Heartbroken? Listen to Dhruv’s Private Blizzard
When listening to music, 25-year-old singer-songwriter Dhruv enjoys listening to songs in succession, as a whole album. He says they are the soundtrack to his everyday life.
“I’m obsessed with albums; like listening to albums from start to finish,” Dhruv says during a recent visit to Manila. “I think about albums—my favorite albums—as friends, genuinely. I think of them as things that get me through my lower moments, things that make the better moments of life feel amazing.”
Dhruv, who says he is a massive fan of Sza and Adele, says he designed his new album Private Blizzard to be consumed in the same manner. It’s a walk across different seasons, a journey through a myriad of emotions, expressed through words and music penned by the British-born singer-songwriter. Dhruv recommends listening to it starting with track one (“Ode to Boredom”) right up to track 12 (“One and Only”).
“It starts in the autumn vibe, it moves into winter then it ends in spring, summer,” he says.
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The lyrics are as straightforward as can be (“Oh darlin’/ my words are overflowin’”) and sometimes painful (“The little signs, your vacant eyes, and dead-end conversations/See me slipping from your mind/Painted over in white lies”). it’s almost like reading a series of love letters or excerpts from someone’s journal. But much like the artist’s 2019 breakout single “Double Take” the music takes on an easy listening, R&B groove.
Standout tracks from Private Blizzard include the single “One and Only,” which is one of the artist's favorite tracks; the heartbreaking “How,” whose lyrics have been sampled in the previous paragraph; the equally melancholic “Grieving;” and the catchy and snappy “Speed of Light.” Other gems: “Any Day,” “The Morning,” and “Daggers.”
Private Blizzard, then, can be the soundtrack to your heartbreak.
Regional success
Although British-born, Dhruv is of Indian descent and moved to Singapore when he was two years old. He grew up in the region, and listeners have found it easy to appreciate his work. Dhruv has quite a following in Southeast Asia; his 2019 sleeper hit became number one in the Philippines and Thailand, and ranked high on the streaming charts in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore, too. The success of “Private Blizzard” shouldn’t come as a surprise.
The artist has come a long way for someone his age. Though he is brimming with talent and works hard at his craft, he can’t help but sometimes think that there might be something more to it than sheer hard work and hours of toiling away at the studio.
“When I feel good about my career, when I feel good about my life, I definitely feel like, an element of divinity,” he says.
Dhruv says he makes it a point to visit Southeast Asia as often as he can, hence the promotional tour. On his second trip to Manila, this time to promote his album, he again enjoyed a warm welcome from fans and the media.
“People here are so supportive and so warm and lovely, I feel like they’re genuine lovers of music, which is so nice especially from a performance standpoint,” he said. “To see people kind of absorbing the music in their own way. Really amazing.”
Private Blizzard is available on all major streaming platforms through Sony Music.
