No place like home for Archuleta

Nothing says Christmas like coming home. That's where David Archuleta hopes he'll be this year -- where his heart is, in Murray, Utah.

"In this business, if you get a little time off here and there, many people will stay out where they are working and just relax," said Archuleta, who is currently in Los Angeles. "But I say if I have time off, even if it is just a few days, I try to get home.

"I am not sure where I will be at Christmas. The tour schedule goes until right before Christmas, and the fact is, there isn't really just one place I live right now. But I still call Utah home, and try to spend as much time as I can there."

At the very least, Archuleta will make it home during Thanksgiving week. He plays two shows at Abravanel Hall, on Tuesday and Wednesday. He has played the venue before, once at an event for Sen, Orrin Hatch, and once, this past summer, for a pops concert.

"It was so neat, because I got to sing with an orchestra and choir. That was amazing, because so many people are involved in something like that, in making the song come to life."

Going places

Ogden producer and DK Studio proprietor Derek Keith has worked with Archuleta since he was 11. He most recently helped get demo and backing tracks ready for this Christmas album and tour.

Keith built a studio for the Archuletas in their Murray house, where they recorded the recent holiday backing tracks and also the demos for shopping Archuleta to labels post-"American Idol."

Keith met the family by happenstance when he sold dad, Jeff Archuleta, a sound card on eBay and came to help them install the hardware. David was then 11, not yet having had his first brush with national fame on "Star Search."

"But his voice was already ridiculous," said Keith. "Maybe even more amazing than it is now, because of the surprise factor. I remember that first day Jeff had him sing me a Christina Aguilera song and I was like, 'What? Man, this kid will go places.' And he has, of course. I remember how terribly shy David was back then. And there is still some of that in him, but he has come a long, long way."

Dean Kaelin, a renowned vocal coach who works out of Salt Lake City, started with Archuleta about the same time as when Keith encountered him. Kaelin not only works with singers on their performance chops, but also on technical issues. He said Archuleta already had a lot of innate style, but he was struggling with a paralyzed vocal chord when he first arrived, likely weakened from a viral infection.

"We started working together when he was going to do 'Star Search,' " said Kaelin. "The vocal chord paralysis has resolved itself for the most part, but it is interesting. I think that is why that David still has a sort a special quality to his voice, that teeny bit of breathiness. It is to his credit that it is not a handicap for him. He worked through it and it gives his voice a sweet, slightly airy quality that appeals to listeners."

Christmas time

Archuleta said he chose to do a Christmas outing for his sophomore effort simply because he loves the season and the sounds associated with it.

"I could definitely have gone more fun, more mainstream, more radio-friendly and all that, but that is not what I felt I wanted to do with this album," said Archuleta. "The songs I am singing have a real reverence in them. I felt like I needed to really portray that. Give that to people -- what Christmas means to me, the bigger picture. It was a way of giving back, for so much has been given to me in my life."

Said Kaelin: "We worked together again after his recent summer tour. The pop stuff is demanding on his voice. He has to be careful because when he is doing those tours with the screaming people, he naturally tends to push heavy and loud.

"But this Christmas album demanded some very technical work -- 'Ave Maria,' 'O Holy Night' -- things he really had to sing out," added Kaelin. "But I think his voice is sounding strong, and the Christmas program itself should be kind of nice -- a gentler and prettier concert than the pop shows."

Most of the songs on the album are classics of the holiday, but Archuleta did pen a new number. It's called "The Melodies of Christmas," and the song addresses what such music means to him.

"That song talks about the memories that Christmas songs seem to bring back," he said. "This is the holiday that brings back the most memories. ... Like, I remember sitting around the Christmas tree, singing those songs with family. I try to capture that mood."

Discovering writing

There is no doubt that, though still in his teens, Archuleta has been able to tap into a world-class gift for interpretation. But lately, he has traveled far and wide to be mentored on crafting songs himself.

"For me, I am just beginning to write, but it is so much fun -- I love it," Archuleta said, "As a singer, it is your job to get the message across for the songwriter. But as a songwriter, you are able to tell your own story.

"Sometimes it is like journal writing, but out in the open. Some things I am like, 'I can't wait to share this.' Other things are like, 'Wow. Yikes! I am not sure I can share this with people.' "

Archuleta was spending time in Los Angeles, and previously in New York, to work on his next project with several experienced songwriters.

"That is the best way to learn it, to see how other people do things. I've found that everyone has their own way of doing things. You really learn a lot -- and then figure out what works for you."

The major lesson learned? Not being afraid to take risks, said Archuleta.

"I had to get where I was not afraid to look dumb," he said, "That is the biggest thing, not thinking, 'I don't want to throw that out there, because someone else might think it is just dumb.' You have to get over that. It's been a great thing for me personally."

PREVIEW

• WHO: David Archuleta
• WHEN: 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday
• WHERE: Abravanel Hall, 123 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City.
• TICKETS: $28-$38, available from ArtTix, (888) 451-ARTS