David On Collaborating With Jeymes Samuel:

David Hopes He Has Time To Write:

What Will David Archuleta’s Next Album Be About?

Transcript (via Snarky Archies) below.

From MTV:

Landing in the “American Idol” finale gets you a lot of things: a new car, instant name recognition, the opportunity to work with the industry’s top producers and songwriters on your debut album. (If you’re Kris Allen, you also score a hideous, pointless trophy.)

What you don’t get, however, is time. Somehow in the midst of doing press for the show and going on a massive tour, you’re expected to put out a high-profile album in just a few exhausting months.

Season-seven runner-up David Archuleta survived the first year of post-”Idol” craziness, and while he’s pleased with how his debut self-titled 2008 album turned out, he’s making sure the music on his next pop album reflects more of who he is.

“I’m hoping that at least some of the songs I’ve written this time around will be able to make it on to the record,” Archuleta recently told MTV News. “I don’t think songs have to be like these super-#1-smash-hit-sounding songs, because I think it’s more important that it’s like, ‘Hey! This is coming out of me. This is something I connect with. This is something that I like to sing.’ “

In addition to pushing himself as a songwriter, Archuleta hints that he might cover more genres on the next album. “Even if it’s, like, different styles of music … when you write, it’s like, ‘Yeah, even though these songs are different, they’re David songs.’ And you can’t say anything different. You can’t say, ‘Oh, that’s not a David song.’ It’s like, ‘Well, yeah it is because it’s my story and I wrote about it and it’s coming out of me!’ “

Fans worried the 19 year-old cherubic singer might pull a Kelly Clarkson and release a dark, moody collection of tunes à la My December needn’t fret. “[I'll] still look for the radio-friendly music and stuff. I want the stories to be more relatable to what I wanna talk about,” Archuleta said, adding, “It’s, like, fun music! But you can tell that it’s my story. And I like that.”

David spent a fruitful week in Nashville working with Joy Williams, Matt Wertz and Mat Kearney producer Robert Marvin (who recently spilled/tweeted the beans on two song titles, “Falling Awake” and “Sooner or Later“) and from what Archuleta told us, it was a liberating experience. “In other songwriting sessions I might have had, I was feeling so much pressure. ‘Oh, we have to get something done, this isn’t good as it should be.’ But I wasn’t worried about any of that while I’ve been writing so far.”

After Nashville, Archuleta spent some time in New York City with songwriter/producer Jeymes Samuel, who has worked with KT Tunstall, Mr Hudson and, oddly enough, Gorillaz. When asked if he would ever want to collaborate with Damon Albarn’s supergroup, Archie laughed, “I don’t think they’d want me.”

So when will fans get the chance to hear Archuleta’s new, more personal material (provided it makes the cut)? “I guess it just kind of depends when stuff is finished,” Archuleta shrugged, before beaming, “Which is exciting, because last year it was like, ‘Everything has to be done by this time!’ And [now] it’s like, ‘Wow! I don’t know when it’ll be coming out.’ And that’s kinda nice!”

Transcript (via Snarky Archies):

Video 1: David Archuleta On Collaborating With Jeymes Samuel

Jim: So, I know you’re in town recording and writing new material for your second pop album. And I know you were just in Nashville, so I know some of the names that you worked with in Nashville. So that’s very exciting. But I want to know who you’re working with in New York. Give me the scoop!
David: Oh, well, I’ve been working with a guy named Jeymes Samuel.
Jim: Okay.
David: And so it’s been fun! He’s been a fun guy to hang out with. I guess he’s been working on stuff with the Gorrilaz. So yeah! It’s been an interesting thing. I mean, we just kinda like, started getting warmed up.
Jim: How did that collaboration come about? That seems like such an odd– you wouldn’t except Archuleta and the Gorrilaz to be collaborators.
David: I know, I know. Well, it’s not the Gorrilaz.
Jim: But he works with them, so it’s still an interesting–
David: Yeah, well he’s done some different stuff.
Jim: Would you ever want to appear on a Gorrilaz record? They always have, like, vocalists.
David: Ohh, I don’t think they’d want me on it. He’s been working with a guy named Mr. Hudson, too.
Jim: Okay.
David: But I like his stuff. He’s interesting. He’s in the U.K. *sings– let me be your suupeer* Anyway. So yeah!
Jim: Is there a timetable for the record? Like when can fans expect to–
David: Well, I’m not sure! I mean, we just started writing last week. So I guess it just kind of depends on when stuff is finished. Which is exciting cause last year it was like, “Everything has to be done by this time.” And now it’s like, “Wow, I don’t know when it will be coming out and that’s kind of nice.”
Jim: It’s a luxury.
David: Yeah!
Jim: Time. How about that?
David: It’s really nice. Time. *sings- only time*

