It’s actually kinda wild how fast things move in the music world. One minute you’re recording vocals in a walk-in closet on your sister’s iPhone, and the next, you’re a household name with billions of streams. That’s the reality for David Anthony Burke. You probably know him as d4vd (pronounced "David").
Ever since "Romantic Homicide" blew up on TikTok, everyone has been asking the same thing: how old is d4vid? He looks young. He sounds soulful. He carries himself like someone who’s seen a lot, but the numbers tell a very specific story.
The exact age of d4vd right now
So, let’s just get the "how old is d4vid" question out of the way first. David Anthony Burke was born on March 28, 2005. Doing the math—since it is now January 2026—d4vd is 20 years old. He’ll be turning 21 this coming March. It’s a pretty significant milestone, especially considering how much has happened in his life since he first started uploading tracks to SoundCloud and Bandlab. Most people his age are still figuring out their college majors or working part-time jobs, but d4vd has already navigated the highs of global stardom and the crushing weight of public controversy.
A quick timeline of his early years:
- 2005: Born in Queens, New York City.
- 2018: Moved to Houston, Texas (around age 13).
- 2021: Started releasing music professionally (age 16).
- 2022: "Romantic Homicide" goes viral (age 17).
- 2025: Released debut album Withered (age 20).
From Fortnite to the Billboard charts
A lot of fans don’t realize that d4vd didn’t even want to be a singer at first. Honestly, he was just a gamer. He was a competitive Fortnite player and a member of Team Limit. He wanted to make "montages"—those flashy highlight reels of gaming clips—but he kept getting hit with copyright strikes because he was using mainstream rap songs.
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His mom was actually the one who told him, "Why don't you just make your own music?"
So he did.
He didn't have a studio. He didn't have a fancy mic. He just used his phone and a pair of wired earbuds. That raw, "bedroom pop" sound wasn't an aesthetic choice at first; it was a necessity. By the time he was 17, he had signed with Darkroom/Interscope Records, the same label that launched Billie Eilish. It was a meteoric rise that most artists spend decades chasing.
Why his age matters in the current news
Usually, a celebrity's age is just a fun trivia fact. But for d4vd, his age has become a talking point in a much darker narrative recently.
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In late 2025, a Tesla registered in his name was impounded in Los Angeles. Inside, authorities discovered the remains of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. This wasn't just a random tragedy; reports from outlets like TMZ and Al Jazeera began linking the two, mentioning matching tattoos and alleged sightings of them together.
Because d4vd was only 19 or 20 when these events unfolded, the public reaction has been split. Some see a young man who was thrust into fame too early and got caught up in a nightmare. Others look at the eerie parallels in his music videos—like "One More Dance," which features a body in a trunk—and see something more calculated.
Regardless of where the legal investigation lands, the "20-year-old" tag is now permanently attached to these headlines. It changes the way people look at his career. He went from being the "teen prodigy" to a "20-year-old artist under investigation" almost overnight.
Misconceptions about his background
Is he a "TikTok artist"? Kinda, but he’d probably hate that label. While TikTok made him famous, his roots are actually in Gospel music. Up until he was 13, that was basically all he was allowed to listen to. He grew up in a very religious household, which explains why his lyrics often feel more like poetry or prayers than typical pop music.
He was also homeschooled after the seventh grade. This probably contributed to that "old soul" vibe people pick up on. When you spend that much time alone or with family, you tend to mature a bit differently than kids in a traditional high school setting.
What’s next for d4vd?
The future of his career is a giant question mark. Following the events in September 2025, his Withered world tour was scrapped. His label, Darkroom, has reportedly distanced itself, and major appearances have been canceled.
If you're following his story, the next big dates aren't release dates—they're legal dates.
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Actionable insights for fans and followers:
- Verify your sources: With a story this sensitive, stay away from "leaks" on X (formerly Twitter) and stick to verified reporting from places like the Los Angeles Times or CBS News.
- Separate art from artist (if you can): Many fans are struggling with whether to keep streaming Petals to Thorns. It’s a personal call, but the conversation around "cancel culture" versus "accountability" is very real here.
- Watch the March updates: His 21st birthday in March 2026 will likely be a quiet one, but it marks a legal transition in many states.
The story of d4vd is a reminder of how quickly the narrative can shift. At 20 years old, he has already experienced more than most people do in a lifetime. Whether he ever returns to the stage or stays in the headlines for other reasons remains to be seen.
To stay updated on the legal proceedings or any official statements from his management, keep a close eye on the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s public bulletins and official press releases from Interscope Records.