"Once a Song Is Out, It’s No Longer Yours Anymore" | Face to Fame EP5 with Dhruv!
On this week’s Face to Fame, we’re thrilled to welcome Dhruv, whose latest album Private Blizzard is making waves!
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MusicTranscript
00:00How old did you start playing the piano?
00:02Very young, like five, six.
00:04Oh, very young. I started playing when I was nine.
00:06Are you good?
00:07No.
00:08Like, my parents, Indian parents, made me do exams.
00:11Like, piano exams. It kills the joy of it.
00:13Never want to learn it again.
00:21Hi everybody, I'm Aisha and today I'm with my friend...
00:25Hi everyone, it's Dhruv. I'm very happy to be here.
00:29Welcome to KL.
00:31How has Malaysia been for you so far?
00:34What time did you arrive and what did you do?
00:36We arrived yesterday in the evening.
00:38I did a little rehearsal for this gig that I'm doing tomorrow.
00:42And that was kind of the essence of it.
00:44We had dinner and just woke up today and that's kind of been it.
00:48So you have a whole day today.
00:51A whole day.
00:52What are your plans?
00:53What are you planning to do or see in Malaysia?
00:56Mostly doing promo until the evening.
00:58That's my understanding of it.
01:00But as far as Malaysia specifically,
01:02I was just saying how I wanted to try Malaysian chicken rice.
01:05Oh, okay.
01:06Because I'm obviously familiar with the Singaporean chicken rice.
01:09And so I need to do my comparison.
01:12Tell me what's the difference when you get that.
01:14Once I get it, I've heard that it's competitive.
01:17Some people say Singaporean is better, some people say Malaysian is better.
01:20We want to know if it's the Malaysian one or the Singaporean one is better for you.
01:24So that's something I also want to...
01:26I really enjoy the going out scene here, the night scene here.
01:29So the bars and stuff as well.
01:31Aren't you not tired?
01:32I'm okay, honestly.
01:33Even though I've been traveling so much for the last two weeks,
01:36I feel quite... I feel fine.
01:38So have you been to Malaysia?
01:40I know you were supposed to come last year.
01:42I was supposed to come.
01:44Have you been to Malaysia before?
01:46So I have.
01:47I've actually been to KL but I came here when I was really young.
01:50I've been to the rainforest, Taman Negara.
01:53Okay.
01:54So I've been there.
01:55I've been to...
01:57Correct me if I'm wrong but...
01:59Cebu.
02:00S-I-B-U. Is that Malaysia?
02:02Cebu. Yes, correct.
02:03I've been there as well.
02:04Okay.
02:05So I've been to parts of it but I haven't properly spent time in KL.
02:09How does it feel to meet your Malaysian fans?
02:13Is it the first time you're meeting them?
02:14First time.
02:15First time that I'm meeting them.
02:16Since I've had a music career, I haven't been here.
02:18So it's going to be really fun to see them.
02:20Is there anything, you know, surprises for your fans that's going to happen?
02:23Or is it something that you have to keep hush?
02:25I mean, the interview is going to be out anyway.
02:27It's like after the show.
02:29I would say...
02:30So I can say...
02:31It's an acoustic set.
02:33So that's always fun to do because the way that I write songs,
02:37I start on the piano.
02:38So we're doing a little acoustic set of some of the songs.
02:42So it'll be cute. It'll be fun.
02:43Okay.
02:44So I know you're here to promote your album, Private Blizzard.
02:47But I really want to talk about Double Take.
02:50I love that song.
02:52It's everywhere in Malaysia.
02:54I listen to it all the time.
02:56So tell me a little bit about the song.
02:59We want to know after the song has been released,
03:02have you ever thought about,
03:03Oh, there's something, you know, that I should have done.
03:08Or do you just like Double Take the way it was?
03:13With that song?
03:14Well, before I put it out,
03:16I definitely was debating whether or not it should go out
03:18because I had things that I wanted to try with it,
03:21things I wanted to do with it.
03:23I wanted to make a bridge for the song.
