By Sahil Muthukrishnan

Sports Editor

On Apr. 25, alternative artist David Anthony Burke, better known under his stage name D4vd, dropped his debut album, Withered. The album came after his two EPs, Petals to Thorns and The Lost Petals, along with several successful singles. D4vd first burst into the limelight with his viral 2022 single Romantic Homicide, which did well on a number of short-form content apps like TikTok and peaked at number 33 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, staying on the charts for 20 weeks. After D4vd released another single, Here with Me, D4vd found success in 2024, when he made the single Feel It, for Invincible, a popular superhero show. The single cast him into the limelight once again. Fans have been anticipating his debut album, as many have grown attached to his work.

Burke’s new album is once again in the alternative style. It has 14 tracks and features Kali Uchis, a prominent R&B vocalist, on the song Crashing. The album pulls you in with D4vd’s alluring vocals and incredible range, using autotune more as an extra effect than out of necessity. Burke’s soft and emotion-filled tone fosters an intimate attachment to his songs. The album has many standout tracks, including Atomic Land, the first track. Atomic Land is haunting but inviting, featuring synth lines and an uncanny feel. 

Another standout is Sky, the next track on the album. The song is filled with impactful guitar and a stunning pre-chorus, invoking the image of the album’s cover. It is easy to imagine D4vd lying in a bed of grass, pondering life. Another great track is Friend Again; composed with harsh claps and a steady bass line, it is sure to be a hit. It has D4vd talk with an ex-partner and navigate reopening their friendship after the breakup. The track with the most potential for virality is Somewhere in the Middle. The song is deeply emotional with relatable lyrics about mixed feelings about a potential romantic partner. Other standout tracks include Is This Really Love, a deep ballad about longing and toxic relationships, Where’d It Go Wrong, a slow-paced song about breaking up, and Say It Back, an impressive vocal performance accompanied by dark ramblings.

This album has phenomenal variance, from indie tracks to alternative sounds. Some songs hit you where it hurts with emotional performance and themes of heartbreak, while others are smooth and light, with happier themes. It is an amazing first showing from Burke, pleasing his fans with his usual topics but also reeling in new ones with catchy songs and great hooks.

Withered is performing well overall, so far peaking at 13 on the Billboard Hot 200 albums chart. It is an impressive first showing for D4vd, and Withered is sure to stay on the charts for the next few weeks. Fans are excited to see what D4vd will do next; while they wait, the vocalist’s debut is a great soundtrack to keep them satiated.

(Sources: Billboard, Genius, Rolling Stone)