Singer-composer Adnan Sami feels that new independent singers and musicians should be encouraged and says Bollywood can find new talent in the indie pop genre.
“The face of today’s Bollywood music is the result of independent musicians who were allowed to come in. Composers, including me, are primarily those people who initially started independently,” Sami told IANS.
“Every era has to come to an end and in order to get a next generation of composers, there should be someone who you encourage. It is important to evolve and Bollywood needs fresh talent,” he added.
The 43-year-old composed albums like Raag Time, Tera Chehra and Kabhi To Nazar Milao and carved a niche for himself. Later, he entered Bollywood and belted out Gela Gela Gela, Sun Zara and Baatein Kuch Ankahee Si, among others.
“Indie pop music is a place for Bollywood to come and shop for new talent. When this particular phase comes to an end, what other system of recruitment will you have?,” he said.
When asked if Bollywood is an ultimate dream for any musician, Sami said, “It may be for some, but if this was the case then independent music would have collapsed by now.”
However, there are pros and cons of independent albums as compared to film music, says the singer.
“Independent music has a major disadvantage; it does not have the backing of a film vehicle or a producer. The advantage with Bollywood is that a film’s music is financed by a producer.”
“With independent music, you don’t have anybody spending money apart from record labels and the money can be recovered only through sales of CDs or internet downloads,” said Sami, who recently released an independent album after five years.
Titled Press Play, the album was leaked online days prior to its scheduled release date.
“Piracy is not a new phenomenon. It is not something that has suddenly cropped up. It has always been there and the internet is just another form. It depends on an individual how he decides to handle these things. These things are not in control of the artists,” he said.
With Press Play, Sami has tried his hand at singing Sufi and Punjabi tracks.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 12th, 2013.
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