Singaporean-Indian Druv Kent showcases his multi-lingual talent on his latest
At a time when the world appears to be undergoing a crisis caused by several man-made occurrences, listening to music appears to be a permanent joy, one that is supported by Singapore-based Druv Kent, who launched his appropriately titled, latest single, “Beyond It All (Sayi)”, on March 27.
On a brief visit to Mumbai, on March 20, he met Sudeep Audio to discuss the virtues of his new song being part of his 5th EP, ‘Indian Spirit’, which is due for launch in August later in the year. While “Beyond It All (Sayi)” is the 2nd song to be featured on the EP, it follows “Hope”, which was released on September 20, 2024.
On “Hope”, Druv decided to go head-on discussing the rising anxiety among youth, ranging from GenZ to Gen Alpha, that appears to have dramatically increased due to peer pressure rather than any other parameter, encircled by universal crises including, but not limited to, global warming, conflicts among nations, and increasing discontent/disconnects between governments and its citizens. Not one to observe things merely from the outside in the ever-changing environment around him, Druv provides a befitting response through his lyrics by offering a message of optimism and resilience through “Hope”.
Druv continues his thoughtful and melodic music with “Beyond It All (Sayi)” as he lends a plea or a prayer – take your pick – as he sings: “When my world is shaking, when I feel the cold/Lift me up so lightly, beyond it all…” as the mid-tempo track perfectly travels into a superbly produced pop composition, smoothly interspersed with poignant Punjabi lyrics based on an ancient folk song (“To create a world beyond our human flaws”) written by – surprise! – his mother, Bina Shrikent. Druv’s phrasing and tight compositional skills makes his music still sound fresh by creating a perspective all of his own, supported by his distinctive, raspy vocals.
Co-produced by Druv along with his long-time UK-based collaborator Calum MacColl (musical director, guitarist, and co-writer for Ronan Keating), the song was recorded in the UK and in Singapore, with additional vocals provided by a variety of singers based in India, including Siddhanth Bhatia, Jagdish Jaipuri, Shivangani Yeashu Maharaj and Saubhagya Prasad, along with Druv’s mother.
Druv Kent
For those still uninitiated with the talent known as Druv Kent, he was born and raised in Kolkata, went to boarding school in Dehradun, and attended college in the U.S. As a child, Druv trained in Hindustani vocals, drums, and tabla. Apart from music, Druv had an interest in strategic and financial consulting, culminating in his becoming an investment banker in Singapore, a city where he currently resides, until his musical passion turned into his profession.
While the launch of his EP, ‘Indian Spirit’, is still a couple of months away, what makes the five-song release exceptional is that each of the songs are being supported by a “desi mix”, an extension of the “original” songs that Druv describes will be “(John) Lennon meeting Nusrat (Fateh Ali Khan), resulting in the West meeting the East with sounds that are both, very hooky and very qawwali”.
Move over Clark, Druv is certainly the one Kent who is taking flight on becoming a musical superman…
Listen to the song here – https://kycker.ffm.to/beyonditallsayi
