They starred together in multiple installments of one of the top-grossing movie franchises in the world, and nurtured a deep friendship along the way.

On Friday, movie star Vin Diesel released his second-ever single, titled ‘Days Are Gone’ and mentioned his fallen Fast And Furious costar Paul Walker as one of his inspirations for pursuing music.

The Pitch Black star, 53, spoke to People about his unexpected transition from movies to music, and why he chose the genre of house tropical.

Burgeoning musician: On Friday, movie star Vin Diesel released his second-ever single, titled ‘Days Are Gone’ and mentioned his fallen Fast And Furious costar Paul Walker as an inspiration

‘Something about 2020 led me to this tropical house, feel good-style of music,’ the XXX star said.

Days Are Gone is Diesel’s second track, after last month’s Feel Like I Do, which he premiered on The Kelly Clarkson Show last month.

‘Feel Like I Do, at its core, is a positive message, and Days Are Gone is a song that I think everybody can identify with in some way. It reminisces about life when it was a little bit more carefree than it is today.’

As for Paul: Vin said Walker, who tragically died at age 40 in 2013 in a car accident, was among those who encouraged him to keep singing; seen in 2011’s Fast Five

As for Paul, who tragically died at age 40 in 2013 in a car accident, Vin said he was among those who encouraged him to keep singing.

‘Bless my brother’s soul,’ Diesel said.

‘I remember in London when I told Pablo [Vin’s nickname for Paul] that all these people were concerned that I was singing, he was the one who said, “Don’t ever stop singing, you know you have something special,”‘ he reminisced.

Tropical house track: Days Are Gone is Diesel’s second track, after last month’s Feel Like I Do, which he premiered on The Kelly Clarkson Show last month

Vin also spoke about how, if it weren’t for the strange circumstances of 2020 and the coronavirus lockdown, he might not have been able to fully explore his musical side on a professional level.

‘When all productions were shut down, I was supported to go and explore my musical passion,’ he said.

Normally, Vin is part of at least three huge movie franchises – in addition to the behemoth Fast And Furious franchise, he also voices Groot in Marvel’s Guardians Of The Galaxy, and has a part in James Cameron’s new Avatar sequel.

Busy Diesel: Vin also spoke about how, if it weren’t for the coronavirus lockdown this year, he might not have been able to fully explore his musical side; seen in January

Had the pandemic not happened, Diesel would have been heavily engaged in press tours for F9 and Avatar 2, not to mention his slew of other film projects.

‘It sounds weird but had this year not been the way that it’s been, I might never have been able to do this,’ he said.

‘I would have been right on another set and touring around the world. I’m myopic that way. When I’m making a movie, I can’t think about anything but that movie. So I really might not have ever had the opportunity had I not been like everyone else quarantined.’

Had the pandemic not happened: Diesel would have been heavily engaged in press tours for F9, not to mention his slew of other film projects; seen with Walker in The Fast And The Furious