Imagine it’s 2008, and you’re getting your weekly fix of American Idol – it’s the David vs. David season! And that cutie, the latest crush ng bayan, David Archuleta, is melting hearts with every performance.
Flash forward twelve years later, and we’ve got him live on All Out! Earlier today, the one and only David Archuleta joined the show for a little chat with Rico and Karla. What a way to spend a Riot Wednesday, right? And man, this guy’s smile is just so infectious, that Karla’s grin could barely be contained behind her mask! The charm was on, all the way from Tennessee.
David has been to the RX booth before, during his previous Manila visits, but this time around it was a little different, since we could only reunite virtually. In the midst of this pandemic, thank God the internet can bring us a little closer, right? When Karla asked how he’s been doing, David just said, “2020 has been… 2020.” We totally feel you, David. But with all the time on his hands, he’s released new music! “It’s nice to share music that helps other people get through,” he said.
When David released his song “OK, Alright” earlier this year, little did he know it would pretty much become a quarantine anthem! “Basically, the song is about freaking out! And just stressing out and waking up in a bad mood…” (so, pretty much 2020 summed up so far? We’re kidding…) But the song’s message, more than anything, is an encouragement to keep going anyway. “I can try again tomorrow. Maybe I didn’t win my battles today, but let’s see how it goes tomorrow,” David said. Have a listen here:
David also recently released a new album, “Therapy Sessions” (again, with the very 2020 appropriate title), and will be having his very first digital concert soon! Save the date, Archie fans, it’s happening on August 21 and tickets are still on sale. He expressed his excitement to perform online for a worldwide audience, saying “It’ll be cool to have anyone from everywhere join!”
On staying creative and inspired to make music during this trying time, David explained, “I get a lot of inspiration from my frustration, and I guess from the pain.” Like anyone, he’s got his bad days and feels overwhelmed at times. “Out of the frustration, I will get motivated to get out, do something, go on a walk.” That’s his current secret to happiness: taking walks! He leaves his phone at home and just takes time to appreciate nature. “Creativity starts flowing through. When you get rid of all the distractions, you can hear not just the voice of God, but I can also hear myself, and I can hear that creativity, and it’s helped me to start getting new songs.”
Even with the new album done and the fans loving it, looks like the next tour will have to wait! Tentatively it’s been moved to 2021, but even David says he doesn’t know if that’s final – things are pretty unpredictable, but he’s taking it a day at a time. For now, he keeps the work going at his little home studio. “We’re all learning how to adapt, cause we gotta keep working, we still gotta eat and pay our rent…what can we do? It’s not an easy time,” he admitted. “We just gotta keep hanging in there for each other, check in on each other.”
Another quarantine activity that’s been keeping the Archie fandom happy is David’s listening parties. He hosts listening parties with his fans of his older albums. “I’ll have to do my OPM album, maybe I can have a listening party for that, too!” he told Rico and Karla. Um, yes please, sign us up ASAP? It takes us right back to the days David was doing the miniserye “Nandito Ako” with Jasmine Curtis-Smith and Eula Caballero!
If you’re wondering how that miniseries came to be, it was a project that David agreed to do before going on his Church mission in 2012. And he definitely thought it was random at first because he didn’t see himself acting (let alone in the Philippines!), but he’s got nothing but great memories from that time. “It was one of the best decisions I made, I’m so glad I did it.”
Another memory he’s got in the Philippines is his show with David Cook in Manila back in 2009, which the two like to bring up when they talk once in a while! “We’ll be like, remember when we did the show in the Philippines? We’ll just always remember those,” he said. David says the Philippines now has a special place in his heart. Aww! And it’s clear that he’s got a special place in Pinoy’s hearts, too! If he could just see the way our DMs blew up when fans found out he was coming on the show…
The support from his fans since the Idol days is still strong, and that’s something David is thankful for. “It’s been 12 years since American Idol! So, to still have support from people, I just feel grateful,” he said. “It’s nice to know that you made a difference, you made an impact, you brought joy to people.” Well, when you're just so kind hearted and pleasant to everyone, it's no surprise that they return the love to you, David!
This little catch up with one of our American Idol faves brought smiles to so many faces today! Take our word for it, it’ll brighten your day – plus, if you wanna find out what David Archuleta looks for in a girl *wink wink* you’ve gotta check out the full video on our Facebook page!