Edited Mikkel Hyldebrandt
Photos: Jen Rosenstein
The pop-soul powerhouse bares his heart in a song about recovery, resilience, and shared healing.
When American Idol alum and acclaimed pop-soul singer David Hernandez says he’s baring it all, he means it. His new single, “feel it all,” isn’t just another emotional ballad — it’s a deeply personal anthem about recovery, vulnerability, and finding strength in community. Available now on all major streaming platforms, the track is paired with a moving new music video that captures the raw process of healing through shared experience.
For Hernandez, “feel it all” started as a private moment of self-expression. Written during his journey through addiction and into sobriety, the song was originally a form of therapy — something he never intended to share. But when friends heard it and recognized the power in his story, they encouraged him to release it. “I wrote it just to get it out of me,” Hernandez recalls. “But when people heard it and said, ‘This could help someone,’ I realized maybe it wasn’t just for me.”
That realization became the emotional heartbeat of both the song and its music video. What began as a simple shoot in a rented space evolved into something much more profound after conversations with friends John Duran and Len Evans, who encouraged Hernandez to bring members of the recovery community — including people from the queer community — into the project. The final video depicts a recovery circle filled with real people from all walks of life, sharing authentic emotion in a safe, honest space.
Hernandez says the transformation surprised even him. “It became more than a video,” he reflects. “It became a reflection of shared healing. People showed up in ways I couldn’t have imagined. It wasn’t just about me; it was about us.”
That sense of “us” resonates deeply in queer culture, where chosen family and community often become lifelines. Hernandez, who’s been open about his experiences as a gay man navigating fame and recovery, embraces that connection. The music video’s diverse cast — from queer artists to sober activists — represents the kind of visibility that can save lives. “Representation matters,” he says. “When it’s real, it can change everything.”
Working with longtime collaborator Johny De, who also co-directed the video, Hernandez found a creative partner who could translate that vulnerability into motion. De’s background as a dancer and choreographer helped shape the project’s layered visual storytelling, filled with movement, emotion, and quiet moments of reckoning. Hernandez credits De’s sensitivity and artistry for helping him bring his message to life: “His eye, energy, and trust in the process made this project feel like something truly special.”
Throughout the song, Hernandez confronts what it means to truly sit with pain — something anyone in recovery, queer or otherwise, can relate to. “Sobriety stripped away my escape routes,” he admits. “It forced me to sit with myself and feel everything. That’s how this song was born.”
Hernandez’s path to healing has been grounded in spirituality, a 12-step program, self-reflection, morning hikes, and the unwavering support of friends and community. “Healing isn’t linear,” he says, acknowledging that progress often comes in waves. “But music has been a bridge back to myself — and now, hopefully, to others who are still struggling.”
Since making his mark on American Idol Season 7, Hernandez has performed on The Ellen Show, The Today Show, TRL, and even at President Obama’s Inaugural Kick-Off Celebration alongside John Legend and Maroon 5. His music, infused with the soul of icons like Stevie Wonder and Whitney Houston, has long been celebrated for its honesty — but “feel it all” takes that honesty to new heights.
“Addiction thrives in isolation, but connection is the antidote,” Hernandez says with quiet conviction. “I hope this song and video help someone feel less alone, less afraid to speak up. That’s the real purpose of art.”
With “feel it all,” David Hernandez isn’t just telling his story — he’s creating a space where others can see themselves, too. For anyone on a journey of healing, recovery, or self-discovery, his message rings clear: feeling it all might just be the most powerful thing we can do.
“feel it all” is available now on Spotify, Apple Music, and all major streaming platforms. Watch the official music video on YouTube.