Helloo to everyone from Nashville. It’s been a while since I’ve written a blog, so I thought it’d be a good week to write one.

I’ve had a really great past couple of weeks! I’ve been on the first leg of a radio promo tour, and it’s been great visiting all the different radio stations and getting to perform again! I started in Greenville, South Carolina for B93.7′s Zoo-A-Palooza to help raise money for the local Greenville Zoo there. I then went to Louisville, Kentucky where I got to do a show for WDJX with other performers like We The Kings, Hot Chelle Rae, Iyaz, and Kris Allen as the host. It was really fun hanging with everyone there. We then made stops at 106.3 in Lexington, Q102 in Cincinnati, WNCI in Columbus, and Q102 in Philly. It’s fun getting to go to all of the different radio stations! We also went to PRO FM in Rhode Island, which is always great going over to see them! After that we went to Sixflags New England for a show with KC 101 where Auburn, Boys Like Girls, Flo Rida, and Bruno Mars performed at too. I must admit that I’m a pretty big fan of Bruno Mars’s stuff. He has an awesome voice. I’m sure you guys know his new song Just the Way You Are, but if you haven’t then you should really check it out.

After all the radio promo, it was time to go to New York for Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day where Shontelle, Allstar Weekend, Demi Lovato, and Jonas Brothers also performed. It was really fun. It was cool meeting Allstar Weekend and hanging with them, and then seeing Shontelle and Demi again. I didn’t really get to say much to the Jonas Brothers, but I did catch a bit of their soundcheck. It was cool getting to sing “Something ‘Bout Love” for the first time live.. period.. lol, then also first time live on TV both acoustically on Good Day NY and then with the energy of the band on AAKD. Hope you guys have been enjoying the performances! It’s also been fun getting to introduce another new song from the album called “Elevator” that I first sang in Greenville. It’s one of my favorite songs on the album and I feel is a good representation of what else you’ll be getting from the album :). More of the David vibe haha.

So… we’ve been getting things wrapped up with the album The Other Side of Down!! It’s been pretty crazy trying to get everything finalized but we’re pretty much finished and have done all we can under the amount of time that there was to work with haha. I’m really excited! We’re a little over a month away from it coming out October 5th, and I’m already starting to feel the anxious and the jitters. I really hope all the work this last year pays off though for all of you! Anyway I am going to end for today, and talk to you guys later!

Songs for the day: Just the Way You Are – Bruno Mars

Misty – Ella Fitzgerald

This song has really been growing on me lately for some reason. Ella is incredible.

Here are David’s Songs of The Day!

Just The Way You Are by Bruno Mars:

Misty by Ella Fitzgerald:

Hey everyone

I am checking in from LA today, and I’ve had some good writing sessions this week already. I worked with Guy Chambers, who wrote Angels with Robbie Williams, and Erika Nuri from The Writing Camp. I also had writing sessions last week with Sam Hollander and Sluggo, who my friend Travis from We The Kings actually told me about because he has worked a lot with them. I also worked with a bunch of other really great writers, who you’ve probably seen me talk about on Twitter. But I actually have another writing session today with the Nexus lol. And I’ll let you guys know how that goes too!

So I was able to go home for a couple of days, and I got to spend time with my family!! Sunday was my cousin’s birthday, and I had all of my mom’s sisters and some of my cousins over visiting from out of town. It was so great getting to have them all there and hanging out with them! A lot of them have birthdays near each other so we just celebrated all of them at once. But family is such a great thing to have, and to have them supporting you and just being there to lift each other up makes a big difference. Having family or friends who are basically family there to do that for you is a huge blessing.

Last night I performed at the BritWeek Gala Event honoring Sir Richard Branson, and was supporting the foundations Save the Children and Virgin Unite. It was a really great night! I was asked to sing Imagine, and then I also sang Prayer of the Children. Nigel Lythgoe had asked me to come sing at the event. It’s funny because I actually ran into him at the Atlanta airport not too long ago, and after I saw him there is when he asked me to come sing. Since he was one of the executive producers on American Idol while I was there, I owe a lot to him for giving me the opportunities I’ve been able to have from the show. He’s a good guy haha. But man, Morgan Freeman was there and I wish I had gotten the chance to meet him! I went to use the restroom and kept getting stopped and talking to people, never really getting time to go over and talk to him. But I think he’s just one of the coolest guys.

