Singing sensation David Archuleta, who won our hearts on “American Idol” in 2008, hasn’t stopped sharing his talents with the world since hitting the spotlight.
Fresh off the Earthly Delights tour, Archuleta is getting back to business as usual, which includes working on Spanish songs and Christmas music. Between recording sessions and living his best life in L.A., he’s partnering up with gay dating app ARCHER for a creative collab we’re sure to fall head over heels in love with.
ARCHER tapped Archuleta for the campaign, a playful twist on the beloved movie, “The Devil Wears Prada.” Archuleta taps into Miranda Priestly’s infamously icy energy, playing a cutthroat business executive promoting the app’s exciting Trophies feature.
There are more than 25 trophies ARCHER users can unlock, ranging from ‘The Romantic,’ ‘Chastity Champ’, to ‘Daddy Hunter.’ It all boils back to the app prioritizing transparency, helping people find genuine connections over shared interests right from the first chat.
So.Gay caught up with ARCHER’s Director of Brand Marketing and Communications Michael Kaye, and newly appointed ‘Chief Trophies Officer’, David Archuleta, to celebrate their iconic team-up. Kaye and Archuleta are eager to highlight ARCHER’s focus on a fresh generation of gay and queer men who embrace honesty on dating apps.
So.Gay: What’s been your dating experience lately, and how has ARCHER played a role in that?
David Archuleta: I’ve been so busy. When you’re on tour, out on the road, and keeping very busy, it’s tough. I’m also focusing on releasing some other projects, some Spanish music, and holiday songs. But with all that, I’ve been hearing about ARCHER from different people over the last year about how great it is. Now I’m excited to be diving into all ARCHER has to offer. It’s a different approach, especially for gay dating apps—one where you’re encouraged to be more transparent. On ARCHER, you can even be upfront with your intentions each time you log in. It’s a different approach from what else tends to be out there.
So.Gay: It definitely stands out as one of the better and probably one of the best dating apps for gay guys. I’d love to talk about this upcoming partnership and creative idea that you’re doing, an homage to “The Devil Wears Prada.”
David Archuleta: I tried to channel as much of Miranda Priestly as I could when we were shooting.
So.Gay: Can you share some Miranda Priestly-approved dating advice?
David Archuleta: It’s just about being clear about what you want. Make sure you’re communicating that clearly, and it’ll help you stand out.
So.Gay: You’re known for your singing talent and your journey with anxiety. For dating and ARCHER users, how can people show up as their confident selves on dates?
David Archuleta: Something that’s really important is getting out of your comfort zone. You have to be willing to put yourself out there, and it can be hard to let yourself be seen in a time when that hasn’t always been the trend. You can still keep some mystery, even as you let yourself be seen. So give yourself that step with your best foot forward. You can be upfront, but you don’t have to be needy about it. Learn to be comfortably insecure in yourself. It’s an energy thing.
Sometimes people worry too much about how they look or what filters they need to use. But what’s even more attractive is how you combine that with the way you carry yourself. Being grounded in who you are and being clear about it — that’s what shows confidence and boldness. It’s about letting people see that confidence in you. And that’s attractive.
So.Gay: Be confident and bold in your truth.
David Archuleta: What’s cool about ARCHER is how they encourage you to have the kinds of conversations you actually want to have through things like Ice Breakers and Prompts. You should be daring on dating apps. Be willing to experiment and show diverse interests. Share what you’re willing to try out, get into, or whatever it is you’re curious about. The more interests and things you share about yourself, the more intriguing people will think you are.
Find common ground with someone. They might find something interesting or intriguing about you. You’ll find people who like to nerd out over the same things you do. Those kinds of risks can be small or big, but I’d just say: don’t try to be something you’re not. Because when you meet in person and you’re not who you portrayed yourself to be, that’s more embarrassing than anything else. Meeting someone and not being anything like how you presented yourself — that’s basically catfishing. Really? There are bigger fish to fry. Show them that you’re a trout or a salmon or whatever the hell you want to be.
Partnering with ARCHER has just been a fun way to tap into a more playful, flirty side of dating. Flirting can lead to genuine connection. Just remember, if you’re not willing to put yourself out there, to flirt and be fun and playful, you’re going to have fewer chances to connect with people. It’s helped me get more in touch with myself. It’s opened up my “lover boy” side, too, so you might be surprised by what you find when you let yourself just enjoy the experience. It’s another opportunity for me to be playful and fun and flirty. That’s the kind of energy I want to carry with me. I’m still myself — there’s still this innocence that I’ll never fully get rid of — but I don’t have to live defined by that.
