this new music genre was exactly what I liked and thought had lots of potential, I wanted everybody to listen to it and ultimately help it become mainstream. Which it did, modern day music contains many 1980s 'ingredients'. Then Kavinsky released the 'OutRun' LP in 2013! The energy that gave to all of us as a community felt so great. He was THE pillar of Synthwave, THE booster of 1980s influence in music and I want to honor him with this amateuristic Photoshop collage (no AI).
Re-watched Tommy (1975) last night, and yes, some scenes and themes can be hard to watch, as it delves into trauma and explores dark life experiences. For some, it probably hasn't aged well in certain ways. But I still appreciate how bizarre and surreal the film is. The music and the structure of this rock opera are just perfect, and the visuals are tasty.
70s Roger Daltrey, insane and majestic, ofc I'd join his cult (being a The Who fan)
Ooooh, I'm back! This update was made sometime between last Sunday night and Monday, so many of you have probably already read it!
═════════════
Inspo for this chapter - includes spoilers.
Title Inspiration/Overall Themes.
Part 1: Computer Age by Neil Young
If you've already read the chapter, you know how the first part begins: with Francesco interacting with technology. More specifically, he's discovering secrets and information Lorenzo has digitized on his new IBM PC. The theme I borrowed from this song for the chapter is the contrast between humanity and technology, and the search for human connection despite technological barriers.
Reading about the song's actual meaning made my heart sink. :( Still, it's worth reading about if you want to understand it on a deeper level.
Part 2: The Chauffeur by Duran Duran
“And watching lovers part, I feel you smiling.”
I chose this song as part of the chapter title primarily because of its atmosphere and poetic imagery. It really is about an affair between a wealthy woman and her private driver, but I kept the aspect of observing from a distance and desire (longing <3). Francesco remains reading and reconstructing the life of Marc, without him being present. Only through documentation, photographs, testimonials, and records made by other people. In a way, he's like the chauffeur watching his passenger from a respectful distance, learning who he is without ever truly reaching him.
This idea also extends to the other side of the love pod. Marco watches Marc and Francesco from a distance, trying to make sense of the connection growing between them. At the same time, Sava can only observe Francesco and Marco in silence, keeping his own feelings to himself.
Sava drives Marco around New York City in a black car, just like the one in the original music video. There are subtle hints that he's developing feelings for him, but Marco remains completely unaware.
IBM PC 5150
Launched in 1981, it became one of the most influential personal computers in history. I really wanted to explore how someone like Francesco (or Lorenzo, or Alex) would experience this kind of technology for the first time. It was definitely a challenge. My 2020s brain already understands so many concepts that I kept wondering how to set all of that knowledge aside. My first instinct was that the experience would probably be a mix of frustration and curiosity:
"Okay... I need to take this one step at a time. What is this thing? How does it work?"
It's similar, yet completely different from a typewriter.
That's why I absolutely had to include a manual. Lorenzo had already explored the machine himself, so it made sense for him to leave behind little notes and tips to help Francesco navigate it more quickly. Haha.
Also, the black screen with green text? That's an aesthetic I really wanted to bring into the chapter's styling as well. I'm happy with how it turned out.
Captain Andrea/Braniff International Airways
So many of you reacted so well to Dovi's reveal!!! Omg!! This photo was the inspiration for the one Francesco finds inside the red envelope.
Braniff International Airways was an American luxury airline whose golden years were in the 1960s and 1970s. The company filed for bankruptcy in 1982, which is why, in the recording, Marc mentions that Dovi now works for United.
I can't wait to share what's coming next in both MoF and Zoso (the prequel)! ❤️
Bez and Metal
I've mentioned this several times throughout the story and on this blog. Not only is Bez's style inspired by bands like Megadeth and Metallica, but so is his overall vibe. In my head, he's a long-haired, curly blond who blasts this kind of music whenever he needs to let off steam. While the song's original meaning is incredibly intense and heavy, he ends up making it his own, using it as an outlet for everything he's going through.
We already know that Valentino used to make music, so I wanted to draw a parallel between him and his pupil as the decade changed. Valentino represents the previous era, while Bez carries that creative legacy into the 1980s. As far as we know, Bez has become Valentino's most successful and consistent student, so it made sense to me.
Adidas tracksuit/athletic wear
Just the kind of outfits Marc and, by extension, Francesco wear to the Athletic Club.
And the stretching? Yeeeep, that's a direct reference to those insane stretching photos Marc used to post on social media. I don't have the picture on hand, but just imagine him enthusiastically trying to teach Francesco how to get his foot behind his head. Poor Francesco.
-
And that's it! I can't wait to finish Chapter 28... and I really can't wait to start writing Chapter 30!!
We're getting so close to the end of Act 2, and there's still so much left to happen...
gracieabrams
amandla
dailybridgerton
andulkaphoto
tangentwithtanner
vaporwave
