What began as a way to add background music to his Fortnite gaming videos has taken 20-year-old d4vd from his sister’s closet to Coachella, one of the biggest festivals in the world. On April 11, 2025, he stood on the Coachella stage—no longer holding a phone, but a microphone—performing the very songs he once recorded in his sister’s closet. From his viral hit “Here With Me,” which has amassed over 190 million views and was even performed on stage alongside his sister, to “What Are You Waiting For (ft. Pokimane & Jasontheween)”, a collaboration with his close friend Jasontheween—d4vd’s Coachella debut marked a significant milestone in both his artistic journey and personal life.
The day after his set, we met him in his trailer to talk about the journey captured in his own words—“FROM FORTNITE TO COACHELLA BOI !!”—his growth as an artist, and the forthcoming debut album “WITHERED”, set to bloom soon.
You posted “FROM FORTNITE TO COACHELLA BOI !!” on Instagram. That’s such a lovely journey in just one sentence. How does it feel to literally go from Fortnite to Coachella?
d4vd: It's insane. I can't even believe it myself. If you had asked me three years ago whether I would be performing at Coachella, I would have said “I don't believe you!” (laughs) But it's been incredible to witness the progress and to see where I came from — from video games to TikTok, and now to being a full-blown musician and artist. It's truly an honor.
One of the most touching parts of your set was performing “Here With Me” with your sister, Emily—especially considering that’s where your music journey began, in her closet. What made you want to bring her on stage with you?
d4vd: I love including my sister and my family in anything I can, and being on stage is her dream. She loves performing. I've brought her to other shows before as well, so I thought it would be a great idea to bring her to Coachella, too. I make all my music in her closet, so I have to keep giving her credit for that. Without her closet, none of this would have happened.
When you first started making music, you were literally recording in your sister’s closet and using your phone — just to add background music to your gaming videos. Now you're stepping out of that ‘safe zone’ onto big stages like Coachella, sharing those very songs with a massive live audience. What has that been like for you?
d4vd: My first Coachella performances — I wouldn’t have had it any other way. It was fun, sporadic, and unexpected. It brought together all the things I love about performing into one set. I’m just so grateful that Coachella gave me the space to perform. Looking at the crowd, watching their faces, how they reacted to the songs, sang along, jumped up and down, waved their hands — it was all just beautiful. (laughs) There was a beautiful synergy throughout the entire audience, and I feel so grateful to be able to create those moments for people at my shows.
Your outfit at Coachella reminded a lot of people of your character “Itami (pain)”. But this time, you looked like you were past the pain—no blood, no blindfold, no hiding. In that sense, what would you name the character you became on the Coachella stage?
d4vd: Mhm. If “Itami” means pain, then without the blood and the blindfold, I would say it represents healing. Maybe I’d call him “Healed.” That feels right to me.
“Itami” often appears as a character in your music videos. You’ve mentioned that anime—especially the shonen genre—has been one of your biggest influences. Now, you’re creating your own animated world with original characters and narratives. What does it feel like to be living the dream you once only imagined?
d4vd: I love incorporating my own passions and interests into my artistry. I love paying homage to anime, and I’m a fan of so many different cultures. Getting the opportunity to make a song like “Feel It” for a show I love was amazing. I’ve been a fan of “Invincible” for such a long time, so it felt like two worlds colliding — my interests and my career. To be able to perform it on stage and hear people singing along was surreal.
What is it like to bring the things you love into your creative work? You’ve described action in anime as ‘poetic,’ and it’s striking how your lyrics are also deeply poetic. In what ways do you think both anime action and your songwriting can be considered ‘poetic’?
d4vd: Especially in animation, you can tell so many stories just through movement and choreography. Shows like “Jujutsu Kaisen” or “Attack on Titan" convey meaning without using words. I think the most powerful messages are often the ones you don’t hear — you feel them through what you see. When I watch a certain fight in an anime — like “Goku’s Kamehameha” — it brings out so much emotion, hype, and excitement. It tells a full story. There’s something really beautiful about being able to resonate with something unspoken.
Like the anime you’ve loved, your songs seem to tell stories while also expressing emotions that can’t always be put into words. Can you tell us about your upcoming release?
d4vd: I’m hyped and excited for my new album, “WITHERED”, coming out April 25. “WITHERED” is about love, grief, loss, and confusion. It’s a story that reflects the past three years of my life — losing friends, gaining new ones, going through relationships, and falling out of love. I’m excited for fans to get to know me more through this project and really enter my world for the first time. It’s going to be crazy. I’m just so excited.
How has the process of making music over the past three years been for you?
In BDNS YouTube Channel, you said, “Solitude and loneliness make the best songs.” Do you ever intentionally embrace that feeling in order to create?
d4vd: When I was preparing for the album, I definitely had to isolate myself to get into the creative mindset. It was such an introspective and vulnerable process — talking about my life over the past three years meant stepping away from everything and everyone, just to draw out the rawest emotions from within. I even went back to Houston and started recording on my phone again in the closet, just like I used to. It was kind of beautiful — like rediscovering the old version of myself and letting that creative process flourish again. Like you said, loneliness makes the best song. You can hear it in the music. The fans who respond to it can feel it too — it's very real. And when they come to the shows and hear it live, that connection becomes even more intense. It’s truly beautiful to see that emotional bond come to fruition.
You’re set to release your debut album in April and visit Korea in May. After experiencing Korea through your concert last year, is there anything in particular you’re hoping to do during this visit?
d4vd: I'm excited for the food — I’ve always loved the food in Korea. (laughs) I’m also really looking forward to meeting new bands, connecting with some of my favorite artists, and maybe even doing some collaborations. I’m excited to talk more about my album and to make sure my music reaches a global audience. I want people everywhere to feel seen and heard in what I create.