In LA there are a lot of signs around saying “April is Earthquake Preparedness Month.” I think it’s really important to remind people about how we need to think about what we would do in an emergency like an earthquake, or any other kind of situation like that. I think it’d be great if you have a family to go through what everyone would do in an emergency, and come up with a plan on how to deal with things. Things like food storage and emergency kits can be so useful in an emergency. I probably sound weird right now lol, but I think with everything happening it’s important to get people thinking about it and being prepared for possible events to happen. Keeping a water supply, non-perishable foods, flashlights, things like that. Just to keep in mind I guess. There are websites you can find out more info on. Here are a couple:

www.Ready.gov

www.72hours.org

I don’t want to sound like I’m paranoid or anything lol, but you never know what could happen. I’m going to try and get back home for the weekend and just go through things with my family and make a plan too. I remember in school they were talking about how Utah is due for a pretty big earthquake too, and with everything going on right now you never know what could happen.

Well sorry for going off on that, but I’m going to get back into this writing session I’ll tweet later and try to get another blog up next week. Adios!

Song for the day: I Am Not A Robot – Marina and the Diamonds

This is probably my favorite song right now lol. Just really quirky

Helloooo everyone. I wanted to check in really quick and let you know about my time yesterday back at the American Idol studios. I had such a great time!!

I have to admit being on that stage again shook me and my nerves up pretty good. I wasn’t sure what was going on with my mind. Just seeing the audience, the contestants, and then the judges was so weird lol. But I saw Ellen smiling right before I started and it made me feel better haha. But I haven’t really performed Imagine very much in the last couple of years since I had sung it twice on Idol, and now it’s 3 times. But it was such a privilege to get to sing it again, because I think it’s a song with a message that’s important for people to hear again right now. It also reminded me of how much that song meant to me, and to again show people what I love about what music can do for others.

So while I was at the studios, I got to meet all of the contestants. I was on my way to get something from my hotel room, and saw them all standing outside waiting for rehearsal. I got out of the car and ran out to say hi to all of them really quick. A group of cool people! And they sure did really well this week. I’m really glad that the judges decided to use the save this week with big Mike because that was pretty intense lol. Anyway, I also got to see all of the crew again! my old studio teacher who now is Katie and Aaron’s teacher was there, along with all the stage managers, producers, security, cleaners, technicians, and so many more people. I forgot how many people were involved to make the show happen, and I was glad to see them all.

My mom decided the day before to drive down with my grandpa and sister to come see the show since my mom’s dad has never attended an Idol show. It was fun having them there, along with some of my friends. It was a fun night to perform and have them there since Jason Derulo and Rihanna were there. Jason and I both performed at Jordin Sparks’ charity event back in February, and he is seriously one of the coolest, friendliest artists out there. A really nice guy, and my little sister loves him lol. I also had the chance to meet Rihanna who was also really nice (and tall, but she had really high heels on. She’s still taller than me either way.) But it was just a fun day yesterday! I hope those of you who watched it enjoyed it! I love getting to sing a song like that, and hope to find more songs like that in the future to perform for you guys :).

Another thing I got to do this week was go to the Five For Fighting concert with Matt Wertz opening for them! It was such a goooood concert!! Matt invited me to go and it is one of my favorite concerts
I’ve attended! The music was just so good, and it just moves you. Some of my friends came with me and were introduced to some great music. You guys ought to check both of them out if you haven’t yet! One of the dances at my high school actually had a Matt Wertz song as the theme haha. That’s how I first found out about his music, and now I’ve gotten the chance to write with him and hang out with him. And as you may know from going to the Christmas tour, I performed a Five for Fighting song called The Riddle during those concerts. When I was watching that show, it made me really think, “Man, I hope to be able to do that with my own music and writing some day.” John Ondrasik (from Five for Fighting) really does that with the songs that he writes. He tells amazing stories in them that just really hit you and make you think and feel. But really it was a great great show!

