If you’ve been on TikTok at all in the past year, there’s a strong chance you’ve seen videos with a song in the background that goes: I don’t care how long it takes, As long as I’m with you I’ve got a smile on my face. This song is called “Here With Me,” and it’s sung by the 18-year-old alt-rock phenom d4vd.
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Since releasing in the summer of 2022, “Here With Me” has peaked at No. 60 on the Billboard Hot 100, eclipsed 750 million Spotify streams, and has been certified platinum by RIAA. However, the success of this song—and d4vd’s other summer 2022 hit “Romantic Homicide”—was just the beginning of what has been an epic run for the youngster, further accentuated by a spectacular 2023.
So far this year, the Queens, New York-born and Houston, Texas-raised crooner has put out two separate EPs: the 9-song Petals to Thorns came out in May and the 5-song The Lost Petals arrived in September. Just 12 days after the latter came out, d4vd achieved what is arguably his most impressive feat to date: playing his first show.
What made the September 20 concert even more special, was that it was part of SZA’s year-long SOS Tour, which has spanned the globe in support of her record-setting sophomore album. Billed as a special guest, d4vd has already served as the opener for over a dozen of the stops on the tour’s second U.S. leg, which he says has been the thrill of a lifetime.
“The crowds have been insane,” he told American Songwriter. “I didn’t know how receptive they’d be to the indie, the rock, stuff like that. But they go crazy.”
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As a bit of a detour from the SOS Tour, d4vd took the stage at Austin City Limits on Friday (October 13) at 5:10 p.m. CT. Less than two years removed from solely making music to play in the background of his Fortnite video game montages, the de facto Texan saw roaring crowds applauding his every move in Austin this past weekend.
Following his performance, d4vd caught up with American Songwriter to discuss his speedy ascent, the SZA tour, upcoming music, and much more.
Check out our conversation below.
American Songwriter: You grew up in NY and moved to Houston at an early age. How does it feel to be performing at one of the biggest music festivals in Texas?
d4vd: It’s insane, bro… Growing up here and to be here, to be performing, it’s a blessing. I didn’t go to any concerts when I was little. My first concert I ever went to was my own where I also saw SZA for the first time. This is my seventh festival, but my first festival in the U.S.
AS: As you mentioned, you’ve been the opener for the second North American leg of SZA’s SOS Tour. How has it been on the road with her? Have you gotten to interact with her much?
d: She’s so wise, she has so much wisdom. It’s amazing to be around her, her aura is amazing… The crowds have been insane. I didn’t know how receptive they’d be to the indie, the rock, stuff like that. But they go crazy. They’re not too cool for anything.
AS: You’ve gotten on Billboard charts, earned Gold and Platinum plaques, met Beyonce, went to Milan fashion week. Have you given yourself time to absorb this and take it all in?
d: Nah, bro. I feel like I’ve got my foot on the gas. I feel like with so many things happening at one time, I just gotta collect ’em all like Pokemon and then sit back afterwards, you know? So right now, I’m just working. I’m clocked in. I’m locked in. I’m tapped in. I’m dialed in. I’m everything.
AS: You’ve dropped two EPs so far this year, do you think that’ll be it for you for 2023?
Dd: I’m dropping more, bro. I’ve got 150 songs in the vault right now.
AS: When do you think you are going to be ready for a full-length debut album?
d: Next year. I’m aiming for that right now. This whole process has been a test. This is all experimental. I don’t even know what I’m doing at this point. But I’ll tell you, January 1, 2024… *snaps fingers to insinuate that’s when he’ll start focusing on the album*
AS: Your success all came in the blink of an eye it seems like, and you’ve noted before how fast you’re able to make songs… How are you able to match quality with quantity?
d: I see it like this. I see quantity over quality, bro. Because it’s like, when I was making the EP, I wasn’t even thinking about making the EP. Certain people go, “Okay, here’s the theme. Here’s the subject matter that I want to talk about.” I just made songs and throw them in a pile and fixed them like puzzle pieces and put them together. I make whatever I want. I make how much ever I want. And then pick the best five and throw the others way.
AS: Your story about making music to aid your Fortnite career is widely documented, but which musicians have influenced your music?
d: It was fortnight itself and a bunch of movie composers. I was listening to a lot of Hans Zimmer movie scores because when I was making music, I was making it after watching my videos. I’d watch the video of me playing the game and kind of like, score it… So it wasn’t really artistic influences but sonic influences from the game itself.
Photo by Quinn Tucker for ACL 2023
