A talented musical artist named Luis Vasquez, better known as The Soft Moon, reportedly died of an unknown cause in Los Angeles, California on Friday at the age of 44, according to USA Today.
There is some speculation on social media and other music-focused outlets that he and others he was associated with may have succumbed to a drug overdose.
The tragic and untimely death was announced by his manager, Marco Rapisarda, who posted a statement to the artist's Instagram account that said, "It is with great sadness that we announce our dear friend, Luis Vasquez has passed away."
"Our hearts and thoughts are with his family, friends, and extended music family. We ask to respect their privacy during this difficult time," he continued.
"If you have a memory of Luis, no matter if you were a close friend of his or not, please feel free to share," the statement added. "This is a huge loss and our hearts are broken."
Vasquez was born in Los Angeles but raised in Oakland, California, and began making music and forming punk rock bands as a teenager.
In the late 2000s, according to Pitchfork, he formed the one-man project known as The Soft Moon which can be best described as a sort of fusion of genres and blended musical styles that included electronic techno dance beats mixed with darker post-punk industrialism and a touch of goth.
Since 2010, Vasquez has released five full-length albums plus several remixed and instrumental versions as well as a few short EPs and singles, several of which were produced and recorded in different European cities, with his two most recent projects being the "Exister" album released in 2022 followed by an instrumental cut of the same songs that just came out last month.
Per his website, he was set to begin a brief European tour next month that included shows in Denmark, Georgia, Turkey, Greece, and the Netherlands.
Both USA Today and Pitchfork reported that the cause and circumstances of the death of Vasquez were unknown, but other less well-known outlets, seizing on information circulating among fans and friends on social media, have indicated that he died of a drug overdose along with a good friend and fellow musician.
The Resident Advisor website reported that L.A.-based DJ and producer John Juan Mendez, who performed under the name Silent Servant, also died on Friday along with his wife, Simone Ling.
Mendez and Ling were "believed to have died in the same incident" with Vasquez, though no further details of what that "incident" was were shared.
However, a translated article from Billboard Italia reported that Mendez, his wife, and Vasquez were all found dead together in Los Angeles.
Though all of the details had yet to be officially confirmed, the initial suspicion based on social media posts was that all three had died of a fentanyl overdose following a party, with some of the deceased's associates calling online for their drug dealer to be publicly named and held accountable for the deaths.
