AdnanSami: First his father and now fellow-musician Michael Jackson is gone in less than a week…This hasn’t been a good time for Adnan Sami.

"I was   working on   an album with Janet and Michael Jackson.I’m producing and composing   the album. But now I wonder what happens to it!" wonders Adnan.

Describing Michael whom Adnan met a number of times for the album as a childlike genius, Adnan says, "His life was troubled. But his music was his solace. Artistes who suffer always seek an escape route in their art.  Ask me,I should know"

When   Adnan first received a phone call from Michael and   the Jackson brothers    they discussed Adnan’s    music in detail. "The Jacksons knew every detail about my songs. They had studied my music in detail. I listened quietly to them talk about my music. These were   the same guys   whose music I grew up."

How did it happen? "Michael’s brother Jermaine’s wife Halima is from Afghanistan. For some time she lived in Chandigarh. She  got acquaintedwith  my music  while  in India and  she took  my music to LA  and introduced her husband to  it. And then Jermaine introduced Michael and Janet to my music."

Adnan had three meetings with the the Jacksons in Los Angeles. "It was   progressing slowly. They like to work at their own pace.No hurry.  The album is like Motown-music-meets-world-music-meets-Indian -music. I’ve brought the Sarangi and the Tabla-Dholak   into their music."

It’s Adnan’s first English-language album, and being produced by the Jacksons.

Adnan is also singing one song   in the album.

Speaking of the Jacksons Adnan says, "They’re very humble people. Always attentive to what I say, always open to innovations and suggestions.  They recognized a component in my musical style, and that is this. I really like strong base lines in my songs. What they don’t know is, that’s something I learnt from the music of theJacksons."

This is the first   full-fledged collaboration between an Asian musician and a major American nusical icon.

"I can’t believe I’m actually working with the Jacksons.  Wiithout Michael it won’t be the same.  We’ve completed four songs…I’m really enjoying this. I realize    I enjoy playback singing.  But the independent albums are where I’m totally able to express myself." - SAMPURN (Subhash K Jha)