[Si] TV

This season American Idol essentially held up a mirror to our country and screamed, "Latinos are here to stay!" With four of the final 12 contestants coming from Latino households AI has been injected with a shot of sazon con achoite. In an exclusive interview with Si Entertainment, recently voted off Arizona native, David Hernandez, talks to us about his AI experience, Mama Paula Abdul and singing on the throne. Yes, that throne.

Si Ent.: Tell us about your upbringing.
David Hernandez: I was raised by a single parent, my mom. My dad didn't come into the picture till I was about 10. Up to that point my mom and grandma raised me. My grandma just passed away a year and a half ago. I moved out of the house when I was 17. I started singing when I was about 6. Then I took a break because I had a little of this broken home and I had this gap in music. But I always wrote my own stuff.

Si Ent.: What was your first working gig?
DH: My grandfather worked at a strip mall and was a janitor there. He would see this one particular theatre company named Valley Youth Theatre. They had just started out. He said I always used to sing on the toilet when I was 5 or 6. So he was like, "God, I have to get this kid doing something." So I auditioned and they cast me as one of the leads in Canterville Ghost. That was my first little gig as a 6-year-old. Now I'm here in the top 12, well, I was in the top 12 of American Idol. (Laughs).

Si Ent.: I heard you attended college for broadcast journalism.
DH: [Yeah], I went to college for awhile but music was still an underlying thing for me. I was focused on getting my degree in broadcast journalism. Well, first I started out as pre-med then business then psychology then broadcast journalism. My emphasis was to be a publicist. So I would be on the flipside of what I'm doing now. Music took its own course and I'm definitely a better singer than a publicist I'm assuming. I can't manage my own schedule let alone someone else's.

Si Ent.: Aside from music what are some of your other passions?
DH: I was actually in an independent film, Synthetic Truth, which was distributed at Blockbuster for a week. I love acting and definitely want to do more of it in the future. Do some commercials, guest spots, hosting. I'm actually a pretty good host because the major helps with that.

Si Ent.: How was the American Idol experience for you?
DH: I am so grateful to American Idol because they have gotten me exposed to so many people that I would have never been able to do through any other outlet. It's cool because labels have been able to see and hopefully there are some that are interested. I would like to come out with an album within the next year; that would be awesome. I was actually signed to a label before and the album sat on the shelves. So this is my second chance.

Si Ent.: When you do you release your first official album, what type of genre will it land under?
DH: I would like to come out with an R&B-influenced album. I would like to collaborate with Alicia Keys, David Foster. I'm a huge Alicia Keys fan. She's amazing! If I got to meet her I'd cry. I'm also influenced by a lot of neo-soul artists like Anthony Hamilton, Angie Stone, India.Arie. Anthony's coming up even more so this year. I've seen him sing at the Village Underground. He and his wife got up and sang. 

Si Ent.: Who was your favorite judge?
DH: Paula [Abdul]. She's like the loving mother of us all. She would come to the dressing room after the show and talk to us. Console the people that left. Unfortunately this time it was me. She gives us a lot of cool things. Like she gave us this little charm that said, "Keep reaching for the stars and one day you'll be one." It's real cool inspirational stuff.

Si Ent.: How did it feel when you were voted off?
DH: I felt like I wanted to throw my shoe at Simon. No. I was surprised. If you saw my face I was like, "Wow!" But it was the end of the road for me so it's totally fine.

Si Ent.: Who do you think is going to win it all?
DH: It's such a hard question to answer because I'm friends with everyone. I honestly don't know because it can change so [quickly]. My friend Chikezie was at the bottom and then he did an amazing performance and now he's at the top. It's so hard to tell.