This Alternative Artist Landed a Top-20 Chart Debut With an Album Made Almost Entirely on His Phone

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David secured the second-strongest chart debut on the Billboard 200 this week, primarily using his iPhone for the production.

The emerging artist’s first album, “Withered,” which includes viral sensations such as “Here With Me” and “Romantic Homicide,” entered the Billboard chart at position 13. This newcomer’s release is nestled between Billie Eilish’s “Hit Me Hard and Soft” and Chappell Roan’s “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess.”

Or, in a shorter form:

The debut album of the rising act, “Withered,” sits at No. 13 on the Billboard chart, between Billie Eilish’s “Hit Me Hard and Soft” and Chappell Roan’s “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess.

The 20-year-old artist, who boasts 32 million monthly listeners on Spotify and is under Darkroom/Interscope, impressively debuted his first album in the top 15. What makes this achievement remarkable is not just the success of the album, but also the method he used to record it. Despite the widespread use of home recording in today’s digital age due to cheaper and better quality equipment, creating a commercially successful album using only a six-inch phone screen is an even greater leap forward.

David shares with THR that the change is evident as more tasks can be accomplished from home, requiring less equipment. He explains that there’s no need to excessively arrange studio bookings or gather numerous items anymore. This new approach to work is a significant advantage for those starting out in their careers who might not have access to such resources early on.

David Burke, known by his stage name D4vd, has been producing his music using BandLab, a widely-used mobile music creation platform that’s gained popularity among budding musicians for years. This versatile platform offers various features like virtual instruments and vocal editing at no cost. However, some advanced functions such as distributing music to streaming services require an extra fee. Moreover, it doubles as a social media platform, allowing users to interact with each other by sharing and commenting on their respective compositions within the app.

David shares that the foundation of the album was created using beats he received on his phone. He then traveled to London with some producer friends to establish the base and brainstorm ideas for the project. Upon returning home to Houston, he developed the songs further and recorded most of the “Withered” album by himself, recording vocal tracks in his sister’s closet directly into his phone. Depending on whether he aims for a high-fi or low-fi sound, he utilizes either the microphone from a pair of Apple EarPods or connects a more advanced external mic.

The collection, “Withered,” encompasses tracks such as “Crashing,” a collaboration with Kali Uchis, and “Feel It,” a song penned specifically for Amazon Prime Video’s “Invincible.” This latter track has since received a gold certification from the RIAA.

David’s most popular song, ‘Romantic Homicide,’ which has garnered an impressive 1.5 billion streams on Spotify since its debut in 2022, is one of BandLab’s standout hits. Interestingly, David approximates that around 80% of the album ‘Withered’ was created using his smartphone. BandLab shares with The Hollywood Reporter that this is the first album primarily produced using their software to enter the charts.

Meng Ru Kuok, the head of our company, notes that reaching this milestone signifies BandLab’s ambition to cater to a younger demographic who are more accustomed to using smartphones rather than computers throughout their lives. Currently, BandLab boasts over 100 million users, as stated by Kuok.

According to Kuok, the current generation has embraced the idea that tasks often begin on smartphones. Whether it’s editing videos with apps like Capcut or creating music, this mobile-first approach is prevalent. Desktop comes next for them. BandLab, which was launched 10 years ago, aimed to empower individuals using only a mobile phone, headphones, and ambition. This concept felt crucial back then, but it’s even more important now.

BandLab isn’t the only mobile music creation platform generating successful tunes; artist Steve Lacy is also known for utilizing GarageBand on his iPhone. In fact, D4vd mentioned Lacy as an inspiration, citing that he had just watched a TED Talk by him.

Or in a more concise version:
Steve Lacy, like BandLab, creates hits using the mobile platform, GarageBand on his iPhone. Inspiring others, including D4vd who recently watched his TED Talk.

Approximately a quarter of BandLab’s user base resides within the United States, with a continued emphasis placed on making our platform accessible. This is crucial because, as Kuok points out, the variety of music creation tools available in less developed regions remains fairly limited.

The protagonist in our tale resembles David, and our field doesn’t have a single correct approach. As Kuok states, he hopes that this individual will motivate others to experiment with new ideas. This achievement is a significant career milestone for me because it demonstrates that music similar to this isn’t just temporary viral sensations but genuine album chart success within the industry. It’s truly unique.

David, who had a passion for video games since childhood, began his teenage years by sharing Fortnite gameplay videos on YouTube. To steer clear of copyright troubles and also add a unique touch to his content, he started composing music for these videos. This musical endeavor eventually won over the gaming community, paving the way for David’s career in pop music.

David explains, “When it comes to making music, there’s a duality for me due to my background in gaming. In the gaming world, you begin on consoles such as PS5, but if you aim to go pro, you need a PC. This requires upgrading your CPU, getting a new graphics card, and so forth to perform at an elite level. However, when it comes to music, I don’t see the studio as superior to my phone. I also don’t view expensive engineers or producers as better than my phone or the YouTube producers who helped me achieve my biggest hits.

Climbing the ladder of success, I recently struck a deal, setting the stage for me to open for none other than SZA on her 2023 SOS Tour. As I embark on this journey, I refer to my latest album, “Withered,” as a reconnection with my origins. This project has been in the works for about two-and-a-half years now, and true to form, I’ve cultivated an aesthetic that blooms with florals – much like my previous EPs titled “Petals to Thorns” and “The Lost Petals.” Symbolically, this album represents the cycle of life: as a flower grows, it eventually wilts and returns to the earth from which it sprung.

As his fame escalated and he transitioned into a pop artist’s lifestyle, D4vd hoped that “Withered” could assist him in rediscovering the inspiration that initially ignited his passion for music. “I was homeschooled throughout high school,” D4vd explains, “going from spending my days cooped up doing homework and playing Fortnite to touring with SZA and simultaneously trying to create music became an overwhelming experience. There’s only so much one can endure before it spills over.” He yearned to rediscover the enchantment he felt had eluded him for the past two years and reignite his fervor for songwriting once more.

David has become more contemplative compared to his past work, delving deeper into personal experiences like homeschooling, the end of relationships, and friendships. Instead of vicariously writing about others, he’s now focusing on his own life events. This new record delves into themes of loss, grief, and serves as a farewell letter to himself, according to David.

D4vd explains that he wrote ‘Romantic Homicide’ without having been in a relationship himself. He describes the shift from storytelling to drawing on personal experiences as challenging. Previously, when writing about fictional scenarios, he had more creative freedom, able to create any image he desired. However, when writing about his own life, he must strive for authenticity, limiting what he can express due to the boundaries of his actual experiences.

Without “Withered”, David embarks on a tour across the country this summer. He doesn’t seem to plan on giving up his DIY setup following that, expressing his intention to continue working in this manner for the near future.

After wrapping up the tour, I’m excited to dive back into creating music, discovering fresh sounds, and pushing my own style to new frontiers,” I express. “The digital world is always evolving at a rapid pace, with countless genres emerging daily. My goal is to keep up with these changes while staying true to myself.

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2025-05-09 23:55