Archuleta still calls Utah home

He may hardly ever visit, but singer David Archuleta still calls Murray home.

"I'm not there a whole lot, but I try to go there as much as I can," Archuleta said during a phone call from New York, where he is filming a TV special for Univision. It will air Dec. 10.

"If I'm in Los Angeles and I have a little break, instead of spending time off in L.A., I just go home for a bit. I'd rather spend it there."

Although Archuleta will tour for most of the holiday season, he will perform at Abravanel Hall next week.

He's excited to be performing in a smaller venue than the 10,000-plus-seats venues where he sang this past summer.

"It been a lot of fun getting to do arenas during the summer, but I love intimate settings," he said. "It feels more real, because the people are right there and they're not like two miles away.

"You feel less pressure at having to put on a big show for them."

The "American Idol" seventh-season runner-up said he can be more himself in a smaller venue.

"The smaller it is, the more comfortable it is," he said. "The more laid back the vibe, to kind of have that more close feel."

His concert in Utah will primarily be Christmas-themed.

"It will mainly be a Christmas show because it's Christmastime," he said. "But I'll add some non-Christmas songs into the mix, because everyone is familiar with (the hit) 'Crush.'

"I want to see if I can change things up a little bit."

Some of the Christmas songs will be on his new Christmas CD, "Christmas From the Heart," which was released last month.

The songs include "Angels We Have Heard on High" and "Ave Maria," which were produced and arranged by Kurt Bestor. Bestor also produced "Pat-a-pan" with John Hancock.

Archuleta also worked with Sam Cardon and Richard Parkinson on "What Child Is This," "O Holy Night" and "Silent Night."

Other Utah talents who are featured on the CD include guitarists Rich Dixon and Michael Dowdle, harpist Lisa Rytting and vocalists Jenny Frogley and David Osmond.

"It was so fun to be able to have Utah people (on the album)," he said. "We have so much talent in Utah. So why not use them?"

Archuleta, who turns 19 in December, said he hasn't been able to rehearse for the concerts as much as he would like because he has been so busy.

The day before he filmed the TV special in New York, he was in Washington, D.C., taping "Kaleidoscope," a skating special that will air on FOX Thanksgiving day.

"It's been crazy but a lot of fun," he said.

Archuleta said there really isn't any way to prepare for the demands of being an in-demand celebrity. That includes the busy schedules and the impact his fame has on his personal life.

"You just take whatever (life) throws at you, and you just learn how to deal with it, even when you don't think you can," he said. "It's about pushing yourself and pushing past what you think are your limits.

"It's about doing that and figuring out what you can do. That's how you grow, pushing beyond what you think are your limits."

If you go …

What: David Archuleta

Where: Abravanel Hall, 123 S. West Temple

When: Nov. 24 and 25, 7 p.m.

How much: $28-$38

Phone: 801-355-2787, 888-451-2787

Web: www.arttix.org

e-mail: scott@desnews.com