So.Gay: It seems like a great partnership.
David Archuleta: I mean ARCHER, ARCHER-Leta. It’s basically in the name.
So.Gay: What are red flags in dating that ARCHER users can look out for?
Michael Kaye: For single gay men out there, I think one of the biggest red flags is a lack of honesty or consistency. Whether that’s someone saying they want one thing and acting differently, or not necessarily being upfront about their intentions. When someone avoids showing photos, no bio, really no effort. On our app, that kind of thing doesn’t fly. Every profile shows a face. You’re encouraged to be transparent about what you’re looking for. It really sets the tone for real, intentional connections instead of guessing games. I don’t know who has time for guessing games, but we don’t.
So.Gay: Why is ARCHER the best app for gay men right now?
Michael Kaye: ARCHER was created by gay men for gay men, and it really celebrates our community. I mentioned this earlier, but every profile shows a face. We’re leading with openness and transparency. Also, the app really gives you control over your dating life. Every time you open it you get to set your intention, whether you’re in Date Mode, Hookup Mode, or Friends Mode, because we know what people who are looking for on a Wednesday afternoon might be very different from what they’re looking for at the bar at 2 A.M. on a Saturday.
Plus, I love the new Trophies feature. The campaign spotlights ARCHER’s new Trophies feature, which brings what’s usually invisible on dating apps to the surface. Now, who you are and what you’re into are what stand out right from the start. Trophies are earned through real interactions — like liking or messaging older users to unlock the Daddy Hunter badge — and each one becomes part of your personal highlight reel. It takes something that’s usually invisible—your type—and turns it into something visible, fun, and affirming. Instead of feeling boxed in, you’re celebrated for what (and who) you like. It’s an app that makes dating feel transparent, empowered, and genuinely connected. I’ve said this before, but it’s an app that would have completely changed my life if it had been available when I was first dating over a decade ago. Back then, the options that were available to me reinforced this idea that queer love and connection should remain hidden and secretive because there were apps that were filled with so many blank profiles—you’ll actually see a node to that in our campaign video. That was my first foray into the dating world as a gay man, and it made me feel like I should go back in the closet.
ARCHER’s different for a reason. It’s the reflection of openly gay men leading several teams internally, from marketing to product. It’s the reflection of thousands of gay and queer men sharing their experiences and personal journeys that have helped us create an app that solves their biggest challenges and needs.
So.Gay: How has it been working with David ARCHER-leta?
Michael Kaye: It’s been the most fun ride yet. David’s our first-ever “Chief Trophy Officer,” which focuses on the new Trophy feature that I mentioned. Trophies are earned through real interactions on the app. For example, if you’re liking or messaging other users who are older than you, you’ll unlock the‘Daddy Hunter Trophy. Each Trophy becomes a part of your personal highlight reel and it helps you show off on the app. It helps you stand out. There are spicy ones like “Bear Magnet” and “Certified Top” to more wholesome ones like “The Flirt” and “The Romantic.”
So.Gay: That’s so fun, it’s like a little badge of honor.
Michael Kaye: Exactly! And you have full control over what you share, or don’t share. We tell you what you unlock and what you’ve earned. But if you don’t want to add that to your profile, that’s fine! We’ll also only display your Trophies in Hookup Mode, because we know someone probably won’t want “Twink Chaser” on their profile if they’re in Date Mode or Friends Mode.
So.Gay: Do you remember the rest of the trophies ARCHER users can unlock?
Michael Kaye: Sure do. ARCHER users can currently earn dozens of Trophies like:
- Big Dom Energy
- Certified Bottom
- Certified Daddy
- Certified Top
- Chasity Champ
- Cruise Control
- Daddy Hunter
- Exhibitionist Icon
- Jock Sniffer
- Kink King
- Leather Lover
- Obedient Sub
- Otter Spotter
- Polar Bear Pursuer
- Private Album Icon
- Pup Trainer
- Rim Reaper
- Roleplay Royalty
- The Dreamer
- The Flirt
- The Romantic
- Three’s Company
- Tied & Tempted
- Twink Chaser
- Twunk Trapper
- Vers Legend
