The world was first introduced to David Archuleta as a fresh-faced 17-year-old, captivating audiences with his boyish charm and sweet vocals on the popular singing competition American Idol. While David Cook won the season, the Miami-born singer-songwriter’s runner-up finish immediately launched his career. His self-titled debut album dropped the same year, with its lead single, “Crush,” achieving double-platinum status by selling over two million digital copies—cementing its place as a nostalgic pop anthem of the late 2000s. Since then, David has continued to release music while navigating significant personal milestones, including coming out as queer in 2021 and leaving the Mormon church the following year.

Now 34, he has grown more confident and is ready to explore a new side of himself. With a freshly released EP and an upcoming North American tour, David opened up to ELLE Singapore about his new music, his journey of self-discovery and acceptance, and how music continues to help him connect with others.

Related article: Taemin On Performing At Waterbomb Singapore, Taking On New Challenges & What’s Next

Related article: Exclusive: JYOTY On Her Asia Tour, Creative Process & Pinch-Me Moment

With his new Earthly Delights EP, David stands poised to usher in a bold, new era. Moving beyond his tender, introspective style, he embraces a fun and sensual side. From the emotionally resonant ballad “Give You The World” to the sultry, smooth “Crème Brûlée,” fans are witnessing a fuller, more authentic side of him than ever before. Breaking down the creative process behind the EP, David explains, “The creative process was just trying to be more playful. I wanted to explore the sensuality of life, embrace being human, and feel more confident in my body. I let that feeling guide the songwriting and creation process.” While he initially released the songs in the order he liked best, he revealed that “Lucky” has become his current favorite. The track showcases his soulful side and highlights his vocal abilities—a combination that gives him joy every time he performs it.

David also elevates his usual pop sound by embracing his Latin heritage and adding Spanish lyrics to "Crème Brûlée." For the artist of Honduran and Spanish descent, incorporating Latin flair into his songs feels natural and effortless, explaining that it has always been a core part of his life. He believes a more confident side of him comes through when he sings in Spanish, allowing him to show a side of himself that he otherwise wouldn't be able to. “I’m not entirely fluent in Spanish but I still speak, think, and feel in Spanish and I just feel like I can express myself in a way that I can’t in English when I sing and use Spanish in my life,” he shares. 

Related article: Urassaya “Yaya” Sperbund: Thai Star, Louis Vuitton Ambassador & Hollywood’s Newest Leading Lady

This new EP is also a testament to how David’s music has evolved over the years ever since his American Idol days. “I think it’s always reflective of where I’m at in life and what I’ve learnt about myself,” reflects the 34 year old. “I hope when people listen to the music, they can feel the new energy that I live my life with and I just hope it’s contagious because I’ve never loved life as much as I have now. I feel like there’s a new pep in my step as I move forward and I’m excited to bring people along the journey with me.”

For David, his music is a reflection of his personal journey—translating his experiences into lyrics to connect with the audience. This raises the question of where the line is between sharing your story and exposing too much of yourself to the world. “I’ve always been mindful of what parts to share with people and what parts to keep to myself. And I think that’s just what I’ve always done,” he notes.

Beyond songwriting, being an artist has its challenges with privacy. “Even when you work to keep things to yourself, people don't really hold boundaries for you the way they might for other people because they feel like they know you. So I feel like as I’ve gotten older, I’ve learnt how to be comfortable with being myself more in front of people but also having stronger boundaries and taking charge of the narrative of who David Archuleta is,” he said. “Something that I've learnt that I didn't hold a lot of space for myself when I was younger was that it’s okay to make mistakes. It's okay to mess up.” Now that he’s able to accept that making mistakes is a part of being human, the star says that he has never grown faster than he ever has.

When asked if fans can look forward to an Asia tour with multiple stops, David mentions his upcoming performance in the Philippines for the Playback Music Festival in November alongside acts like Blue and Vanessa Carlton. Addressing the possibility of other Asia stops, he says, “That’s something I’m hoping for. Conversations have been taking place and I think we’re just waiting to see if it will work with scheduling, routing, and all the logistics of it.” Fingers crossed that everything goes smoothly and we'll get to see him perform here in Singapore.

The singer who has always been open and honest with his fans expresses his heartfelt gratitude for those who have supported him from day 1 and watched him not only grow as an artist but also as a person. “Music is not the number one thing for me, music helps me do what is the number one thing for me which is to connect with people,” he admits. “It's a really beautiful way to express and convey messages, and connect with people and hopefully even inspire other people through your art.”

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.