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Friday, I had the opportunity to participate in a media call with David Archuleta. He shared lots about his experience on American Idol and where he hopes his future career will lead him. I wish him the best of luck with his music career.
So you know I saw after the finale during the press conference you did, you said that you felt a sense of relief. I was just wondering if you could elaborate on that a little bit. Why were you feeling that?
D. Archuleta: Well, since this whole thing has lasted so long, the first audition was in January and we hadn’t been living at home since the beginning of February and that’s how long we’ve been working every week for each performance each week and having to compete in a way, even though I try not to look at it as competing against other people, but more against myself. Each week and as the weeks went on, we had more songs each week to have to learn along with other things. With this final week, it was the busiest of all. It was hard to find time to even rehearse and stuff along with school and everything else going on. So on that Tuesday night I just tried to make sure I didn’t regret anything I did and so I think I did that. It was just such a relief to just feel good about what I did and the fact that that was the last impression I gave on the show. The competition is all over and now it’s time to really focus on music.
What’s your plans moving forward? I mean, do you plan on finishing up high school? Do you think you’ll go to college? Do you think you’ll work on an album first? What are your plans moving forward?
D. Archuleta: Well, I’d like to keep trying to do school while I work on music. You know, that’s kind of what I’ve been doing through this school. Every day I still have to do school and even after this interview I have to go to school. I think school’s really important. It was my main priority before this because I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to get anywhere with music, but I was still hoping for something. Even if music does turn out to go somewhere for me, you never know how long it’ll last. So I just want to make sure I have something to back me up on that, because I want to do music all my life. I just don’t know if I’ll be able to make a living off of it for the rest of my life. So I’d like to have to have something else to be able to do. I’m still looking at options and careers that I’d be interested in in the future.
To follow on that, David, what careers are you interested in?
D. Archuleta: You know, I kind of change my mind here and there. Lately what I find is really interesting is that ear and nose throat doctor thing, which I know would take a lot of work and education, but I think it’s just something that really interests me because it’s something that helps people who’ve had the same problems as me with the whole hearing and nose congestion and problems with your voice. It’s just like something I can really relate to people with, because it’s like I’ve had so many issues with that stuff, so it’d be great to study into that more and be able to help out with all those problems and also learn about it.
What would you say to people who were ardent fans of yours who thought that you had done the best job and who were disappointed that you didn’t win? What was the high point of the show for you?
D. Archuleta: Well, to the people who’ve been supporting me so much, I just want to thank them, first of all, just because it means more than anything to know that people are appreciating the hard work that we put into this. I want them to know that I’m just feeling great about it. The fact that Cook won, I think he deserved it so much. He just proved it week after week that he deserved to be the American Idol even early in the competition. He’s such a great guy too. My main priority wasn’t to win the competition, but it was just to do my best because you can suck and people can vote, but not for you to win and that wouldn’t feel very good. I think we both gave it all. We just poured it all onto that stage on Tuesday night and we both feel really great about it. I don’t think I could have done anything better or change anything to make me feel any better about what I did. Not winning the competition won’t limit me from trying to create an album and write stuff. I think this has just been such a great opportunity to open all those doors that weren’t open and available before this all happened. To make it to the top two, I don’t think there’s any reason to be disappointed at that.
Your voice was so beautiful Tuesday night. I really felt that you did an outstanding job. I want to go back a little bit to top 20 week, which to me was one of the best moments of live TV when you were caught on camera with the tears and embrace between you and Alex’Andrea Lawton. I thought she went home way too early, but can you tell me what caused your intense reaction? Have you heard from her since then and any chance you might sing together in the future?
D. Archuleta: I have texted her every now and then and she’s called a few times since. She was one of the kids who I’d spent a lot of time with because of school. Both her and Alaina. We just all bonded and got really close and all understood each other because we all had school along with everything else going on. She was someone that I just got along with really quickly in the competition for some reason, so it was hard to see her leave when it was so unexpected for me. I thought I was handing it pretty well until she started singing the song which is “If you leave me now”. Oh my gosh, how ironic. That’s not a good song for her to be singing right now, so it just hit me.
I cried too.
D. Archuleta: I was a little embarrassed because I was like oh gosh I’m crying on TV. None of my friends have ever seen me cry or anything. You know, it was hard. I couldn’t help it. Even though I was embarrassed, I couldn’t hold it back.
Will you be playing the piano on tour at all?