Well that’s all I had to say for now! I wanted to let you guys know I had a great time at Idol, and now after a meeting and some interviews today I’m off to a writing session. Tomorrow I’ll be singing at the
half time game for the Utah Blaze, which will be fun to support a Utah team haha. One of my really good friends is such a Blaze fan, and I’m doing it in honor of him. It’ll be great to be with my family tomorrow too since it’s my mom’s birthday. But I better get going to this writing session, and I’ll talk to you guys later!

David

songs for the day: Sweetness in Starlight – Matt Wertz
this was the song that was the theme for one of the dances at my high school haha. I love it.

Chances – Five for Fighting

David just posted a new vlog! He writes: “Should I listen to my mom and wait for a haircut? Or no? ha..”

I agree with his mom! What do you think? Video after the jump…

Recently as you might be aware, I conducted a phone interview with the ever talented David Archuleta. As a good journalist I did my background and my scrutinous study of my potential subject. I knew David was the runner up on American Idol, I knew he launched his career after his placement on American Idol. I also knew he sang the song ” A Thousand Miles” sung originally by Vanessa Carlton on a YouTube video. I love “A Thousand Miles.” In short, I didnt know much about David past the print and I cannot say the same after I got off the phone with him. What I did learn quickly during and after our phone call was how gifted and humble of an artist he is. To me it is rare to find such a talented young man who wants to touch the world with his passion of music. It reminds me of myself in my younger days. His love of music is pure, and to me this is the truest form of music. Most artists exist only because of the fame, what the labels dictate, and the false impression of the dreams in our mind. In these dreams they make us believe by being famous and rich they are the only attributes and goals to life–this sadly is not the truth, and its quite misleading. The shining stars up above are a mere elusion to the reality dreams are a far reaching, and work and passion are the spaceship to get us to our goals. Even sometimes when we arrive there it is nothing like we thought. This is why I have to say I love David. I think he grasps this concept and doesn’t allow their hypnotic false light to sway his course to pure music as I term it. Music ISNT ABOUT MONEY, IT ISNT ABOUT FAME, it’s about MOVING A SOUL! PURE music are the goosebumps you get when you hear a song which moves you. I call it an artist’s “moment of truth” when you can truly feel they believe what they are singing.

This is what leads me to my post today. Somehow in my information gathering of David Archuleta I missed a truly touching song, “To Be With You. ”  Nothing pleases my soul more than a song which touches my musical heart. “To Be With You” did just that–touched my soul.

Click here to continue reading. Many thanks to Romy for sending us this beautiful article!

Hey guys! Hope you guys have been having a good week. This week has been pretty crazy for me! I’ve been working a lot on the memoir that I’ve been working on, and it can be pretty challenging since I’m not used to writing and thinking about myself as much as I have to with this book lol. It’s really cool though because a lot of the things you may have forgotten about in your past start to come back when you start thinking hard and a lot about events and memories you have back there in your brain that might be a little rusty. They’re still there though, you just have to really take some time to ponder haha. It’s been challenging with all the other things we’ve had to do with the project too, but I’m looking forward to seeing how everything comes together at the end and sometimes it’s good to challenge yourself farther than you may normally be used to!
Other than the book, I’ve also been working on some more writing and recording this week. I got to spend more time with Eman this week and I’m really pumped about the song we finished writing! I also recorded another song a few days ago at his studio which I think has a great message to it. I haven’t been able to get into music as much this week with all the work I’ve had to finish with the book, but I’ll be kickin’ back into gear next week back in LA.
So now I’m back in Miami, and I’ve had such an awesome experience here! I was able to be a part of the Spanish We Are the World project “Somos El Mundo” and it was really great! Emilio and Gloria Estefan got the project together, and they along with their staff are some of the nicest people you could ever work with. This is the first time they’ve ever done this song in Spanish, so I’m really glad to have been a part of it with so many talented Latin artists. I love it when people come together to help out, because it really is amazing how much strength comes when people come together. It was neat being able to help in the Hope for Haiti telethon and see how much good came from everyone coming together to unite to help the people in Haiti. There’s power in numbers. The damage happened so quickly in Haiti, and now they need to recover from all that has happened there. I was watching the news last night and saw that Kris Allen went out to Haiti to help out. I thought that was so cool. I really look up to him for all that he does for other people. I know that he’s done a lot of missionary work in a lot of different places and countries, and I think people should do things like that more. Even if you aren’t able to go to a different country, you can still help by sending donations to good causes, or help out the people who may need your help even in your own country, state, or town.
Being at the Somos El Mundo recording yesterday was my first time being around and meeting so many Latin artists. I was pretty nervous with the interviews and being new to that crowd, but it was really fun at the same time and a lot of really nice people. It was good to see PeeWee there, and Ednita Nazario was incredibly nice! Jon Secada, Cristian Castro, Ricardo Montaner, Chayanne, Thalia, and Luis Fonsi were some of the people there. I was like in shock and thought I was going to pass out when I met Luis Fonsi lol. He’s such an amazing singer. The video will premiere on Univision March 1st on Cristina. She’s a very popular Hispanic talk show host if you aren’t familiar with her. She was there yesterday as well, and it was crazy seeing her there because she’s just one of those people I never thought I’d get to meet. I remember watching her when I was little. But anyway I’ve written enough for today, so I will talk to you guys later! Ciao!

