David Archuleta: Still Open to Girls, Finds Dating Men Easier

David Archuleta Shares Insights on His Dating Life and New Music

David Archuleta, the 34-year-old pop singer known for his time on American Idol, has recently released his new EP titled Earthly Delights. The album is a reflection of his personal journey, especially since coming out as queer in 2021. In an exclusive interview, he opened up about the challenges and experiences of dating while navigating life in the public eye.

Archuleta described how being a public figure has always come with a sense of distance. "When you're a public figure, I think when you're used to being seen and recognized and watched, you always have this barrier," he said. He noted that even though people might recognize him, they may not fully understand who he is beyond his past fame. "I'm recognizable enough that I might get recognized, but I'm also not relevant enough that everyone's going to know who I am," he added.

Over the years, Archuleta has learned to embrace his identity more confidently. "I used to be really uncomfortable with who I was. I didn't know what to think of myself," he shared. Now, he feels more at ease with who he is. "I'm comfortable in my own skin," he said, reflecting on how his perspective has evolved.

One of the songs on Earthly Delights is "Can I Call You," which tells the story of meeting someone in a crowded room and wanting to start a conversation. "You don't know if you'll get rejected, but I don't know, sometimes it's worth it," he explained. For someone as shy as him, he admitted that sometimes a little courage is needed. "Sometimes you need a shot or two to have a little bit more courage for shy like me to go up and talk to somebody. But I found it's nice."

Since coming out, Archuleta’s dating life has expanded. "For the most part, I date men, but I consider myself queer, so I'm still open to meeting girls. I still do, if it feels right," he said. However, he acknowledged that discussing his identity can be tricky due to the nuances involved. "When you're in a group that's already misunderstood, and they fought so hard to be seen and visible and understood themselves, and then you're more nuanced within that minority group, sometimes when you talk about the nuance, it can feel like you're discrediting their experience or invalidating them," he explained. "I'm not trying to do that."

Despite these complexities, Archuleta finds that dating men feels easier. "I feel like with guys, it's easier because to be honest, I think guys are just culturally and also just hormonally more forward," he said.

Archuleta also shared some unique experiences from his time in the LGBTQ+ community. He mentioned that entering gay bars often means hearing his 2008 hit "Crush." "Restaurants have done that too, actually," he noted. While the experience used to feel strange, he now sees it as part of his journey. "It was exciting the first few times, and then after a while I'm like, 'Oh my gosh, I can't run away from this,'" he said. "But now I've learned that it's more relaxed now. It's not as crazy as it was right after Idol for me."

When it comes to his current dating life, Archuleta remains private. "I don't usually disclose where I'm at in my relationships," he said. "I'm very much in my lover boy flirty era, and it's a very fun time for me."

With Earthly Delights now available, Archuleta continues to explore his identity and share his experiences through music. His openness and authenticity resonate with fans, making him a compelling voice in the ever-evolving landscape of modern pop culture.