D. Archuleta: You know, I’ve thought about it. I might. We’re still kind of trying to figure out like settling the songs. I’ve thought about a few songs that I would enjoy to play piano with. It’s just a matter of finding time to fit piano into the schedule. With this whole experience it’s so hard to find time to practice an instrument, especially with piano and I don’t have one here. So I’ve gotten tighter. I’m not as loose as I was before and I didn’t really consider myself one of the greatest pianists in the world or anything before this. It was a risk I took on the show trying to do it because when you play an instrument it gives you a whole new sense of connection to the song you’re doing because it’s like the music you’re singing to is at the tip of your fingers. It’s in your hands literally. It’s a different feel, but it’s something that I definitely want to continue to practice and work on because I still do get a little distracted as I’m playing and I don’t want the piano and the focus on playing the piano to distract myself from connecting with the song the way I can without having to play. It’s definitely something I want to keep working on because it’s something I really enjoy to do. Hopefully with this big break of rehearsal time before the tour starts, it will allow me to not have to worry so much and not have to learn a song in just a few days before performing it live on a show along with trying to arrange the song and figure out what to do best with it, to give it your all on stage.
I’m wondering what the best advice was that the judges gave you.
D. Archuleta: You know, I always really enjoy when they mention the fact that they could feel that I was connecting with the song and that they could feel it too like when Paula would say that and when Randy would say “That was the bomb.” It didn’t really make sense when he spoke sometimes. When they can tell that I really felt that the song I was singing means a lot to me, but also when they have advice to give too helps a lot, even the smallest of advice. Any piece of advice wants me to do better and it’s great when people let you know what you could work on, because you can’t do better when you’re not aware of the things you can work on.
What was the thing that you really took away with you? What was the piece of advice that really struck you?
D. Archuleta: I’m not sure if there’s anything that really struck me. Something Paula said was just to really enjoy being on the stage and to remember why – That just reminded me like this is the chance of a lifetime and you have had it every week being able to perform for so many people each week and be able to share what you love to do. It was a time when it was getting pretty rough and she just said to just remember to enjoy it. So it’s like, you know, she’s right. This is such a great opportunity and I just have to remember to stay away from getting too technical in singing and to remember to have fun up there.
Was it really hard to hear your dad criticized?
D. Archuleta: I hadn’t really heard much of it until later on. I tried to stay away from the press and my dad also. He understood that I didn’t like to hear anything going on in the news about me good or bad, just because I didn’t want it to distract me or let it go to my head or anything like that. I just wanted to stay myself and how I was at the beginning of the competition before all this happened. I wanted to keep who I was, the normal teenage David. In interviews and stuff it started coming up and it was just kind of strange because there were really weird things. I heard one thing was like he refused to give me water or something like that. That’s the weirdest thing. I mean, I’m 17 and if I want water I’m pretty sure I would just go get it anyway. Another thing was like he made me cry during one of the recording studios or something like that. I can’t remember really. Just weird things like that. I’m old enough to have enough control over myself. Then the next thing is he’s a great guy. There isn’t really anything he’s done that’s bad like the things that have been spoken about him. You know, my whole family has been such a great support and they’re the ones who’ve kept me grounded and allowed me to be who I am today. No one understands what I’m here for more than they do. They get what I love about music and how it’s changed my life. They’ve witnessed what it’s done for me and so they understand what I want to do while I’m here.
I was wondering what kind of album you hoped to make when you get started on that.
D. Archuleta: Well I’d love to do the pop thing just because I’m still a teenager. On the show I was getting a little mature with my songs even though I love to do that stuff. I still want to be able to relate to the kids my age. I like the pop music, but I still want to have meaning in my music. So I’d still like to do some fun stuff along with songs that have more meaning in them. John Mayer and … are examples I use as people who have done the more pop side of music, but their music is so – I call it – real. It’s real music where it has meaning and depth to it still. They’re respected as real musicians and artists.
I also kind of wanted to know how do you think that your experience on Star Search helped you maybe prepare mentally for what Idol was going to be like.
