Unexpected and unfamiliar is the road Adnan Sami has taken with his latest single, Lipstick. Visually, the singer has embraced a quirky avatar, complete with kohled eyes, tattoos, and heavy jewellery. He has turned in a different direction sonically as well, blending his songs with spiritual and Sufi-inspired elements. In a candid conversation with mid-day, Sami reflects on his new chapter, where he feels ready to showcase his artistic evolution through his music.

Excerpts from the interview.

Absolutely! It would have been easy for me to simply play myself sitting behind a piano, but that felt expected. I wanted to do something rooted and playful. The song has upbeat energy, but I’ve blended it with traditional elements — Rajasthani vocals, folk textures, and Sufi touches. I wanted the visuals to reflect that too. Dressing up as a slightly eccentric, Sufi-like character with rings, surma, and tattoos was great fun.

I realized lipsticks cut across class, culture, and age. Whether you’re rich or poor, young or old, there’s something about putting on lipstick that gives you confidence. Even my daughter loves experimenting with it, and so do grandmothers. Then came the superstition angle. We’ve all grown up with strange beliefs — don’t cut nails at night, black cat crossing your path [is a bad omen]. These things exist in every culture. We’re not mocking these beliefs. We’re holding up a mirror and saying, ‘This is who we are.’

I’ve been evolving both personally and musically. For a long time, I wanted to express that evolution, but I wasn’t able to because people want to slot you into one image. I was constantly seen as that piano-playing singer; there’s more to me than that. I didn’t want to remain trapped creatively. I consciously stepped away — now there’s a spiritual and Sufi-inspired direction in my music, and I finally feel ready to express it. I’m working on a series of songs that sound different from anything I’ve done before.

Completely. Earlier, films had five or eight lip-sync songs. Cinema today has become more realistic, so songs are often part of the background score. At the same time, independent music is making a comeback because of streaming platforms. Earlier, every singer wanted to become a playback singer. Today, that concept is changing. You can build your own audience independently. 

In many ways, yes. Everybody has a fair shot now. Earlier, access was controlled by a handful of gatekeepers. Today, anyone can upload music and reach audiences directly.

In the video, Adnan Sami wanted to depict the earthy and vibrant nature of India’s small towns. He explained, “It would’ve been easy to make a flashy urban video with luxury cars, glamorous styling, and tiny outfits. But that’s not the majority of India. I wanted something proudly desi.”