Idol Chatter & Voice Views

A couple of weeks ago, I interviewed Season 7 American Idol finalist David Hernandez before a planned Celebrate Motown show at the Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center.

Turns out discussion of the upcoming show was pointless; it was canceled because of slow ticket sales.

But we also discussed his plans. Turns out you can add David’s name to the long list of Idols hoping to release new music in 2012.

David Hernandez, 28, from Glendale, Ariz., keeps busy these days touring with a number of musical attractions, including Ballroom with a Twist and Upright Cabaret’s “Rhythm of the Night,” which celebrates the music of Ricky Martin, Gloria Estefan and Santana.

Here’s a portion of the interview with David.

Idol Chatter:  You released an EP back in December, “I Am Who I Am.” Tell me a little about that.

David:  “It’s music that I wrote. I wrote the entire EP with the exception of the first song. It had been in the works for about two and a half years. We were waiting on labels, negotiating and stuff, and then I started working with somebody new, Printz Board of the Black Eyed Peas. So I just decided to release that EP as old material.  But it’s fresh in my mind, because I still believe in it. The feedback’s been great. The new stuff I’m working on will be out late summer.”

Idol Chatter:  So there’s more new music to come soon?

David:  “Absolutely. I hope next time around I have a label to back it. It gives it more radio airplay and notoriety. But I’m an artist, so it doesn’t matter if I have a label or money behind me, I would just like to keep releasing music for the fans.”

Idol Chatter:  How would you compare the music on the EP that’s out to the music you’re planning to release this summer?

David:  “That music is sort of when I was in my love phase. The music that I’m releasing now — in late summer — is sort of like just a fun phase. There’s some heartbreak in it and some love in it, but … I would compare it to like Cee Lo Green meets David Hernandez. It’s fun but it’s kind of quirky. And I’m working with Printz Board from the Black Eyed Peas, so you can probably imagine. (Board co-wrote ‘Missing You’ and ‘Out of My Head’ from the group’s smash 2009 album, “The E-N-D.”) He’s funky. He’s quirky, but he’s still lyrically on point. So it’s going to be a completely different feel and more of a crisp sound.”

Idol Chatter:  So that’s going to be an EP or an album?

David:  “There’s going to be four to five songs on that demo, and we’re going to shop it to a label. And if we do not get a label — which cross our fingers that we do — then we’re going to release it just as an EP.”

Idol Chatter:  So you’ve been able to stay involved in music since Idol? And Idol was the motivation behind that?

David:  “I would say so. Idol is a huge platform. People often ask me, ‘Do you think it was a bad thing or a good thing?’ I think Idol was an incredible platform for me. I’m still working now. I have a show tomorrow, and it’s based on the fact that I was on a television show.”

Idol Chatter:  Do you still watch Idol?

David:  “I do, and Jessica Sanchez is my predicted winner. I know she had to be saved, but she has so much soul in her voice. Her and Joshua Ledet are ridiculous. Vocally, they just deliver for me. So I’m rooting for both of them.”

David was the first finalist eliminated back in Season 7, but if you haven’t listened to his newer music, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

I’ve embedded one of the top tunes, the EP version of “She’s Coming Undone,” below. You might also want to check out “Follow” and “Deliver Me.” Search for them on YouTube, and you can check them out for free.