Video 2: David Archuleta Hopes He Has Time To Write

Jim: Anything you’re hoping to do differently on the second record now that you do have time?
David: Um, write! That’s what I’m starting on doing and that’s what I’m really excited about. Just writing. Yeah, b even if it’s, like, different styles of music, because I don’t… I like doing different sounding stuff. But when you write it’s like, “Yeah, even though these songs are different, they’re David songs. And you can’t say anything different. You can’t say, “Oh, that’s not a David song.” It’s like, “Well, yeah it is because it’s my story and I wrote about it and it’s coming out of me!”
Jim: It’s still early, I know, but I’m taking from you that this might be a more personal record, possibly?
David: Personal.
Jim: A little more autobiographical?
David: I think, yeah, yep, definitely. *big smile* I think so, at least. I mean, we just started and I don’t know what songs will be used and what won’t. But I’m hoping for at least some of the songs I’ve written this summer will be able to make it onto the record. I don’t think songs have to be like these super-#1-smash-hit-sounding songs, because I think it’s more important that it’s like, “Hey, this is coming out of me. This is something I connect with. And this is something that I like to sing.” I think those kinds of things are more important. So I hope that this time around we’ll be able to focus on that kind of stuff more. Even though I’ll still look for the radio-friendly kind of music and stuff.
Jim: Absolutely.
David: But I just, I want the stories to be more relatable to what I want to talk about and to show more personality.

Video 3: What Will David Archuleta’s Next Album Be About?

Jim: What have you written about?
David: What have I written about? Uh, I’ve written about, um, about myself. *chuckles* About things that are on my mind. Things like–
Jim: Cats fighting outside your window. I’m thinking of tweets that you’ve sent.
David: Oh, okay.
Jim: Cats fighting out of your window, eating fresh fruit.
David: Well, just like, things in my mind. I mean, that’s what I like about songwriting. Things you may not always talk about, typically, you get to talk about in a song because, I mean, if I started a random conversation about something I’ve been thinking about it might be a little awkward. But when it’s in a song, it isn’t as awkward. You know, it’s like “let me pour out my heart and soul to you right now.” It would be kind of weird. I think I’ve been able to do that more. I think people will get to know me better with this and with these songs. At least from– I’m only talking over the last week, you never know what’s going to happen in the future. But we were able to finish six song last week, which was surprising. I mean we were spending all day long on them. But it was amazing because other songwriting sessions I might have had I’ve been like, “Man, I’m feeling so much pressure and we have to get something done. This isn’t as good as it should be.” But I wasn’t worried about any of that while I’ve been writing so far.
Jim: That’s very exciting to hear.
David: Yeah!
Jim: The fans are going to freak out when they hear this interview. It’s already exciting.
David: *laughs* Well, it’s–
Jim: Yes! Personal music from David Archuleta.
David: Yeah, I think it’s still like fun music but you can tell it’s my story and I like that. It’s not like, “Oh, well David’s singing someone else’s song or anything.” It’s like, “No, I wrote this. This is something I wanted to talk about. This is something– an idea I’ve had. And something I want to share with you guys.” So it’s kind of like having a conversation with one of your friends or something. It’s like, “Yeah.” That’s what I feel like these songs have been like.