David Hernandez’s New Single Is a Deeply Personal Anthem of Healing and Redemption
By Kevin Wirth
Former American Idol finalist and acclaimed pop-soul vocalist David Hernandez is
baring it all–emotionally, spiritually and artistically–in his most personal single to date,
“feel it all”. The song chronicles Hernandez’s journey through addiction and the peace
he’s found through sobriety, self-acceptance and doing the work. Originally written as a
private form of therapy, the sweeping mid-tempo anthem was not intended for release
until close friends encouraged him to share it, recognizing the power of his story to help
others.
The song and its powerful video underscore a universal truth: that feelings, however
painful, must be acknowledged, not avoided. “Sobriety stripped away my escape
routes,” Hernandez says. “It forced me to sit with myself and feel everything. That’s how
this song was born.” He explained further:
What was the turning point for you in deciding that “feel it all” should be shared
with the world?
David Hernandez: I think you just get to a certain point where you’re tired of worrying
about what the world will think. If you’re telling an important story about how you came
through something or how you are currently going through something and surviving,
why not share that with people who feel hopeless and might need the help? This song is
bigger than my fear of being judged. It’s about helping somebody who doesn’t have a
voice. I remember being that little kid that felt “other” and I didn’t have anyone to look up
to. I didn’t really have anyone I saw myself in.
You’ve described sobriety as stripping away your escape routes, forcing you to
sit with your emotions.
DH: It’s interesting because we’re led to believe that coping mechanisms like alcohol
and drugs are supposed to help creativity, but I have found that they actually numbed
my creativity. I’m sure it wasn’t like that initially. I mean alcohol was fun until it wasn’t. I
think in a lot of ways it lowered my inhibitions and let me create with unbridled thoughts
and melodies. I definitely felt free with booze at first, but then it just became a
dependency. I needed it before shows, before recording sessions, in writing sessions,
during sound check, at other people’s shows…(laughs). It really just made everything
more black-and-white instead of Technicolor. It felt dark, bleak. I felt indifferent,
apathetic. I mean, later I started seeing that I was using alcohol to suppress shit I didn’t
want to face: childhood trauma, bad relationships, my sexuality, and just “stuff” that at
some point, you need outside help for. You can’t keep burying shit. It eats you alive.
In the song’s video, you feature real members of the queer recovery community.
DH: Not only recovery, but people that survived traumas or are currently navigating
them. My friends really brought themselves to the set that day. Some of the close ups in
the video are so emotional because they show realness and honesty. I flew my mom out
from Phoenix to be a part of the shoot, too, because she has amazing experiences with
recovery.
What do you hope someone who is in the very beginning stages of sobriety takes
away from hearing “feel it all” or watching the video?
DH: I hope they feel seen, understood, and not alone. The beginning of sobriety can be
overwhelming. It’s often filled with doubt, fear, and uncertainty. This song and video are
meant to offer a sense of hope and connection. I want them to know that recovery is
possible, that their pain has a place in the healing process, that’s it’s OK to “feel it all”
and that there’s a community rooting for them. If they can see even a glimpse of
strength, resilience or peace in the story being told, I hope it inspires them to keep
going: one day, one moment at a time.
Follow David on Instagram @dhernandezmusic
