D4VD

David Anthony Burke was born in Queens, New York City, to Colleen and Dawud Burke. His family later relocated to Houston, Texas. After finishing seventh grade, he left traditional schooling and was homeschooled. He spent his childhood singing in a church choir and playing piano. For years, he listened exclusively to gospel music.

Everything shifted at age 13. He discovered hip-hop and alternative rock through classmates and gaming soundtracks, citing acts such as The Neighbourhood and Arctic Monkeys as early revelations. Burke began streaming gameplay and publishing Fortnite montage clips to YouTube. Copyright claims repeatedly flagged his videos. At his mother's suggestion, he started writing and producing original songs on his phone using the BandLab app to soundtrack the footage.

Burke selected the moniker d4vd to optimize online search results. He uploaded his first track, "Run Away," to SoundCloud in 2021, followed by songs such as "You and I" and "Take Me to the Sun." Other players quickly began using his audio in their own gaming clips.

In July 2022, he dropped "Romantic Homicide." The melancholic track went viral on TikTok and climbed to number 33 on the Billboard Hot 100. That success led to a recording contract with Darkroom and Interscope Records in September 2022. He followed with the commercial release of "Here with Me," which peaked at number 60 on the Hot 100 and reached the top ten in Singapore.

Burke released his debut EP, Petals to Thorns, in May 2023. The project entered the Billboard 200 at number 105. He issued a companion EP, The Lost Petals, four months later. In 2023, he joined SZA as an opening act on her arena-level SOS Tour, an experience he credited with maturing his stage presence and songwriting.

He expanded his catalog throughout 2024. In February, he released the two-song project Withering, featuring "Leave Her" and "2016." He also contributed original tracks to major media franchises, recording "Feel It" for the animated series Invincible and "Remember Me" for the second season of Arcane.

Burke released his debut studio album, Withered, on April 25, 2025. It peaked at number 13 on the Billboard 200. The album rollout featured singles such as "One More Dance" and the Kali Uchis collaboration "Crashing." That spring, he performed at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and hosted an international album showcase in the Philippines.

He launched the Withered World Tour in August 2025. That run was abruptly canceled weeks later. As legal authorities opened a homicide investigation tied to his vehicle, sponsors and peers distanced themselves. Crocs and Hollister removed him from active advertising campaigns. Interscope paused all promotional activities, while collaborators including Kali Uchis, Laufey, and Damiano David pulled their joint songs from streaming platforms.

On September 8, 2025, Los Angeles police inspected an impounded Tesla registered to Burke after tow-yard workers reported a foul odor. Officers found the decomposed remains of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez inside the front trunk. Hernandez had been missing from Lake Elsinore, California, since April 2024.

Investigators served search warrants on Burke's Hollywood Hills home, recovering blood evidence and records of purchases that included chainsaws, a body bag, and an inflatable pool. On April 16, 2026, LAPD officers arrested Burke at a Los Angeles residence. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office charged him with first-degree murder, lewd acts with a minor under 14, and mutilation of a body, with special circumstances of lying in wait and financial gain. Burke pleaded not guilty to all charges and was remanded in custody without bail.