Lucky Ali collaborates with composer Mikey McCleary for their latest single

A long wait has just ended for Lucky Ali fans The singerrsquos discography is set to expand starting this year The new single also sees him team up with an old friend and partnerincrime composer Mikey McClearyThe singercomposer duo has been united since their debut album Sunoh in 1996 which launched Ali into Indipop stardom Now they are back with Intezaar Available on all streaming platforms from today the song captures the same mellowed smoothness of Alirsquos style with a philosophical outlook to love and lifeMikey McclearyldquoIntezaar has got a nice mix of feelings mdash it is uplifting and also thoughtful It felt like it had Luckyrsquos sound but it also has something new in thererdquo McCleary tells us over a Zoom call Sitting beside him his old mate Ali philosophically noted the time was right ldquoWe knew that it was the right time nature almost compelled us to connect togetherrdquoThe duo will now release 10 singles over the coming year While the songs were initially to be released as an album the composers chose to go the individual route ldquoPeople are not as albumcentric as they are about individual releasesrdquo McCleary explainsScreengrabs from the video IntezaarIntezaar surprises you with its sonic range with multiple instruments layering Alirsquos poetic expression There is also a lovely jugalbandi between the trumpet and an electric guitar The song also underlines Alirsquos philosophy of love life and waiting through its poetryldquoThere may be significant changes poetically compared to our earlier works Musically we have stuck to our roots and contemporised itrdquo the composer said For Ali it is a matter of letting the elements take their course He said ldquoIt is just that now nature is guiding the whole thing and I am going with the flowrdquo Both agree this is a fertile time for music producers and composers ldquoMany more people want the integrity and originality that come without having a brief It has that freedom and audiences are seeking that integrity againrdquo McCleary says adding that ldquoIt is excitingrdquo The two are also opposites in many ways While one prefers working in the studio the grind of the creation process the other prefers the energy and vitality of live performances and collaborations Does that ever lead to friction ldquoWe disagree all the time I have to fight himrdquo Ali laughs ldquoWe talk things out and then we find common ground If there was no friction you wouldnrsquot get firerdquoMcCleary turns philosopher this time saying ldquoThere has to be the sand in the shell the irritating little thing which helps to create the pearlrdquoFor now Ali is enjoying his live performances and tours The singer has just performed in Dubai and Bengaluru in 2022 and has a tour around the country planned while McCleary continues to juggle multiple projects over the coming yearWill they collaborate again on another project before the year ends we ask ldquoI donrsquot plan these things When the music happens it happens I am enjoying the space and enjoying the music we are putting out togetherrdquo is Alirsquos musing response