Songs for the day:

All You Need Is Love – Brandi Carlile
Brandi Carlile has a new EP out with some covers on it, and she did a great rendition of this Beatles song.

No Me Doy Por Vencido – Luis Fonsi

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hRGBcr_gJc&feature=player_embedded

————————–

There’s also an interview! David speaks in Spanish and talks about Somos el Mundo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXGldlb5rIs&feature=player_embedded

Have a wonderful Saturday!   :)

Hey everyone!

So I’ve had a pretty awesome week! I was able to get some time to go down to Florida and help Jordin Sparks out with her charity called Jordin Sparks Experience. It was a really neat experience! What made it even better is that I had my mom come down with me. The event was in Miami Beach and I was born in Miami, so it my mom and I were so happy to go back haha. But it was so great because Jordin and I finally got to sing together!! We sang No Air, which is pretty difficult to sing haha. Jordin is such an incredible singer though! I can’t believe I got to sing that song with her. At first when I found out she wanted me to sing that song with her I was thinkin’, “Uh…” lol because it’s such a hard song to sing and I thought I would look like an idiot trying to sing that song with someone who sings that good. It was a real privilege though getting to sing with someone that talented and who sings with that much emotion, and they’re close to my age. But yeah it was a fun event and Jason DeRulo, Chrisette Michele, this amazing 9 year-old pianist Ethan Bortnick, and Sam Moore were there as well, and they were all great people.

Oh man so while I really enjoyed getting to go to the event, I felt like such a loser because my cheek was like a balloon! It was swollen, but there was nothing I could do to hide it. So I just had to deal with all the pictures and cameras and not let it get to me lol. At least I’ll be able to tell where the pictures were taken, because if my cheek is swollen in any of them it means I was on my Florida trip in the beginning of February, 2010. While we were down there though we were able to go to the Miami Children’s Hospital, and it was great getting to meet the kids there. The only thing that made me feel uncomfortable were all the cameras there lol. Not just for my cheek but just how we wanted to focus on getting to talk and meet with the kids. But Jordin was able to ask the cameras to leave once we went to visit the individual kids in rooms to put the focus on them, and it’s cool to see how much Jordin cares about those kids.

While I was at the hospital, I was able to get checked on for my swelling haha. So I was able to get some antibiotics for the infection that I had. I think it had to do with my 12 year molars which are FINALLY coming in now that my wisdom teeth are finally out. But it’s all good because it’s almost back to normal! I can hardly see it anymore. Sometimes you wonder why things like that happen, but it helps you appreciate what you have more and not take it for granted.

