David Archuleta On Songwriting for his next Album
David Archuleta is hard at work writing songs for his next studio album.
Recently, David sat down with Jim Cantiello of MTV news to discuss what fans might expect on his next album, set to be released in 2010.
(The interview was done the day Jim and David went Christmas Caroling together. Good Stuff.)
David spent a week in Nashville working with Joy Williams, Matt Wertz and Mat Kearney producer Robert Marvin (Marvin tweeted two song titles, “Falling Awake” and “Sooner or Later”).
In New York City, David collaborated with songwriter/producer Jeymes Samuel, who has worked with KT Tunstall, Mr Hudson and, the Gorillaz.
“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!’ “
UPDATE: David is in LA this week, working with Victoria Horn (@ladyvmusic) who’s worked with Katy Perry, Boyonce, Rihanna, Kelly Clarkson, Jordin Sparks and Brandy, Matt Squire (@Matt_Squire) who’s worked with Panic! at the Disco, All Time Low, boys Like Girls, Emily Osment and Katy Perry.
Videos after the jump! David elaborates on the songwriting process.
David’s Christmas album, Christmas From The Heart is available in stores now:
Videos after the Jump…
On collaborating with Jeymes Samuel–worked with the Gorillaz–in New York.
David wants the songs on his next record to be “David” songs. The songs he’s working on will be more personal, autobiographical.
David elaborates more on the songwriting process, with he finds cathartic. He recently finished 6 songs. The music will be “his story”.
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koka, no. I’m always a little fuzzy on these kinds of details, but my understanding is the 2 album contract with open option did not include the Christmas cd. I’m sure someone can correct me if I’m wrong.
For some reason, I don’t get the impression that David will be doing as much “love” songs in next album, especially if some are the ones he is writing.
Marylee, you mentioned that you are brainstorming what “Falling Awake” might be about. I didn’t think love song. I’ve heard David mention in the past about how hard of a time he has falling asleep at night. Maybe this is in reference to that. I don’t know, maybe double meaning relating to hard time falling asleep, theeeeeen the agony of falling awake the next day, and maybe relating to a relationship, I don’t know. This may sound silly, but I’m trying to think in David’s mind here. He told Jim that these songs are about him. Sharing more about who he is.
Does anybody remember David mentioning he’s not a morning person, and that he has a hard time going to sleep and then getting up?
Could this somehow relate to this and then dig into deeper relationship stuff? Gah!
Stan, not sure about the song, but I do remember that David has mentioned he is not a morning person. In fact, I’ve gotten the impression he is quite the night owl, when he’s not wearing himself out by working out, that is.
LadyVmusic: oh wow you know when you write one of those special ones.. not nec a hit but a beautiful song.. sooo happy
DavidArchie: Got another song today! I love how a song can really bring out a feeling you have inside.
14 minutes ago from web
David has a Jive contract for two pop albums and the Christmas album. Could be negotiated for more depending on how things go and what David and Jive want to do from there. He will be busy for some time finsihing the second pop album, touring, doing charity work etc……………………….Stay tuned. More music from David Archuleta….Yeh!!!
I think “Falling Awake” may have something to do with his “spaciness.” You know how he’s always talking about that. In that sense, “falling awake” would be equivalent to his snapping out of one of his bouts of hypnotic spaciness and coming back into alert focus to his immediate surroundings.
heh. I thought the contract was for 1 album with an option for 2 more. Who the heck knows!
JRB, I think you are right. That is sounding familiar.
Thanks Mj for posting. I always love the interviews where people ask intelligent questions and try to find out more about David and what he is doing, as opposed to some of the really bad radio interviews he has had where they guys are jerks.
I always thought his randomness will be transferred to his song writings. When he recommended Rabbit (Matt Duke), Fireflies (Owl City), Too Much Food (Jason Mraz), These Words (Natasha Bedingfield) etc. on his blogs, he seemed to be attracted by songs that are not necessarily love songs but interesting random themes. For example, in an interview in Philippines, a reporter asked him which song would describe what he felt at that time, he answered “These Words”.
David is a king of randomness and I think we can get best of ‘who David is’ out of his random thoughts. Of course, it’s fun. Remember? His random rambling about wheat bread? And he said maybe he’s gonna write a song about it? haha.
ghl – The wheat bread thing was funny.
Somehow, in a VIP, he and the fans got to talking about food (I think because he wanted to know what was on the snack table in the VIP room) which segued into wheat bread (how, I do not know), which he is a big fan of. He does NOT like white bread, thank you very much. So I guess someone asked him to write a song about wheat bread and he said he’d have to write a song about wheat FIELDS because that was more romantic. But that even if it was so romantic it became a wedding song, he’d always know it was about wheat bread.
ROFL!!!
Back to “Falling Awake,” if I may. I just had another thought. Rather than falling out of one of his bouts of hypnotic spaciness,” maybe it means a falling into spaciness, which makes sense since when he’s spacey he’s still awake, hence the title “Falling Awake” as opposed to “Falling Asleep” to describe his spaceyhood. Get it?
ETA: I’m glad he’s avoiding white bread. Not good for you. It makes you fat. I’m so glad Kendra is there to be a good influence on his eating habits.
JRB5776 It wasn’t about the snack table. He was telling us about what he had for dinner the night before. He had just finnished the LA show and had went to dinner with Brooke White and Jason Castro and he had a turkey burger on Wheat bread. The he extolled the virtues of wheat bread over white bread and like you said
Ozarka – It was suggested “Falling Awake” could be about his dreams become a reality.
JRB,
Yes, I understand what David meant, which is magic of song writing. His development as a song-writer is really interesting and fun to watch. I love Works For Me which should have been made on the main album, and if songs on his next album are more about himself like Works For Me, they will be ear warming fun songs to listen to.
Oh! Thanks for clarifying gemzone. I know he had an early fascination on what was offered up on the snack tables during VIPs. I thought that might have triggered the conversation. lol
(sorry for a separate post, the edit function is messed up for me.)
Hmm, that’s clever. I like that. It reminds me of what he said during Top 2 night, “It’s like a dream. It’s a dream come true. It’s just…so clear.”
If nothing else, all of his personal family drama gives him some good writing material! I am hoping to hear some kind of awesome venting song in the vein of Kelly Clarkson’s Because Of You from him. He needs to have some kind of outlet I would imagine.
LadyVmusic: in da stu stu studio with @davidarchie and @matt_squire cutting vocals.. sounds beeeaaaautiful
LadyVmusic: Hey Archie fans, it’s all good we’re finished for the day.
it’s 10:30 in LA
3 songs done.. will try and get another pic for you all tom
LadyVmusic: aweee i wish i could say the titles..
the record labels like to keep them secret,,,, but 2 are uplifting and 1 is a ballad .. so far..
10 minutes ago from web
ETA: I’m glad she didn’t tell us the titles. Otherwise, we would be speculating about them forever. It’s way too early to be doing that.
^^^ Like “Falling Awake”? Bahahahahaha!
It’s just such an intriguing title. Gah!