03:26But ultimately, there's something within me
03:29that I give up the perfectionist thing and start.
03:32Start your music career, put the song out.
03:34So that's what I did.
03:35But since it's come out, once it's out,
03:37once any song is out in the world,
03:38you kind of don't feel like it's yours to tweak.
03:41It feels like it's everybody else's.
03:43So I don't have any regrets about it anymore.
03:45For me, it's perfect. I love it.
03:48Okay, so I'm a huge fan of cover songs.
03:51So I came across Joshua from Seventeen's cover
03:56and you also replied.
03:58You did a story about a TikTok video,
04:01talking about it.
04:02So how does it feel for someone,
04:05another artist to cover your songs?
04:09And he has like 15 million views.
04:11It's crazy.
04:12How do you even process that?
04:14Especially when I think about how small,
04:17like DoubleTik and the songs on my first project
04:20weren't made with a big label.
04:22They weren't made with several people,
04:24like, you know, made with a very small circle of friends.
04:28So to think that something that felt so small
04:31at the beginning could be so big
04:33and covered by so many amazing artists,
04:35Joshua included, is really hard to process,
04:38but also an amazing fact.
04:41Lovely.
04:42So, okay, we can talk about Private Visit now.
04:46So what's the most, you know, unusual place
04:49have you ever gotten an inspiration for a song?
04:54I have gotten unusual, maybe not as much,
04:58but just a very difficult place to note
05:00inspiration down is an airplane.
05:02It's so noisy.
05:03So if I try and record melodies on my phone,
05:06which is what I do when I get inspiration,
05:08like often all I can hear is the drone
05:10or the engines in the phone.
05:12So I'll have to go to the airplane bathroom
05:14and try and record the melodies there
05:16so I don't forget them.
05:17So that's one place that I get inspiration.
05:19That happens a lot with musicians, right?
05:21They just have something in their head
05:23and they have to write it down or record it.
05:25Oh yeah, otherwise you forget.
05:26Okay.
05:27So you have to grab your phone, scramble, record it,
05:30and then label it and then put it aside.
05:32So does that happen for Private Visit as well?
05:35Yeah, both albums, like both my first project
05:37and this one, same.
05:39So you've also written songs everywhere,
05:42like coffee shops, in the park,
05:45a lot of noisy places, I noticed.
05:48Have you ever had any funny or awkward moment
05:52while working on your music?
05:54Yeah, I guess like...
05:58I've been told to shut up before at a coffee shop
06:00because I don't even realise it,
06:02but sometimes when I'm writing,
06:03I'll be humming or...
06:05So I've been told to be quiet.
06:06That kind of happens quite a few times.
06:08I would say one of the more interesting stories
06:10of making this album happened...
06:12I was in a hotel lobby, but it was a weird lobby
06:14because it had like a library section,
06:16like it had books.
06:17And I saw on the library section,
06:21there was a section called Tragedy
06:22and that inspired one of the songs that I wrote about.
06:25So that was an example of something where like
06:27being in that environment inspired the song itself.
06:30So that was an interesting one.
06:32Okay, so out of all your songs in Private Visit,
06:34which one do you think that you're most excited
06:37for your fans to hear?
06:40I'm excited for my fans to hear the song called
06:41One and Only, which is the last song.
06:43It's just very joyful and it's a good vibe,
06:48especially for the end of the summer
06:50and for the beginning of the next fall.
06:52I think it keeps up the spirits.
06:54Since you released Double Take and now your album,
06:57you've travelled all over the world.
07:00You've performed at music festivals a lot.
07:04Any moment that you were starstruck
07:08when you see artists and what's a memorable moment
07:11backstage that you had while performing
07:14that you can share with your fans?
07:16Okay, so starstruck.
07:17I don't really get starstruck.
07:19I also haven't seen all that many people.
07:22Earlier this year, I went to a Spotify party
07:25with like the Best New Artist party,
07:26which is a Grammy's party.
07:28And I saw lots of people whose music
07:30that I really liked.
