Longtime Fortnite Fan d4vd Scores a Victory Royale in "Locked & Loaded"
Photo: Epic Games
In a full circle moment, singer-songwriter and producer extraordinaire d4vd teams up with Fortnite on his latest single, "Locked and Loaded." The single, which serves as the first-ever official anthem for the game, is a high-octane, balls-to-the-wall sonic experience fueled with an entrancing collage of beats and synths bolstered by the Houston native's hypnotic vocals.
The single opens with a warped emergency siren-like sound, ushering in d4vd's calm and ready vocals. He croons over the brewing production, "Do you get scared or do you feel lost? / I can smell fear, I've been there before / But you made it through the storm again / You did it on your own again," asking his companion if they feel what he feels in the air.
On the pre-chorus, the tension builds as the backbeat comes in alongside layers of mesmerizing synths. d4vd reflects on why his enemies are hating on him and his team, encouraging them to keep taking their shots. In the explosive hook, he taunts his enemy with the biting lines, "You should have noticed I've been focused / You should have known I'm locked and loaded."
The accompanying music video is a brilliant animation, intercut with footage of esports athletes playing. d4vd sits behind the wheel of the bus as his teammates prepare to drop in on enemy territory. Locked and loaded, they fly through the sky ready to fight, only to get separated and teleported into different worlds.
"Fortnite has been such a big part of my life and it’s what led me to make music in the first place," shares d4vd. "Being able to create the official anthem for Fortnite feels like a true full-circle moment. Fortnite gave me a space to be creative and connect with people all over the world, and that same energy is what I wanted to put into this track. It’s more than a song — it’s me giving back to something that’s shaped my story as an artist. And even now, playing Fortnite is still my true passion."
The new single was made for the next round of Fortnite Jam tracks and is a full-circle moment for the young artist who first gained notoriety for making music to soundtrack his own Fortnite montages. It also follows the success of his most recent single, "L.O.V.E.U," featuring fellow up-and-coming singer-songwriter hannah bahng. With a stellar debut album under his belt, new music in the works, and arguably the collab of his dreams under his belt, 2025 is shaping up to be d4vd's best year yet.
Watch the "Locked and Loaded" video below:
