By Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine Staff
Photography by Jen Rosenstein

Former American Idol finalist and acclaimed pop-soul vocalist David Hernandez has always worn his heart on his sleeve through his music, but his latest single, “feel it all” (out September 12, 2025), is his most vulnerable work yet; a deeply personal anthem of healing, sobriety, and shared connection.

What began as a private form of therapy—an honest outpouring of shame, fear, and the hard truths of addiction—soon transformed into a song that Hernandez felt compelled to share. “I was very nervous to share this personal story with the world,” he admits. “It’s terrifying to know that people can potentially take your vulnerability and weaponize it. But my desire to help someone out there has been greater than my fear of sharing my struggles. Seeing other people share their stories has helped me not feel so alone, and I want to give that back.”

Photo of David Hernandez by Jen Rosenstein

For Hernandez, music has always been a constant companion during times of struggle. “Anything that this world can’t provide, music can,” he says. “It’s the only place I can go when I’m feeling anything, and I know it will provide some relief. Music has never left me. With ‘feel it all’, it was freeing to summarize how the last two decades of my life had felt: suffering in silence and feeling alone. Music is cathartic.”

The song’s accompanying video, co-directed with longtime collaborator Johny De, amplifies the message of community and recovery. What started as a simple shoot evolved into something much greater when Hernandez invited real members of the recovery community to take part. “The most powerful moment was seeing everyone show up with such love, positivity, and eagerness to contribute,” he reflects. “A lot of people didn’t know each other and left with new friends. That’s the bond of recovery; it brings the most random people together.”

Hernandez says including real people rather than actors was non-negotiable. “I only wanted people who could deeply relate to the song, because the camera doesn’t lie. Everyone had to show up vulnerable and willing, and the result was incredibly powerful.” Among those on set was his mother, herself more than 20 years in recovery. “It was amazing to introduce her to everyone and show where I get my humor and strength from,” he shares.

Sobriety, Hernandez explains, has been both his greatest challenge and his greatest gift. “The hardest part has been unlearning harmful behaviors, particularly with alcohol. Rediscovering David without alcohol has been the hardest part. But the most rewarding has been reconnecting with who I really am, and learning that it’s enough.”

That theme of representation runs deep in the video, which highlights diverse faces from the queer and recovery community. Growing up biracial and gay in Phoenix and Guadalupe, Arizona, Hernandez often felt “othered.” “Representation has always been incredibly important to me, because I didn’t really have it growing up,” he says. “Addiction and trauma don’t discriminate, so it was important to show that in the video. I wanted someone struggling to know it’s possible to recover and find love in a community that understands you.”

Hernandez hopes “feel it all” resonates with anyone feeling isolated in their journey. “I hope some little kid in the middle of nowhere, or some young adult suffering in silence, or an older person who wants to finally be who they really are, watches this video or hears this song and thinks, ‘If they can do that, so can I.’ I want them to know a better life is possible, and we’re waiting for them.”

Las Vegas audiences will get to experience Hernandez’s powerful voice live when he returns to the city to perform at the 39th Annual AFAN Black & White Party on Saturday, September 20, 2025, at KAOS Nightclub inside Palms Casino Resort. The appearance marks a meaningful return to a city that has long embraced him, including his memorable performances at Las Vegas PRIDE. “I remember being on stage at PRIDE and feeling so much love from everyone,” Hernandez recalls. “So many young kids came up to me, thanking me for my music and advocacy. That kind of connection will continue to inspire and humble every ounce of my being.”

Before he takes the stage at AFAN’s Black & White Party, Hernandez will also headline a three-night engagement at the brand-new Fontainebleau Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. From Thursday, September 11 through Saturday, September 13, he’ll join the Midnight Bleau Jazz Quartet at the Nowhere Lounge, performing nightly from 9 PM to 1 AM with free admission. Fans can expect an intimate mix of his most beloved hits alongside the live debut of “feel it all.”

For Hernandez, the Las Vegas queer community has always felt like home. “Being a kid from the Arizona desert and growing up close to Vegas, it’s always felt like my extended community. You’ve always welcomed me with open arms, and for that I am so grateful.”

With “feel it all”, David Hernandez is doing more than releasing a song—he’s offering a hand of connection, hope, and healing to anyone who needs it. And in doing so, he reminds us that music, at its most honest, is never just about one voice; it’s about all of us.

“feel it all” is available September 12, 2025, on Spotify, Apple Music, and all streaming platforms. The official music video can be viewed on YouTube.

This article was originally published in the 2025 PRIDE Celebration Issue of Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine, and can be read in its original format here.