07:31I saw Apple Roan.
07:32I saw, who else was there?
07:35Phineas, Billie Eilish's brother.
07:37Fun.
07:38So all these people were there.
07:39So they're people I guess I really admire.
07:41But I wouldn't say that I get starstruck.
07:44As far as before going on stage,
07:48in terms of funny stories and experiences,
07:50I am just such a different person.
07:52Right before I go on stage, I'm frantic
07:54and I have to calm myself down.
07:56So I think one thing that I think is just really funny
07:59is I do a big group meditation with my band.
08:02So one of my band members has one of those,
08:06I don't know whether it's Tibetan or what it is,
08:08but it's one of those things where you stir the...
08:10The bowl?
08:11Yes.
08:12The singing bowl?
08:13Yeah, yes, yes, yes.
08:14Okay.
08:15So he'll get that out and he'll be doing that
08:17and we'll be chanting a little bit.
08:18It feels very spiritual right before we go on stage.
08:21That's very interesting.
08:22Yeah, it's very universe.
08:27So traveling must be tiring for you.
08:31So what's one thing that you always bring with you
08:34wherever you go?
08:36Not something I bring, but in advance of going to any city,
08:41I will look up coffee shops and stuff.
08:43I heard you love coffee shops and you love coffee.
08:45Correct.
08:46And I find it to be one of the best parts of the day,
08:50just going to the coffee shop and sitting there,
08:53especially when you're trying to absorb local culture or whatever.
08:57It just feels like a normal place to be.
08:59So last year I was touring a lot.
09:02I did like 10 cities in two weeks.
09:04And so every morning before I'd have to have any obligation
09:07before I do promo or anything,
09:08I would just quietly go to a coffee shop, listen to music,
09:11get a coffee and just chill.
09:13Have you tried any coffee shops in Malaysia so far?
09:15No.
09:16Nothing's been open.
09:17Right, you arrived last night.
09:19Yeah, but I woke up at 7am,
09:21barely anything was open.
09:23They should open by 11am.
09:25They should open.
09:27Hopefully by 11am.
09:28So is there any cities or venues that you still remember?
09:32It's very memorable for you since you've been to all these places, right?
09:36Yeah, I really enjoyed performing in Mumbai last year.
09:38Okay.
09:39Family, so Family came to that show.
09:41My parents are Indian and they have lots of friends and family in that region.
09:45So they came to that show, that one was really fun.
09:48I honestly remember Seoul very fondly
09:51because I'd really never been to that part of the world.
09:54I hadn't been to Korea, Japan, anything like that.
09:57And so to go there, literally not know anything about the city and the culture,
10:02but then to meet fans and have people who really knew my music there
10:06was really crazy as well.
10:07How is it communicating with the fans in Japan and Korea?
10:11Obviously, there's like a barrier, but everybody's so polite
10:14and they are like giving me things or like they have notes and stuff.
10:20And so, yeah, it's not always like, the great thing about that whole thing
10:25is it feels like the communication is through the music
10:27and the exchange of the music and not necessarily.
10:30Correct, yeah.
10:31So we listened to your song.
10:33What artists are you, have you been listening to lately?
10:37Listening to Chapel Roan.
10:39I don't know if she's big here, but like her album I think is really good.
10:43Listening to...
10:46I really enjoy the Daniel Caesar album that came out last year.
10:49So I've been bumping that still a little bit.
10:51And Charli XCX's Brat as well has been on high rotation for me as well.
10:56What's one song that you've been listening to since like forever?
11:01Like this song called Fighter by Saba.
11:04That's one song that I listen to a lot.
11:06Your music kind of reflects, you know, this deep emotion,
11:09like your feelings and all.
11:10So how do you, you know, unwind, relax after pouring all that emotion into your songs?
11:16I watch TV.
11:19I hang out with friends.
11:21I love playing tennis when I can.
11:24Very simple stuff.
11:25If I have a lot of time, I'll read a book.
11:28But that's something that I've become a bit bad at since traveling so much.
