David Archuleta's new fix

Placing second to David Cook in the intensely-followed David Vs. David American Idol showdown over four years ago, who would’ve thought that fan favorite David Archuleta would become a worldwide phenomenon? I sure as hell didn’t. For some reason, his season had been that one season of Idol that I didn’t get to catch, despite having hawked the series fastidiously from O.G. Kelly Clarkson to country guy Scott McCreery. Dawg, my bad.

At a recent press launch for David Archie (@DavidArchie on the Twitterverse) as the latest endorser for Filipino mega brands Bench and Bench Fix, I found myself a believer — the ultimate deal-breaker being the singer’s cover of A Thousand Miles. With generosity that he extended to his screaming fans as a result of their second and third pleas for “more” during his mini-concert at TriNoma that night, I saw firsthand — the charm, the heart-on-his-sleeve persona, and the unassuming small town boy humility that he is known to fashion despite international stardom. Heck, when I entered his dressing room for the interview, he offered me a bite to eat.

A simple boy from Utah, David Archie has since generated two pop albums, two Christmas projects, and sold-out concerts around the world — which now includes, among others — a forthcoming OPM album (believe it or not!), a mini-series with TV5, and a clothing and hair product endorsement. Young Star goes behind-the-scenes and talks to the Idol alum and newly minted Bench endorser, minutes before he took to the stage.

David has since found fame singing the kind of love songs that make teenage hearts sigh.

YOUNG STAR: Hey David, how’s the Philippines been treating you so far?

DAVID ARCHULETA: It’s been great. We’ve loved our stay here.

We hear you like sisig. What else about Manila have you come to love?

I love sisig! Also the people. Everyone we’ve gotten to work with. TV5 has been awesome. Everyone in the mini-series I’ve been working on — Nandito Ako, the cast, the crew, Direk Mac Alejandre, and also getting to work with Ivory Music and Video on an OPM album that will be coming out next month.

That’s awesome! What’s it going be called?

Forevermore. It’s in English but it’s an all-OPM album. We worked with Jay Durias and Jimmy Antiporda. It’s been great.

OPM, sisig, do you see yourself becoming more Filipino by the minute?

I feel like a part of me is becoming Filipino. I’ve come to love it here.

Can’t believe it’s been four years since David vs. David.

Time flies most definitely. It’s crazy to see how much has happened since then and how long ago that is now.

What’s the journey been like from the Idol stage to present?

We’ve been keeping busy. I recorded two pop albums, released two Christmas projects since then. And now that OPM project. It’s crazy. And I’ll see what else I can get done when I go back to the States — see what we can get done recording for fans everywhere else before I leave for a mission.

Let’s talk about Nandito Ako.

I play an international artist named Josh Bradley. He’s half Filipino. He grew up in the Philippines ‘til he was seven with his mom. His dad died when he was young. When he was seven, there was a hotel fire that happened and he got separated from him mom and thought she was dead, and went to the States and became a successful singer. Many years later, he comes back to the Philippines looking for his mom, looking for those memories and then he meets two girls he becomes close with and falls in love. There’s kind of a love triangle there.

David on Ben Chan: “[He] is an extremely nice person and I’m impressed with the reputation that he has here.

What can we expect from you in this project?

It’s my first time ever trying acting so it’s very new for me. I was very nervous. I don’t know how I’ll come across as an actor. But I had so much fun. I loved everyone I was working with. We became a family.

Did you have to take acting workshops for this?

I did. Here and abroad. I had a little bit of acting workshops the week I came to the Philippines. We had some acting workshops with Gina Alajar and Laurice Guillen. They were really great to work with.

And now you’re an endorser for Bench? What about the brand do you love in particular?

They have this really great selection of clothes. I feel very comfortable in what I can wear with Bench. And the people have also been great. Mr. Ben Chan is an extremely nice person and I’m impressed with the reputation that he has here. Everyone has good things to say about him and the brand.

Are you excited for this endorsement? You’re now part of a roster of world-class endorsers like Michael Trevino, Bruno Mars and Lucy Hale.

We’re very excited to be able to endorse the brand. We’re also launching Bench Fix tonight. We did photo shoots not just for some of the clothes that are coming up in the season but as well as some of the hair products. It’s all very exciting.