Napolian — the L.A. electronic producer and Oneohtrix Point Never collaborator born Ian Evans — has died. OPN's Daniel Lopatin confirmed the news of Evans' passing yesterday (July 1), as did fellow collaborator Joel Ford. While a cause of death is unclear as of press time, Evans was 29.
As Napolian, Evans released music on Lopatin's Software label, weaving in elements of vaporwave, hip-hop and ambient music. This included the pair of 2014 releases, the Incursio album and Road to Incursio mixtape. Napolian also had various notable production credits throughout his music career, including on A$AP Ferg's Trap Lord and Kelela's Cut 4 Me, as well as Ford's album as Airbird called Mr. Foolish.
Most recently, Napolian popped up on Yves Tumor's song "Applaud" in 2019.
In a tribute post, Lopatin stated the following:
I'm devastated by Napolian's passing yesterday, his life getting cut short came as a shock to those of us whose lives he touched. I don't know how to qualify what a talent and sweet person Ian was. He loved electronic music deeply, and we always talked about how it was a spiritual thing. He felt all the details. We spent years just sending images and sounds back and forth and didn't have to explain why, everything made sense, this was one of the last pics he sent me. I'm so happy to have been a part of your life—too short, you had so much more to give. Rejoice and Incursio are etched into our memories forever and we will always cherish you. Rest in Peace, Ian, I love you.
As Napolian, Evans released music on Lopatin's Software label, weaving in elements of vaporwave, hip-hop and ambient music. This included the pair of 2014 releases, the Incursio album and Road to Incursio mixtape. Napolian also had various notable production credits throughout his music career, including on A$AP Ferg's Trap Lord and Kelela's Cut 4 Me, as well as Ford's album as Airbird called Mr. Foolish.
Most recently, Napolian popped up on Yves Tumor's song "Applaud" in 2019.
In a tribute post, Lopatin stated the following:
I'm devastated by Napolian's passing yesterday, his life getting cut short came as a shock to those of us whose lives he touched. I don't know how to qualify what a talent and sweet person Ian was. He loved electronic music deeply, and we always talked about how it was a spiritual thing. He felt all the details. We spent years just sending images and sounds back and forth and didn't have to explain why, everything made sense, this was one of the last pics he sent me. I'm so happy to have been a part of your life—too short, you had so much more to give. Rejoice and Incursio are etched into our memories forever and we will always cherish you. Rest in Peace, Ian, I love you.