Another thing we got to do while we were down there was meet with PeeWee Salinas. We became friends with him when we met him at Nuestra Navidad, and it was good hanging out with him. He’s a Latino artist so if you aren’t familiar with his stuff you can listen to “Quédate.” I heard it on the radio while we were down in Miami which was cool haha. Something that PeeWee, my mom and I got to do was go to the Owl City concert! haha. It was a really fun one to watch and all the band and crew are super nice people. Lights opened up for Owl City and she is one of the friendliest people I’ve met. She is the one who reminded me that while my face was swollen, it will help me appreciate my normal face more lol. But she’s really talented! She has an electronica vibe and you guys should check he rout.

All right, the last thing I did in Florida was visit family!! I got to spend time with mi abuelita, cousins, aunt and uncle and it was just so great. I love getting to see family and spend as much time as I can with them! It was even great driving around with them and going to Wal Mart lol. But I didn’t want to leave, and my mom didn’t either. It just gives us more reason to go back though. So I’m hoping to go back again soon. I’m proud to be born there haha.

This week ahead is back to writing! I had my first day with Lindy Robbins and Matt Squire yesterday and it’s off to a great start! I just felt really comfortable with the song and felt like I wasn’t worrying about trying to impress someone or be anything else. I’m excited for the day when everything’s ready to get the album out for you guys to listen to the new stuff! But I better leave now because as you can see I can write until your eyes fall out. But thanks everyone for your continued enthusiasm about this next project! I will talk to you guys later!

Songs for the day:

February Air – Lights

I had to give 2 Chrisette songs because she’s so amazing.

Best of Me – Chrisette Michele

Blame it On Me – Chrisette Michele

David vlogged about Haiti:

Sorry that this is so long! But I just felt like I needed to talk a little more about helping Haiti. It’ll make up for the lack of blogging right? haha. I’ll try and teach myself how to shorten them in the future. But Thanks everyone who’s been donating and helping Haiti! I had a great time in Central America and can’t wait to go back! Can’t wait to start more writing sessions next week, and thanks on behalf of me and my sister for all the Japanese culture items! haha

Video after the break (read more)…

Hey there all! Hope the new year has been going well so far still. If it hasn’t been quite what you’ve expected so far, remember it’s still the beginning haha. I’m sure there are many different ways you can improve your start to the year. I’ve really enjoyed it so far!

So I’ve been in Central America for the week! It’s been so great! I was in Guatemala for my first time during the beginning of the week, and I just landed in Honduras today which is where my mom is from! So I am amongst the people that make up the other half of my blood. After landing, we went straight to visit some of my mom’s family and got to spend time with them. It was great! And we’ve been having baleadas to eat! Which is a native dish here that is sort of like a burrito haha. I don’t remember if I mentioned this before but my mom is actually down here with me, and it’s been awesome having her here.

If you were wondering why I’m down here, it is because I was invited to come down and see what an organization called Enterprise Mentors was all about. It’s an organization that helps families who struggle with poverty become self-reliant and make a living. We’ve been meeting with several of the families and seeing how it’s affected them. It’s really neat and touching to see how different other people’s lives can be from ours. We take so much for granted way too often in our lives, and it’s amazing the way people live. It amazed me to see how happy they are when they see improvement in their work, and these people are hard workers! If you want to learn more about what I’ve been learning about you can go to www.enterprise-mentors.org. It’s a neat cause that gives people that push and encouragement they need to start their own businesses, and become successful after coming from so little.

Aside from meeting with families and having other meetings, while in Guatemala we were able to go to Antigua which is a beautiful historical city. It was a lot of fun walking around and feeling like we went back into time. We also have been enjoying the food here, and being around the people. I wish we had more time to spend down here! But I’ve been loving it! My mom doesn’t want to leave, and I don’t either lol. But I guess that’s all the more reason to come back! We still have quite a bit we’re doing down here this week, and meeting with more people. And the little kids are so cute! haha. Sometimes we hand out lollipops and they come swarming around you.

Well we’re headed out again, but I just wanted to drop a quick note and let you guys know what I’ve been up to! I’m really sorry that I haven’t updated you guys with a blog lately, but it’s been a little difficult coming across internet and time at the same time haha. But I’ll be sure to let you know the rest of what goes on this week later on! I’ll try and show some pictures too, even though I look nasty and need a haircut REALLY bad! But anyway, until next time. Hasta luego!

