Articles Library

QUICK MINUTE Q&A
By Jill Serjeant

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – David Archuleta lost out on the “American Idol” title in May but the baby-faced teen released his first album this week hoping to capitalize on his young female fan base around the world.

Archuleta, 17, wowed audiences during the “Idol” concert tour and on the popular TV talent show with emotional piano ballads and renditions of standards like “Imagine” and “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me”.

But in his first, self-titled album, the Utah singer delivers new songs in a variety of styles. Archuleta talked to Reuters about the album and what he has been doing in the last hectic six months.

Q: This first album was put together pretty quickly. How much does it reflect the real David Archuleta?
A: “We didn’t have a ton of time. We were experimenting with different things. There is something for everyone. People are expecting a Josh Groban thing from me but I didn’t want to get stuck in that category, especially since I am 17. I wanted to prove that I wasn’t just someone who sings only standards and covers. I wanted to show that I am still young and fresh and that I’m a teenager and I don’t want to grow up too fast.”

Q: You’ve been rehearsing with a band for your upcoming performances. What has that been like?
A: “The band is great. They are very talented people. It is such an honor to be able to play with them because they have so much experience and I have never really performed with a band. I’m getting really excited about the album release and all the TV appearances and shows. Sometime I get a little nervous about it all, but it’s so exciting.”

Q: You don’t turn 18 until December. What’s happening about school?
A: “I’ve not really had time to go back to Murray High School (in Utah). I’ve still been trying to do some school work online. It’s really difficult trying to keep up with both things when you’re recording and rehearsing and been on tour. It’s been a bit of a challenge but I need to find some way to complete school because I think that is really important to do, being so young and not knowing where life is going to take me yet.”

Q: How has your life changed in the past year?
A: “The weirdest thing is being not at home. You don’t have your siblings around you. It’s great to have texts and the phones to keep in touch with them. But it is weird to not have them nearby to talk to, not being able to hang out with my mom and sisters and play Nintendo with them. My dad is here with me while my mom watches over the rest of the kids.”

Q: You have millions of female fans. Are you dating yet?
A: “I’m not, like, seriously dating. I’ll go on fun dates. I’m all about getting to know people, trying to figure out how girls are different from each other, what I like about girls and what I don’t like … I think there will be that girl who I really feel like, wow, she’s special. But I still don’t know a lot and I’m still getting that idea of what kind of girl I’d want to be with for a long time — if that makes sense?.”

Q: Your album came out a week ahead of “American Idol” winner David Cook’s first album. Is there any competition between the two of you?
A: “Not from what I’ve seen. I think we have wanted to extinguish that flame because we want to be separate artists and musicians. Even during the ‘Idol’ competition we weren’t that competitive. No one really understood what was going on, watching this dream grow. Cook understands that more than anyone else because he went through the same thing. I still talk to him and text him every now and then. He’s always checking up on me. He is like a brother and that shows that he is awesome.”

Dean Kaelin Revisited
By Yasmine Richard
Friday, February 29, 2008

When I got the call to fly out to Salt Lake City, Utah and hit up the hometown of “American Idol” contestant David Archuleta, I have to admit that I had NO idea what this kid was about.

I had a similar chance to do a “homecoming” piece last year, for Idol champ Jordin Sparks, but by that time she was already in the top 10, so we were optimistic she was going to be star-worthy. We weren’t even there yet this year but there’s something about this Archuleta kid…

It was a sort of a homecoming for me, as I had attended college at Brigham Young University (a million years ago). When we arrived at David’s high school, Murray High, we were pretty impressed. Nice campus, well kept although we were disturbed by the kids that were rocking shorts and sandals when its 35 degrees in the middle of February. But hey, who am I to judge?!

I want to tell you about meeting David’s principal and his friends and all their confessions about some of Archuleta’s best-kept secrets. I want to tell you about how, on our first night in Utah, like the rest of the country, we were blown away by David’s performance of John Lennon’s “Imagine.” But first, I need to share with you the amazing thing that happened on the second day. After the jump.

So Day 2. We caught up with David’s vocal coach, Dean Kaelin. Now this guy has a story: he’s a trained musician, has worked with music giant Seth Riggs (who himself has worked with Michael Jackson), and has already turned out Idol-worthy talent (remember Carmen Rasmussen?).

Dean shared some really interesting things about David that we didn’t know, like David’s father is a jazz trumpter and his mother is a singer. Dean was the one who helped David strengthen his vocal chords after vocal-paralysis nearly derailed his singing career before it began. Dean showed us around his office then escorted us downstairs to the studio (on Cribs, this would be “where the magic happens”).

But this is what blew us away: Dean shared a clip of a 12-year old David singing “Imagine,” the SAME song that David sang the night before on “Idol” that won over the nation. I couldn’t believe my ears. All I could think was, Wow, this kid was born to do this. Even at 12-years old, he was amazing.

Amazing, right?

So back to Day 1. We met the principal of Murray High, Principal Scott Bushnell. It was pretty strange. This guy strikes fear into the hearts of unruly students but here he is, a little nervous but totally cooperative and filled with nothing but praise for his students, particularly, David Archuleta.

We also got to meet some of David’s friends. Now it’s been some years since I’ve been back in High School so I totally forgot how energetic younglings are. Energetic but focused. We chatted about David and they had no problem putting him and his quirks on blast, spilling the beans on stuff like his fave movie, “Rat Race”.

His fave food: cheese, thai food and LETTUCE (Yes, lettuce. He claims to love lettuce so much, they call him lettuce boy!). They also said that David is a genuine guy and what you see is what you get. He’s even pretty shy. But whatever you do, don’t go driving with him, UNLESS you wanna hear him belt out the hook for Beyonce’s “Irreplaceable” (”to the left, to the left…”).

Between that and David’s Idol performance, I’m now announcing my candidacy for President of the David Archuleta fan club. You can see more of my trip to Utah, and what all David’s friends and neighbors had to say about him and his lettuce infatuation, all this week on MTV News. It’ll be great, I promise.

MORE READING MATERIAL

• People’s article on David’s acting debut on iCarly
• People’s article on “Crush”
• Review after the Fort Wayne concert
• The Ralphie Report from Timesleader.com
• American Idol Buzz on Access Atlanta
• Review by Timesleader.com
• Seattlepi.com Music feature on Eva Cassidy
• Access Hollywood.com interview on Video
• David makes it on the Candorville Comic Strip
• US Magazine Recap from the American Idol finals
• New York Post entitled KID ROCK
• Teen Music.com article on David
• Young David Archuleta on Star Search by TV GUIDE
• Article from The Daily Herald – Archuleta has a bright future
• Fans react to music critic’s review from TampaBay.com
• David Archuleta:  “I Was Nervous” Acting!
• NeuFutur Magazine Reviews “Crush”!
• Archuleta Talks Clay, Crushes and Cook
• IDOL runner up David Archuleta is poised for record debut
• David Archuleta set to move beyond Idol
• New David Archuleta Album Predictably Terrific
• Multiple Billboard.com articles here