Hear Dhruv Visvanath’s Sparkling New Song ‘Write’
The New Delhi-based acoustic artist and singer-songwriter tells us about overcoming creative blocks
New Delhi-based acoustic artist and singer-songwriter Dhruv Visvanath. Photo: Aryaman Dixit
As far as getting meta-referential about writer’s block through a song itself, there’s plenty of music to go around. Within New Delhi artist Dhruv Visvanath‘s catalog alone, there’s a few more. While his latest single “Write” deals with creative stagnation, even his 2018 album The Lost Cause occasionally delved into overcoming hurdles when it comes to songwriting.
The acoustic artist and singer-songwriter is his wry self when he’s reminded that he’s written about writer’s block before. “I’m like a broken record,” he says in jest. The fact remains that Visvanath — who has released four singles this year — felt like he “wasn’t growing” at one point. “It frustrated me to no end. I was getting bored of playing old songs. I was trying to figure out the best way to find my way out,” he says.
His latest song — which follows diverse yet familiar songwriting on tracks like “Wildfire,” “Dark” and “Dear Madeline” — was pieced together from fragments and spurts of ideas. “I figured it was like a puzzle and I pieced it all together, from 10-second pieces and all that,” Visvanath adds. The “lack of direction” that was broken with “Write” led to more songs and the artist says the “joy in creating songs” returned, which also led him to resume his song-a-day challenge over on Instagram. “I realized it’s therapeutic to get to do what I do,” he adds.
Visvanath is assisted by members of his trio — keyboardist and producer Rohan Rajadhyaksha and violinist Ajay Jayanthi — but also producer Rohan Ramanna, percussionist-drummer Vaibhav Wavikar and bassist Stuart DaCosta, plus backing vocals from Ankit Dayal (who is Rajadhyaksha’s bandmate in alt-rockers Spud In The Box). Bringing forward more intricate songwriting and symphonic fills, Visvanath stays true to delivering a memorable hook over sprightly acoustic guitar work as he sings, “Maybe I don’t want to have another cut on my wrists/I don’t want to have a single fight with my fists at all.”
With more singles coming up through the year and maybe later on, a collection of songs, Visvanath is using 2020 to clearly hone his style with help from friends all over. “There’s a little bit of exploration each time,” he says.
Watch the lyric video for “Write” below. Stream on more platforms here.