11:32I wish I was better about it.
11:34Boring stuff.
11:35Nothing crazy.
11:36That's not boring.
11:37Just like standard stuff.
11:38Just like standard stuff.
11:39I'm not very into, you know, I'm not like an adrenaline junkie.
11:43You call yourself an introvert, extrovert?
11:45Definitely introvert, yeah.
11:46You're definitely an introvert.
11:47Okay.
11:48You love staying at home?
11:49Love being at home.
11:52Love like a night in.
11:55Not crazy about, no, sometimes.
11:59Sometimes I'll send it and go out.
12:01But I'm very much on that Jomo wave, missing out wave.
12:06Where you're just in bed while everybody else is like at the club.
12:09I like that as well.
12:10You're just like me.
12:18After the album?
12:19Yes.
12:20I'm excited to play the album live.
12:23I'm excited to, I haven't really been to like, there's some places I still haven't been to.
12:27I haven't really traveled in Europe.
12:28So I'm excited to do that.
12:29I'm doing a little tour in September in Europe.
12:32So that'll be really fun.
12:34I don't know.
12:35Hopefully, like, hopefully just do some, you know, award show things in the future.
12:42That's always a hope you can manifest.
12:44But let's see.
12:46Maybe a tour in KL?
12:48I'll be back.
12:49That's a given already in my mind.
12:50Like coming back to Asia.
12:51Okay, everybody.
12:53Exclusively here.
12:55He's touring here.
12:56All right.
12:57So now I want to get to know you better.
12:59Or help your fans to get to know you better.
13:02I want to ask you about all of your firsts.
13:05Okay.
13:06So let's start with the first album you ever bought.
13:09First album I remember buying is Back to Black by Muir and House.
13:13First ever concert experience.
13:15What was it like?
13:16I remember going to the Justin Bieber My World Tour or whatever.
13:20I've never been to a Justin Bieber concert.
13:22Well, when he was that young, that was crazy hype.
13:25First thing you do every morning?
13:27I scroll.
13:29I shouldn't.
13:30First time you realized that being an artist writing music is something that you want to do?
13:36Very young.
13:37Like playing on the piano when I was younger.
13:40Always wanted to do it.
13:41So no specific moment.
13:43First song you ever performed in front of an audience?
13:46I did a song called Crossroads.
13:49I performed it in my assembly in school.
13:54The first time you heard your song on a radio and where were you?
13:58I actually didn't hear it.
13:59Someone sent it to me.
14:00Sent me a video of it playing in Singapore actually.
14:03In a coffee shop in Singapore.
14:05The first celebrity you ever met in person?
14:08Joji, I guess.
14:09I opened for him so I met him.
14:11The first fan interaction that truly made your day?
14:15The one that I'm thinking of is quite funny.
14:18Okay, tell us.
14:19This one made my day.
14:21I mean, because it was just so random.
14:25This was like two months ago.
14:26I was in New York.
14:27I was getting out of the subway.
14:28I'm very much in my own world.
14:30Somebody grabs me.
14:32She grabs me and she was like,
14:35I was just listening to your song.
14:36I just moved to New York and I feel like
14:38this is a sign that I'm right where I should be.
14:40And I was like, that's so sweet.
14:42The first album or artist that inspired you to start music?
14:49Maybe Robbie Williams.
14:51He's like my dad's favorite English artist, I think.
14:54I just heard a lot of his music when I was younger.
14:57Do you have any, you know, I made it moment?
15:02No, I don't think I'll ever feel like I made it
15:04even if I do actually make it.
15:06But I guess I performed on Jimmy Kimmel, which was fun.
15:10And that's the end of the interview.
15:13So if there's anything else that you want to say
15:15to your Malaysian fans?
15:17I would like to say thank you for all the support so far.
15:21Sorry that I couldn't be here last year,
15:23but I'm excited to be here right now.
15:25And so far what I've seen of KL, I really love it.
15:27So I'll keep coming back.
15:29Love you, bye.