Song for the day: Mi Tierra – Gloria Estefan

This is a song my mom performs every now and then. She actually performed it at one of the events we had down here.

Just wanted to have a quick check-in with everyone! Gifts have been a little difficult getting through lately just with lack of time. It’s more reading all the letters, since most of them are starting to get pretty long lol. So sorry but I have to just skim through most of them now without being able to really read them. It’s the only way I can get to all of them though. But thanks so much for supporting the tour you guys! It’s been such a fun ride! Catch the Connecticut show on Billboardlive.com this week!

Leave him some comments here!

Sorry I know that it’s dark, but that was intentional because I haven’t gotten ready today yet and I look really bad lol. But had a fun week! Great to be back home. Katsu and Tsuki are my sisters’ new cats. Exciting haha. Did some fun things this week, and it’s time to start working on the tour!

Hello to all! I’m sorry I haven’t made a blog for a while. I’ve been in the studio a lot doing writing and recording, and it’s been a lot of fun! Last week I got to work with Matt Squire and Victoria Horn, and this week I’ve been working with Daniel Bedingfield and Kina Grannis. They’re all really great and talented people! I can’t wait for you all to hear the songs that we’ve been working on :) heheh. But I’ve been loving the writing sessions!

While I’ve been working in LA, I’ve gotten to spend time with my aunt! It’s been a lot of fun getting to spend time with her and let her be a part of all of the things I’ve been doing down here. I haven’t gotten to spend this much time with her for years, so it’s always great to be with family and have good times. It’s been a hectic, busy week but we still manage to do some fun things here and there.

All right, so Monday while we were writing, Kina told me she was going to the Imogen Heap concert. I just about passed out! I have been wanting to see Imogen Heap for soooo long and she’s one of my favorite musicians! So I got tickets for me and my aunt and we got to go to Imogen’s show. It was AMAZING! it was fun to see how nervous Imogen was and she was just so genuine and quirky. And then her music and the way she loops cool sounds is incredible. I couldn’t get enough of it, and she kept going until midnight lol. I was exhausted but I was so happy to watch her. But anyway, you can never get enough of Imogen but you’ve probably had enough of my blabbing lol.

That’s all I have for right now! More writing today so I better head off. There are some fun things coming up this week that I’ll talk to you about next time! But until then I’ll talk to you later!

Song for the day: The Moment I Said It – Imogen Heap
This song really stood out to me when she performed it at the concert. SO good!

So last Monday I spoke at the morning session for the Utah Women’s Conference. I was the speaker for the morning session, and Laura Bush was the speaker for the afternoon session. I was a little nervous to speak when I was trying to figure out what I should say, but the more I thought about it the more I surprisingly got excited to speak. I really had a great time getting to talk about what was on my mind and share it with all the ladies who came haha. I’m glad that Senator Orrin Hatch invited me to come, so thank you very much Senator! How many of you were able to make it to that conference, anyway? If any of you took notes I’d be really curious as to what was note-worthy I guess haha. My sister Claudia came and brought my friend Ashlee with her, and they took notes. It was really odd to think that my sister and friend were taking notes on what I was saying, but I thought that was really neat at the same time. So if there was anything you were able to learn from what I shared I’d love to hear what stood out to you!

Today I got a great workout in! But the bad thing is while I was running on the treadmill I did something to my back. It still doesn’t feel very good lol. During the rehearsals I just sat on the stool, which was really weird during Zero Gravity! I’m hoping that I can move around better tomorrow haha. Imagine me singing “Nothing brings me dooown, when you’re aroound” and I’m stuck on a stool. hahaha… It’s funny as long as it doesn’t actually happen lol. Well… it probably would be funny even if it did happen. But oh well. Anyway, I’m probably finished talking. Oh wait! Halloween is this weekend! If you guys have any cool costumes you should share! bwahahaha. I really don’t have anything in mind for myself costume-wise, but I guess we’ll see if I’m in the mood when the day comes closer. But all right, I’ll stop talking now and talk to you guys next week! Ciao.

Song for the day: Live Like We’re Dying – Kris Allen

Gotta love his blogs. :)