3 weeks ago
Adnan Sami reveals why he couldn't experiment for 30 years
Adnan Sami is a famous singer who makes romantic songs.
He just released a brand new song called 'Ishq Tamasha.'
For 30 years, he felt he had to stick to the same kind of music.
Long ago, people bought songs on cassettes and CDs.
They usually only bought music they already knew from the radio.
So singers like Adnan had to make music that sounded familiar to people.
Now, with streaming, people can listen to songs from all over the world for one monthly price.
Because of that, Adnan feels free to try new musical styles.
He used to add drums called tabla-dholak to his songs to give them an Indian touch.
Now he is excited to share all the music ideas he kept inside for so long.
Singer-composer Adnan Sami released his new romantic single 'Ishq Tamasha' on Wednesday.
Sami says he could not experiment musically for 30 years because cassettes and CDs meant listeners only bought music they had already heard on radio or video.
He credits streaming subscriptions with giving listeners access to music from around the world, which he says freed him to experiment.
Sami admits he used to insert tabla-dholak 'desi tadka' into arrangements like 'Lucky Lips' and 'Tera Chehra' to stay within expected boundaries.
He thanked label Zee Music for backing his experiments in an industry he says prefers playing safe with franchises and rehashes.
- Who
- Adnan Sami, the Padma Shri-awarded singer-composer, speaking in an exclusive interview with SCREEN.
- What
- Released the new romantic single 'Ishq Tamasha' and explained why he could not experiment musically for 30 years.
- Where
- India, where Sami now lives; he earlier lived in London, Portugal, Pakistan and Dubai because of his diplomat father.
- When
- The track dropped on Wednesday.
- Why
- Streaming made worldwide music accessible to listeners, removing the need to stay within familiar boundaries that cassettes and CDs imposed.
Key facts
- New single
- Ishq Tamasha
- Release day
- Wednesday (exact date not given)
- Artist
- Adnan Sami, Padma Shri awardee
- Music label
- Zee Music
- Interview
- Exclusive interview with SCREEN
- Earlier hits
- Kabhi To Nazar Milao, Tera Chehra, Bheegi Bheegi Bheegi Raaton Mein
- Musical signature
- Tabla-dholak 'desi tadka' additions
- Places he lived
- London, Portugal, Pakistan, Dubai and India
Quotes
Adnan Sami
Pakistani-born Indian singer‑composer
“"You can listen to music from Timbuktu. Now, the only limitation is your own."”
indianexpress.com
“"I still believe in giving desi tadka because that’s who we are."”
indianexpress.com