D. Archuleta: Well, it’s weird how different they are. They’re both competitions and they both required you to edit songs and try to show as much as you could during that small time you had on stage. You know, it’s weird. They’re both so different and so similar at the same time. I guess just that, realizing that I needed to focus on the enjoyment, like just having fun on stage and really loving what I’m doing. When I was little I didn’t even think I deserved to be on Star Search. I didn’t think I was good enough and I was confused that I kept going on. I was such an airhead. Well, I’m still pretty much an airhead. I was just like I don’t get why I’m still here. The people are going against are better than me and stuff. It just helped me to really keep focused I guess, because I understand that it takes a lot of work to do these kinds of things and to be able to show what you can do in that small amount of time. This show, fortunately, allowed more time and it lasted longer. I don’t know. I don’t know where I’m going with this. You know, it just allows you to prepare. You know how to prepare for the short edit of the song. It was really completely different experiences. Also, the age difference. I was so young. I know. It sounds weird to me saying I was so young back then even though it was just three years ago. Being 12, I was still so new to it all. I was just like the little soul kid who was into soulful R&B music. I think I’ve been more identified as a person now and understand myself better now.
I had an interview with you quite a little while ago now where you said that between schoolwork and music and stuff like that, you don’t really have time for a girlfriend and that kind of thing and you weren’t really interested in that at that time. Is that still true even though you have all this female attention?
D. Archuleta: I think now it’s really time to focus on making an album and writing songs and all that. I just feel like being 17 I’m not really mature enough to understand those feelings yet. I’ve just watched so many of my friends like, “Oh we broke up and how sad it is in my life. I can’t live without them.” I’m like, “You’re 17. What are you talking about? You have so much more. You have school. What are you going to do for a living? It’s not like you’re going to live off of that person or anything. It’s not like your infatuation with them is going to support you.” I just want to make sure I don’t get confused with a feeling for someone so quickly and then – I don’t know. It just bugs me with all the drama. I so don’t want to deal with the drama right now. I just want to be able to focus on music and then when I feel like I’ve met a girl who has a great personality and someone I can connect with and has really good standards for themselves and has respect for themselves, but not like in an arrogant way, just someone who cares about others as well, it’s not all about them. I don’t know. It’s just something I will definitely want to focus on later on in life when I’m ready, but I just feel like I’m so young. I’m still learning so much and have to get to know what kind of things I look into someone. You have to meet a lot of different people to get your own opinion on someone.
Nigel Lithgow said that it got to a stage where the producers felt that you working so closely with your vocal coach and I think you had somebody you work with arrangements with as well as your dad and working so closely with your dad, it got to be an unfair advantage for you. Do you agree with that? Do you think you had an unfair advantage?
D. Archuleta: Well with my vocal coach I don’t. All I did with him was do vocal exercises with him, so he didn’t really do anything. I would call him every now and then. It wasn’t like an everyday thing, but just like when I’d feel a little worn out like right now. I would just call him and just ask if he could help me loosen up my voice. I’m not the only person who’s had a vocal coach who’s called just to help with keeping your voice in shape and keep up the endurance. It’s just been something that’s helpful. There have been weeks where I haven’t called him. Just every now and then I would and he’s been great help in teaching me how to keep my voice in shape. You know, he hasn’t really done anything. It’s just up to me more what I do on stage and in the moment really too what you feel when you sing on stage. I guess it depends. It’s more based on feeling. I don’t know. He hasn’t really done too much. Well, he hasn’t done anything really with the arrangements or anything like that. It’s all just been keeping my voice loosened up, as he says.
When did you feel during the season you were getting more comfortable in front of the cameras?
D. Archuleta: I’m not sure. I guess it just kind of slowly happened. It’s like each week you get a little more comfortable in front of the cameras. Well, each time. we were on stage you kind of forget that anything is really there just because you get so into the song. You want to make sure that you really express what you wanted to with the song, so all my attention focuses on the song. Well, mostly but sometimes you get a little distracted on stage. I guess it just slowly happened. I mean, even with interviews and pictures. I hated pictures at the beginning of this. I’d always like run away from cameras even just with friends and stuff. I’d always be the one hiding behind a bush or something. It’s because I hate looking at myself. I still don’t really like looking at pictures of myself. I’ve never watched myself on the show. I would just do something else when the show was on and maybe like my family was watching it or something. I can’t stand hearing my voice. I’m okay with just talking to the cameras and stuff as long as I don’t have to hear it afterwards unless maybe I can learn something from it.
You do have a lot of fans both on the Internet and everywhere. It is difficult dealing with all of that attention, or do you quite enjoy the fact that they enjoy your music so much?
