He's a man on a mission
SINGAPORE - In less than two months, US pop singer David Archuleta will be taking a two-year break from his music career - to serve as a missionary.
The American Idol 7 runner-up, who is a Mormon, will be based in an undisclosed country without a mobile phone and will only get to communicate with his loved ones via letters or the occasional e-mail.
Within Asia, Archuleta has a particularly huge fan base in the Philippines, where he has just finished filming Pinoy TV drama Nandito Ako.
But girls, don't worry.
The cherubic-faced 21-year-old - who is in town to perform at a private showcase at local club Avalon tonight - is focusing on his service during his mission work.
He was in high spirits when he met The New Paper yesterday and even sang Billy Joel's Just The Way You Are at the start of the interview.
Archuleta, who wanted to keep his destination a secret, said: "I know many people who met their future spouses during their mission.
"They can meet up during that time, but they cannot date as for the two years we're supposed to be focused on our faith and serving the community.
"So if you meet someone you like, you can stay in touch and then start dating them when the mission is completed."
During the two years, he will only be given US$400 (S$500) a month by his church. The money will be used for his housing, food and any other necessities.
Since he is also not allowed to use his own savings, Archuleta said that to save money, he would ask to stay with people in "the community" if they are willing to house him.
Missionaries, he added, go about their work in pairs, but he does not know yet who his partner is going to be.
It's hard to imagine a young star like Archuleta making such a drastic life change, but his mind is made up.
Why now, we asked Archuleta, who told us that such mission trips are not compulsory for Mormons. His simple answer? It's the best time.
"If I don't do it now, there will never be another time where I can do it.
"My friends who have done it survived basically on macaroni and cheese and cup noodles. I have always respected and admired them.
"So I'm looking forward to it. When I've completed the mission, I'll start thinking about going to music school."
On TV
Since the heart-throb came in second to rocker David Cook in American Idol 7 in 2008, he has released three albums - David Archuleta (2008), Christmas From The Heart (2009) and The Other Side Of Down (2010).
The latest and 11th season of the US reality singing series is showing exclusively on Star World (StarHub Ch501) every Thursday and Friday at 6pm.
Acting-wise, Archuleta has had two cameos playing himself in US TV shows iCarly and Hannah Montana.
He has also taken the lead role in a drama that he just spent 15 days in the Philippines shooting - the mini-soap opera Nandito Ako, which airs on Feb 20.
He plays Josh Bradley, a Caucasian-Filipino who's separated from his Filipina mother at a young age after a fire broke out at a hotel and grows up to be a successful singer.
Archuleta, who pronounced the title with a Filipino accent, speaks English in the production, but also has scenes in which he speaks and even sings in Tagalog.
He said that he had been approached in the past to do similar shows, but he finally chose to accept this one as he would be starting his missionary stint soon after.
For now, while he counts down to starting a very different life, Archuleta is enjoying watching American Idol 11.
He said: "The show is so fun now because Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez are such positive people. "That doesn't mean I don't like Simon Cowell.
"Being negative all the time isn't healthy, but criticism is a must. I remember it was Simon's criticism that helped me improve myself week after week on theshow."
The Salt Lake Tribune:
Report from L.A.'s Grammy Week: "Crush" songwriter talks about Archuleta
On Wednesday morning, I attended the Grammy Camp: Basic Training event sponsored by the Grammy Foundation at the University of Southern California.
The event, and accompanying activities held Wednesday, are meant to reinforce the Foundation's commitment to arts education, with high school students from around the area having the chance to interact with musicians, songwriters, producers, and other veterans of the music industry.
During the morning session, I jumped at the chance to have a one-on-one interview with songwriter and producer Eman (full name: Emanuel Kiriakou), whose hit singles include Hot Chelle Rae's "Tonight Tonight," Selena Gomez's "Who Says," and, most importantly for my interests, Murray native David Archuleta's most popular single, "Crush."
Eman has a long history of working with the 21-year-old Archie, with three or four songs on Archie's debut album, the same number on Archie's sophomore album, as well as songs on Archie's Christmas album.
"I was a huge fan of David on the show," Eman said of "American Idol." "I followed him from very early on."
Eman said that he has a habit of not writing songs for specific artists -- that could be very limiting -- but he broke his own rules by "targeting" Archie when writing "Crush." When he offered the song to Archie, Eman said he loved the song, and by working with Eman "made it his own."
Archie's career has had its ups and downs, and will take a breather when Archuleta goes on a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which Archie announced in December. Eman, who said he still talks to Archie often, said he feels like an older brother to Archie, and Archie has confided to him over the years that he had always wanted to go on a mission.
Archie's fan base is "real and staunch," Eman said, and doesn't worry about Archie's fans forgetting about him in two years' time. Eman, without naming names, said he has gone on tour with other "American Idol" alumni, including some with many more hit singles than Archie, but that they have never matched the intensity and the number of people that come to see Archuleta in concert.
On the mission, Archie might be able to reflect on music and come to a realization of what kind of artist he wants to be, Eman said, adding that he believed that Archie is still trying to find out where he fits in today's music landscape. Whatever Archie decides, Eman said, his fans will be ready for him.
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