The person who died after being doored whereas using an e-bike after which run over by a passing truck in downtown Manhattan was a well-liked and influential synthwave artist referred to as “Starcadian,” mourning followers and associates mentioned Saturday.
Digital producer and musician George Smaragdis, 44, was biking westbound on Broome St. in Soho when he slammed into the door of a Mercedes van that its driver had simply opened close to Centre St. round 10:10 a.m. on Thursday. The collision despatched the bike owner tumbling into the trail of a pink supply field truck, and he was crushed when the motive force ran him over.
Smaragdis suffered extreme head trauma and died at Bellevue Hospital, police mentioned.
He lived in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, and labored as a visible results artist by day.
Followers of Smaragdis remembered him Saturday as a “titan” within the synthwave style scene, who remained humble regardless of his broad affect.
“George was the kind of guy not to brag about it, even though he was literally a titan in this genre,” mentioned fan Mark Ryan, who mentioned he’d met Smaragdis on one event. “George was one of the most influential guys to touch the scene. So many people were inspired to pursue synthwave careers because of his music.”
Synthwave is new digital music typically based mostly on soundtracks of sci-fi, motion and horror films from the Eighties.
Smaragdis, who known as himself an “independent electronic producer and musician” on his web site, gained notoriety in 2013 after successful music video. He had since launched six albums and one EP.
In Smaragdis’ ultimate Fb publish on Jan. 19 he wrote, “Hi I’m alive and working very hard on the best album I’ve ever made, I can’t wait to play it for you.”
NYPD officers examine a deadly bike crash on the intersection of Broome St. and Centre St. Thursday, Could 1, 2025 in Manhattan, New York. (Barry Williams/ New York Each day Information)
In his Starcadian persona, Smaragdis at all times wore a definite silver masks, together with a pink hood.
“Most people know him for his music persona, and the mask he wore. He had a whole backstory and persona for his Starcadian personality,” mentioned Julian Inexperienced, 53, a Toronto DJ and fan of Smaragdis. “But George himself was pretty private,” he added.
“He was socially and politically conscious. He was a very smart guy,” Inexperienced mentioned, including that Smaragdis was additionally “eco-conscious” and the kind to journey a motorbike.
Inexperienced recalled assembly Smaragdis in particular person and mentioning to the musician how disillusioned he was that his latest vinyl file had offered out.
“He left the bar, ran to his condo, got some vinyls, signed them, came back and gave them to me for my trip back to Toronto,” Inexperienced mentioned.
Smaragdis was set to carry out in 2026 at Neotropolis, described on its web site as “a five-day immersive cyberpunk and science fiction” music competition within the Mojave Desert.
In a heartfelt tribute on Fb, Neotropolis occasion director Jared Butler mentioned Smaragdis had simply advised him how excited he was to carry out.
Jake Bissen, a filmmaker in Milwaukee, mentioned Smaragdis stood aside from different creators in his style.
“What’s interesting with him is, to my knowledge, he was a completely independent artist,” Bissen mentioned. “He was self-taught, he had no formal music training, and basically he built out these crazy audioscapes that I’ve always felt the stuff that he produced was some of the highest quality things I’ve ever listened to. And it was just him. It was just him doing it for fun at first and he was incredibly smart.”
Mates and followers are struggling to come back to phrases with the sudden and sudden demise of the proficient musician.
“It’s sad and tragic how this happened,” Inexperienced mentioned of the deadly accident. “It’s a tragic loss.”
The drivers of each the van and truck remained on the scene. It’s not but clear if both of them can be charged with something, police mentioned.
Initially Revealed: Could 3, 2025 at 5:41 PM EDT
