Ep. 209: d4vd | The Kid Hacking Pop Music From His Phone

And The Writer Is...with Ross Golan

Today’s guest is a genre-shifting phenomenon who’s redefining what it means to break through in music today. With a sound that fuses indie, alt-pop, R&B, and emo influences, he’s crafted a raw, emotionally charged catalog that’s connected with a generation—and he did it all from his sister’s closet on a phone. In just a few years, his music has racked up billions of streams, topping global charts and earning him a fiercely loyal fanbase. But beyond the numbers, he’s an artist who leads with vulnerability, reshaping how young creators think about art, success, and authenticity. He’s not just making songs—he’s shifting culture, and sharing how at the same time.

And the writer is… D4vd!

0:00 Trailer Hook — Billion Streams Surprise

1:32 Intro — From Phone to Playlist

3:15 Growing Up — Early Life and Music Influences

8:45 First Uploads — BandLab, YouTube, and Finding His Sound

13:20 Going Viral — The Moment Everything Changed

17:50 Pressure and Expectations — How He Handled the Blow-Up

20:42 My Process — How I Make Music on a Phone

23:10 Behind the Hits — How ‘Here With Me’ + ‘Romantic Homicide’ Happened

26:17 What SZA Told Me That Changed Everything

34:08 Advice for Young Artists — Make Music Nobody Wants

36:09 Beyond Music — Directing, Acting, Manga Dreams

43:35 Disrupting the Industry — Freaking Out the Business

44:40 Validation Moment — Sitting Where Legends Sit

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