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Finding Joy Again: David Archuleta’s Season of Rediscovery
- SoundCheck Team
- Nov 12
- 3 min read
Article Contributed by Rebecca McDevitt & Fernando Flores
There’s a calmness to David Archuleta that feels almost luminous. Even over a screen, it radiates a gentle peace that comes from someone who’s done the work of rediscovering themselves. When he smiles, it’s easy to see that the joy he’s singing about isn’t just a theme; it’s a state of being.
As the holiday season approaches, Archuleta returns with My Only Wish, a festive EP filled with warmth, playfulness, and heart. But this release feels different; freer, lighter, touched by self-renewal. He describes it as a celebration of joy, connection, and the choice to embrace fun again
“Christmas used to be really serious for me,” he laughs. “It was sacred, it still is, but now it’s about joy and connection. I’ve lightened up. It’s become fun again.”
That balance between reverence and release runs through My Only Wish. The project revisits the familiar holiday roots fans know him for but adds a sparkle of spontaneity, a retro-pop shimmer that mirrors his new chapter of life. Songs like “Christmas in California” sound sunlit and bright, as if joy itself packed its bags and headed west.
“I wrote it in Laguna Beach,” he recalls. “It was January, but it was gorgeous. I wanted something playful and fun — something that just felt different.”
The result is exactly that; breezy, hopeful, and full of heart. It’s the sound of someone who’s learned that joy doesn’t have to be complicated. When told the song feels like “reindeer on the beach,” he bursts out laughing. “Nice! Global warming!” he jokes, his humor disarming and contagious.
Archuleta’s renewed ease carries into his collaborations. On My Only Wish, he finally teams up with longtime friend Jordin Sparks for a soulful, joyful duet that had been years in the making.
“We’ve been talking about doing something together for over a decade,” he says. “She killed it. She sounds so good on it. She’s one of my dear friends, and I’m honored she joined me on this.”
That same spirit of experimentation and openness colors his Mixes en Español project, which reimagines some of his songs entirely in Spanish.
“It just made sense,” he explains. “I was already doing Spanglish versions, so I thought, why not go full Spanish? Working with Esteman was amazing. He’s got this playful quirkiness, and we connected on so many levels. We both know what it’s like to rediscover who you are as artists and as people.”
Rediscovery is, fittingly, the heartbeat of this whole era. After years of growth, reflection, and redefining happiness, Archuleta stands himself more than ever.
That authenticity shines in his upcoming holiday shows, including a multi-night run at Joe’s Pub in New York and dates in Los Angeles.
“Intimate shows are just so much more laid back,” he says. “They’re more interactive, more personal. I’m all for a chill vibe.”
It’s that closeness and sense of shared joy that keeps him excited year after year.
“It’s the people,” he says simply. “That feeling when everyone sings along. It’s like we all get to remember why we love this time of year.”
And maybe that’s what makes My Only Wish resonate so deeply. It’s a holiday record that’s a reflection of growth, gratitude, and the magic that happens when you let light back in.
For David Archuleta, joy isn’t something fleeting. It’s a choice that is renewed each day, sung from the heart, and shared freely with the world.
Catch David Archuleta in NYC & LA for his holiday shows. Get tickets & VIP at davidarchuleta.com
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