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 explains more.
What was the turning point for you in deciding that “feel it all” should be shared with the world?
David Hernandez: I think you 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’ve come through something or 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 who felt “other,” and I didn’t have anyone to look up to. I didn’t really see anyone I could identify with.
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 it lowered my inhibitions in many ways, allowing me to 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 also people who 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 convey genuine reality and honesty. I flew my mom out from Phoenix to be a part of the shoot, too, because she has amazing experience 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 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 Hernandez on Instagram @dhernandezmusic