Exclusive Premiere: Piyush Bhisekar Hits an Emotional Peak on ‘Sabr’

At the end of 2018, when singer-songwriter Piyush Bhisekar released his debut EP Hai Bharosa, he was still in the final year of pursuing an engineering degree. With over 800,000 streams on Spotify for songs like “Wajah” and 60,000 monthly listeners, it’s safe to say that it was an astounding first impression that the Pune artist created for himself.

He says, “At that point of time I never thought so many people would listen to my songs. Even today when someone sends an email or texts me on social media expressing their love for my music it feels unreal sometimes, that my words and tunes could impact someone’s life. It Started off as a strange feeling but now it feels like a warm hug.”

Now, there’s an emotive, string-section aided new single out called “Sabr,” which Bhisekar notes is about “giving yourself a chance to heal, a chance to hold on through the tough times and smile off every challenge.” Bhisekar’s sweet, gentle croon that is now synonymous with most intimate singer-songwriter music in India leads “Sabr,” which also features Srinibas Misra on bass, Kevin Thomas on guitars and additional vocals by Vinayak Arora.

Written while the artist was in the midst of what he describes as a “rough patch,” Bhisekar says the release of a single wasn’t exactly a calculated move per se, given the success of Hai Bharosa. He adds, “I came up with this song during this lockdown and had to share it with everyone. Initially I was supposed to work on my sophomore EP/album and eventually release it this year itself but due to Covid-19 all the plans got postponed.”

During the lockdown, however, Bhisekar says he’s had two sold out digital gigs since June, plus a digital “college tour” for institutes. “I’m really grateful to my fans for trusting me and my art,” he adds. Up next, there’s new merchandize, more online gigs, with a collection of songs slated for release in 2021. “We had planned a multi-city tour which we would like to reschedule as soon as things get better,” he says.

Watch the lyric video for “Sabr” below.