David Archuleta
The Greg Dollgener Memorial AIDS Fund is kicking off the 2025 Pride Month celebrations with MetroBall 18 Friday night, June 6, at S4 Nightclub, 3911 Cedar Springs Road.
This year’s fundraising concert party features opening act Thea Austin with headliner David Archuleta, with North Texas drag legend Cassie Nova on hand to emcee the night as only she can.
Start time is 8:30 p.m. for this 18-and-older-only event. Tickets start at $43.35 for general admission, and are available online at EventBrite.com. Spnsorships/VIP packages are also available, starting at $106.50.
Archuleta and Austin both agreed recently to answer a few questions for Dallas Voice about what’s going on in their lives and why they love coming to Dallas to perform at MetroBall.
Read their answers here, and be sure to pick up the June 6 issue of Dallas Voice to read what Cassie Nova had to say about her rise to drag fame.
— Tammye Nash
DAVID ARCHULETA
Dallas Voice: Last year you performed at the Trinity Pride Fest in Fort Worth and this year you’re in Dallas for MetroBall. What excites you about performing at these events? David Archuleta: I’m very excited to come back to Dallas. Fort Worth was a really fun time, a great crowd. And coming back for a cause as important as this is always special. It’s special to be a part of something like MetroBall and Pride, especially with the growing stigmas that are creeping back at the queer community — things I myself had to learn to fight to not fear myself and grow more love for myself and others of the LGBTQIA+ community.
You recently thrilled your fans with your Crème Brulee video. What new music do you have in the pipeline? Will we hear any of it at MetroBall? I just released a new song a few days ago! It’s called “Can I Call You.” It is still in the flirty, sexy vein, but in a more sweet, wholesome way, I’d say. And yes you will hear some of this new music at MetroBall!
We’ve followed your journey through the years — from American Idol to headlining Pride fests. Over time, your music has changed in a very personal way. You’ve been very open about your struggles as well as your triumphs in accepting and celebrating yourself. How did you achieve that, and what advice do you have for fans who are experiencing their own trauma or doubts? What has your mother’s support meant to you? It has been a journey! It’s not instant. You spend so much time thinking a certain way, so you also need time for change and to push yourself to constantly change and challenge your prior beliefs by stretching yourself and going out of your comfort zone. I am actually writing a book about that whole journey in deeper details.
My mom has been a wonderful support, and it is inspiring to me to see how even loved ones, while it may not be easy to overcome their misunderstandings about the queer experience, if they’re patient and willing to put out the effort, they can also unravel those fears and misleading information about what it means to be gay or queer. I’m grateful for her willingness along with many others in my life who were able to grow and learn a different perspective — even if it wasn’t their first response.
We as people coming out, I learned, need to be willing to have conversations that challenge their beliefs on the LGBTQ+ community.
As an out entertainer, you’re very much in the public eye. What do you see as your role in the fight for equality? Does living in Nashville change your world perspective? How does David Archuleta take time to get away from it all? I moved from Nashville to have a more smooth transition into this next phase of life. I live in Los Angeles now. I think by simply sharing my story and how I came from a belief system that was very much on the “don’t say gay, homosexuality is a sin, gay people aren’t happy but miserable” viewpoint, I can make a difference.
I get what it’s like to be taught those things and have believed them whole-heartedly for a great part of my life! So I understand how tricky it is to ask yourself, “Well is that true? If it isn’t, why not? What can prove those stigmas to be false and see a whole picture?” So I keep sharing that journey of learning to love myself instead of fearing myself as I did for most of my life up until I came out in my 30s.
What have I not asked you about that you want to mention? What’s next for you? I am working on an EP, and a tour to follow that release — as well as music for the holidays, the book and Pride shows that begin in June. A busy year — but an exciting one!
(If you want to get in the right mood for David Archuleta at MetroBall, check out his new remix of Crème Bruleé, streaming now on Spotify, Apple Music, the iTunes Store, Deezer, YouTube, Soundcloud and Tidal).
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THEA AUSTIN
Dallas Voice: Hi Thea. Welcome back to Dallas. This is your second time performing at MetroBall, and you also performed at Razzle Dazzle Dallas. What makes this an event that you want to be part of? GDMAF is an effective organization that supports and serves those living with HIV/AIDS, and I support organizations that serve people in need. That’s exactly what GDMAF and MetroBall and people like me are all about. Good service. Period.
Tell us about what’s going on with you right now. What projects are you working on now? What should your fans be expecting to see? I’m actively working with various foundations that support worthy causes. I produce and record new music weekly, even if I’m the only one that ever hears it. I’m an artist, and that’s what artists do: Happily create!
At MetroBall 18, I will sing a current song created with Karel, titled “We’re Not Going Back,” which is an insightful song for all of humanity to be encouraged to stand up for human rights.
I’m also in the process of putting my life experiences together to create my book entitled Rhythm Is A Dancer, and I’m developing my trademark Dance Divas Of The ’90s into a successful tour featuring some of my dear friends that are Number 1 international hitmakers of some of the most iconic dance songs of the ’90s.
This is all a work in progress that will take precious time to develop and financial support to secure its future. I’m hopeful and believe in the goodness of it all, as I’m here to serve the people well in all of my beingness and doingness. Okay!
You are a favorite at LGBTQ Pride celebrations. Is there something special to you about performing at a Pride event? How is a Pride celebration audience different from other audiences? Again, I’m passionate about supporting worthy and loving causes that inspire, motivate, educate, uplift and serve people well. Pride festivals are LGBTQ events that are all-inclusive platforms that unite and support people, offering much needed resources and services to help their communities to thrive and survive.
Several years ago, you were one of several performers who wrote a “love letter to the LGBTQ community.” You talked about Pride being a “joyful and educational experience” for you and described yourself as an ally for our community and against all forms of discrimination. How has the role of an ally changed and why is being an ally important to you? I love that type of outreach and support. Much like me, Pride festivals stand for human rights and the freedom to celebrate life to the fullest. We love good music, dancing and the freedom to JUST BE.
We love the life we live and live the life we love.
Is there anything I haven’t asked you about that you want to mention? What’s next? What can your fans expect from you over the next year? Thank you for the opportunity to JUST BE ME WITH YOU. Smile. Be kind. Give sincere gratitude and genuine hugs.
Share knowledge. Be supportive. Set healthy boundaries. Get the help you need to be better and do better. And be the love you want to receive.
Peace and blessings to all.