Dhruv Kent
This Father’s Day, Singapore/UK based singer-songwriter Dhruv Kent, who quit his corporate job in Hong Kong to become a full-time musician in 2013, will be releasing his new single I’m Still Riding. For this music video, he put together 1000 father-son images sourced as part of his Facebook campaign. He talks to Sangeeta Yadav about his experience of making this single
nTell us about your new single — I’m Still Riding.
The song is about loving our father and letting him know that you do. It is a very personal song that I wrote to my father in the form of a letter thanking him for everything he has given me. This is my way of letting him know that I am standing tall. That I am still riding. I lost my father when I was very young and that taught me a lot about relationships. I wanted to express how I feel and what better way than through music.
nWhat made you to come up with a song for your fatherIJ
I believe that the relationship we have with our father is often only understood in time. This is true for both men and women. I do find women tend to talk about this a lot while most of my male friends feel less comfortable. But, the relationship is no less intense for them too. The relationship I have had with my father and my mother have been very strong, beautiful, and a big part of my life.
nHow difficult was it for you to pen the lyrics of this songIJ
Songwriting is a personal, cathartic and intense experience. You know you have something lovely only if it rings true to yourself. This song started with this melodic hook which came to me. I then found the chorus line saying I’m Still Riding. Usually these are 2 am brainwaves that occur when you are working feverishly on the song you know you almost have in your grasp.
nCan you tell us which lines from the song are very special and close to your heartIJ
The hearts that burn you up in the letting go, will light you up with what they leave behind. An unfortunate way of the world is that our parents will leave this Earth before we do. When it happens, it’s always hard. But, this line makes me reconcile that it’s better to love and rise through the loss it may bring than to have it any other way.
nTell us about your new album About Time.
It will have 10 songs. Each track is like a chapter exploring various snippets of my life. That was not a conscious intention I set out with, but as the songs have now been recorded I think that does summarise how they fall together. like I’m Still Riding, I do believe that each of the songs have a real core about them.
nAny other father-son song that you can recallIJ
Cat Stevenss Cats In The Cradle is my all time favourite. I’m a mushy guy when it comes to songs that ring true to parents or other loved ones.
nWhat are some of the memories of your fatherIJ
He was the nicest, warmest person in a group and always found something to engage each person in a conversation. He was a born leader and ran a company for most of his life. He was a great friend, a confidant to many and a loving father.
nWhat was the lesson that your father taught youIJ
To find your soul. And remember who you are.