New Musica: David Archuleta's "The Other Side of Down"

By: Simone Hilliard

David Archuleta dropped his third studio album The Other Side of Down Tuesday (October 5). While we're sure Archuleta is hoping the new LP will garner commercial success, the Miami native and American Idol runner up admits his primary goal with his new musica is to help people get through the dark times of life; confirming that even he gets supremely bummed at times.

Image: Getty Images

Archuleta told MTV News:

"No one goes through life just smooth sailing, coasting. Everyone has those rough patches, and so I don't want to ignore them and act like everything's hunky-dory, but I do feel like ... there's always something to be happy and grateful about no matter what you're going through."

That's not to say Archuleta's album is filled with mopey, "woe is me" ballads. In fact, anytime the pop star found his songwriting going to a dark place, he switched gears.

"I wanted to look at it from a different perspective. It's like, 'Yes, I do feel a little confused and it can be a little frustrating, but things will be OK.' I want people to know that you don't have to stay in that place, and I feel like sometimes people get stuck there so much. I wanted to get people out of there with this album."

His "don't give up" attitude is reflected all over The Other Side of Down, from the self-questioning "Who I Am" to the choir-enhanced "Things Are Gonna Get Better." Even Archie's infectious single "Elevator" has the 19-year-old taking a dream about a girl as an opportunity to speak about the ups and downs of growing pains. It's a message all the more eerily prescient given the recent onslaught of teen suicides.

"I've been getting a couple letters about bullying and stuff. It's interesting how that issue's come up again. But I think that's why it's important to surround yourself with good friends too. I think they can really help you get that support, and they don't always have to be the most popular kids. ... You just need good people who have a good heart and care about you. That's what matters."

Did you get your copy of The Other Side of Down ?

Let us know what you think of Archie's new musica in the comments, or @MTV3!

Tags American Idol, David Archuleta, The Other Side Of Down