Angry and overtly expressive — that is how singer Lucky Ali defines the essence of commercial music. That is also the reason he has maintained a safe distance from it.

“When there’s commercialization of music, there’s an end to those things; it is evident right now. When things lose their validity, nature itself takes its way and makes it defunct. You can do all you want but nature doesn’t allow for that to happen,” Ali tells us.

In Bollywood, best known for songs such as Ek Pal Ka Jeena and Na Tum Jaano Na Hum , the musician adds, “God forbid, I could do something in the future which is commercially viable with expressive words and aggressive music. But, that is not me. I might have experimented, but didn’t like it.” Ali maintains he doesn’t like a space or any music that brings aggression. Instead, he likes music which is about a “peaceful vibe and that keeps me on my toes”.

He is quick to mention that he doesn’t mind if his songs make him or anyone else fall asleep. “I fall asleep many times when I’m recording, now. But for me, sleep is a form of rejuvenation,” quips the 62-year-old. The O Sanam hitmaker points out that pre-pandemic, “we were making music as a factory”, whereas now, “more talent is being explored and expressed”. Right now, with all the worries and sadness, peaceful music is needed.

“There’s no way for them to express their feelings or anger, and they end up expressing anger as violence. People are worried about the next meme, not about fresh air,” he says, asserting that he likes to use his social media to entertain, communicate and educate. “I don’t entertain as amusement. I’m not an amusement park. I believe in keeping it simple. I work and stay humble,” says Ali, who recently joined the web show, Sounds of Society, to perform an acoustic version of his single, Rehna Sake.