D. Archuleta: You know, I haven’t paid too much attention to the fact that I don’t think it really has hit me that there are really fans out there for me. It’s just such a weird thought to think, but I do think of it as more of people who have appreciated what I’ve done. All the letters that have been sent, I tried to read as many as I could. There’s a lot of pressing going on, but there’s more free time to be able to read those letters that I wasn’t able to catch up on just because it got so busy at the end and just more letters came the longer you’re on the show. Just every letter was so unique. I couldn’t believe how many people were just saying thank you for singing certain songs and how my singing was able to inspire them even. A lot of people used the word ‘inspired’ in their letters and I was having my teacher read them to me at a certain point, because the only free time I had was during school. I had to go to school during my free time when other people had their free time, so it was like I didn’t really have any free time. So she’d read the letters and she said, “I’ve never seen so many people use the word ‘inspired’ in letters.” I just thought that was really cool, the fact that I was able to do that with my music. I wasn’t just like, “Oh, I’m obsessed with you” and “Marry me” and “You’re so hot” and stuff. It was the fact that people were able to feel what I was trying to give off as I sang is one of the coolest feelings ever.
I’m wondering, you seem to handle everything with such grace and poise. What for you was really the biggest hurdle of this whole experience or any roadblocks that you felt during the time on Idol?
D. Archuleta: Well, I’ve just tried to deal with all the struggles throughout this and try to learn from them really. I try not to look at it as like that was a terrible time. I try to think of that being a challenge I was able to learn from. I think the more you stress out about something, the worse time you’ll have. I really didn’t want to focus on that kind of stuff when you try to think about this as such a great experience. I’ll never get this opportunity again. This is just an experience of a lifetime. I really wanted to enjoy it as I could because I didn’t want any bad experiences from this and I just tried to focus on the good things going on while this all happened. I just really wanted to have the best time with this. When you try to keep a good, positive attitude even through the hard things, I think it just affects your overall mood and how you see other things. I wanted to keep a positive attitude with the songs. Sometimes it would get really difficult. Some of the difficult times was when I tried arranging a song and then there’s just so many different opinions from the arrangers and producers and stuff. It’d get hard because it’d get confusing when I wouldn’t be able to try something. I remember “Think of me”. That week it was just really difficult because so many people were saying different things. It was definitely a new arrangement for me and I can’t even remember why. I think it was really cool because it was a time that I tried an arrangement that was completely from my head and I thought, wow this is really different.
Moving on as you pursue your career, do you have any dream collaborations? Like if you could work with any artist, who would that be?
D. Archuleta: You know, someone I always thought would be really cool was Alicia Keys just because she is someone that gets so into her songs when she sings and you can just feel her emotions as she sings. It’s really cool. She plays piano very well as a songwriter.
For the instruments, if you’re a guitar player obviously you can keep your guitar in your room there. For you and Brooke playing the piano, you didn’t have a piano in your room. Was it hard to find one to practice on?
D. Archuleta: It did get a little difficult. There were pianos at the studios that we were able to practice on. Later on we were able to get pianos. Not really pianos but the cheap little keyboards into our rooms that we were able to practice with, which was really fortunate because it was pretty rough before. Hopefully I’ll be able to find a keyboard to take with me on the road just because if I want to do it on tour I’d love to do it on tour. I don’t want to get rusty or anything, because I still need to work on my piano playing and I’d love to get every chance I can to practice that with the new free time we have now.
And then the thing about the school and the career, are you just finishing your senior year of high school now?
D. Archuleta: I’m actually just finishing my junior year.
So next year some people are going to urge you to do like Jordin Sparks did and say well just home school or something through your last year or GED or something and focus full-time on your music. What are you thinking you’re going to be doing this next year?
D. Archuleta: Well, I’m just seeing where music goes from here and I think home school is a good idea because it’s something I’ve done. I’ve probably home schooled for half of my life, so it’s not anything new to me. If that does come where I have to do that, then that’s something I’m up for because it’s something I’m used to doing. If it made it easier on Jordin to do while handling all the music going on for her, then that’s probably the best option for me if I won’t be able to be doing to school. If nothing is going on, if that unfortunate thing comes up, then I would still like to focus on school as much as I can. For now I’d just love to take these opportunities that are available right now and to work on music as much as I can. I still will focus on school, but right now I do not want to let go of music.
David, do you have any closing remarks?
D. Archuleta: Well I’d just like to thank everyone for their time and them wanting to speak with me even though I’m out of it right now. It’s just all the press and stuff. I appreciate all the support people have been giving and it means a lot to me when people appreciate the hard work I’ve been putting into this. It makes me want to continue this even more.
Thank you to FOX for allowing us to participate in this media call.
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That is priceless!
Since AI ended, I've grown to like him much more, he seems quite different from how he was while still in the competition. I think I might add this line to my signature. 
