French house pioneer Olivier Portal dies at 65

The cause of death has not been disclosed.

Photo credit: Cynthia Orthu

The electronic music community mourns the loss of  French artist Olivier Portal, professionally known as Playin’ 4 The City, who passed away on January 8th, 2025 at age 65. The cause of death has not been disclosed.

As a pioneer of French house music in the mid-1990s, Portal helped shape the genre’s sound through collaborations with DJ Deep, Julien Jabre, and Frank Roger. His landmark releases ‘Atmosfear’s Vibe’ and ‘From Chicago To Paris’ established his reputation.

Portal co-founded the house music label Straight Up Recordings with Bétino Errera. He became a fixture at French venues like La Machine Du Moulin Rouge and Djoon, while his residency at Chicago’s Mad Bar created a bridge between the European and American house scenes.

Portal’s impact on the electronic music landscape continues to resonate through the artists he inspired.