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In conversation with Anushka 'Nush' Lewis, contemporary harpist, music education innovator, and academic facilitator at Abbey Road Institute Mumbai.

Nush's journey defies conventional paths in Indian music. From accidentally discovering the harp at KM Music Conservatory to releasing three critically acclaimed EPs and opening for The Cinematic Orchestra, she's carved out a unique space as one of India's rare contemporary harpists. But her impact extends far beyond performance: recognizing fundamental gaps in India's music education ecosystem, she founded OffSet Education in 2017, launched India's first music education podcast, and built a 300+ member community of educators nationwide. Today, as Academic Facilitator at Abbey Road Institute Mumbai, India's first campus of the prestigious UK institution, she's bridging the gap between traditional music pedagogy and global industry standards, mentoring the next generation of producers and sound engineers at a fraction of international costs.

In this episode, we explore Nush's evolution from performing at festivals like Ziro and Adelaide Fringe to pioneering structured music education in India, unpack how OffSet Education is addressing systemic challenges through community-driven solutions, gender politics in the music industry and discover why Abbey Road Institute's arrival in Mumbai represents a pivotal moment for India's music industry.

Join us for a delightful conversation about artistry, education, and the transformation of India's music landscape - from grassroots communities to global institutions.

For more on OffSet Education, visit www.offsetlive.in. Got questions or feedback? Drop us a line at hello@lextalkmusic.com.

This podcast is purely for informational purposes and should not be construed as legal advice. Kindly consult a legal practitioner for specific advice on legal issues/ disputes.

© Sandhya Surendran, 2025. All rights reserved.

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In conversation with Spek—hip-hop artist, cultural bridge-builder, and the founder & CEO of PopArabia and ESMAA.

Spek’s trajectory is anything but ordinary. From rapping with Canada’s Dream Warriors and collaborating with Jamiroquai and Nitin Sawhney, he’s evolved into a music-rights visionary who’s reshaping how Arabic repertoire is represented—and paid for—around the world.

After years on stage and in the studio and a pivotal stint on the music business side in the UK, Spek moved to the UAE to launch the region’s first serious music-publishing footprint and was instrumental in establishing Reservoir's global presence. Today, PopArabia sub-publishes heavyweight catalogs from Sony, Concord, Kobalt, and more, while its joint venture with Reservoir pushes Arabic songwriting onto global playlists. Through ESMAA, Spek and his team are also tackling the Gordian knot of performance, mechanical, and neighboring rights across the Gulf—so regional creators finally see fair royalties.

In this episode we trace Spek’s intriguing journey from Montreal mixtapes to music publishing mastermind, unpack the business model that lets PopArabia champion Arabic culture without sacrificing global ambition, and hear why Southeast Asia—especially India—is next on his roadmap with the launch of PopIndia.

Join us for a deep dive into PopArabia’s evolution, ESMAA’s mission, and Spek’s vision for the music industry - from MENA to now, the Indian subcontinent.

For more on PopArabia and ESMAA, visit www.poparabia.com. Got questions or feedback? Drop us a line at hello@lextalkmusic.com.

This podcast is purely for informational purposes and should not be construed as legal advice. Kindly consult a legal practitioner for specific advice on legal issues/ disputes.

© Sandhya Surendran, 2025. All rights reserved.

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In conversation with Prarthana Sen and Vishruti Bindal, the founders of Neon Culture and driving forces behind the Deccan Alternative Music Conference (DAMC).

Prarthana Sen and Vishruti Bindal bring a wealth of experience and passion to India’s independent music landscape, making significant strides toward fostering a more inclusive and innovative industry.

Prarthana, formerly with Sofar Sounds, played a pivotal role in building global communities and providing indie artists with an intimate, impactful platform to showcase their talent. As one of the founding members of Music Tech India—and notably the only woman in the founding team—she has championed innovation and equity in music tech and indie spaces alike.

Vishruti, a multi-faceted music business professional has worked across audio engineering, music curation, artist management, education, and music supervision. She currently serves as an instructor at Berklee, teaching the Global Emerging Markets and Music Cities Policy module, and as Project Manager at Sound Diplomacy’s Momentual. Vishruti led the Bengaluru Music City analysis in 2021, creating the city’s only primary data source for music, and spearheaded the Music Cities European Exchange 2023 in collaboration with the EU Commission.

In this episode, we explore the remarkable journey of these two trailblazing women, the inception of Neon Culture, and their vision for DAMC. They share insights into their respective career trajectories, their dedication to community building and advocacy, and how they’re shaping Neon Culture to amplify independent voices.

Join us as we discuss the origins of DAMC, its transformative role in India’s music industry, and what to expect from its second edition in Kochi this February 7th and 8th, 2025.

For more details about DAMC, visit www.deccanalt.in. For any other query, please write into hello@lextalkmusic.com.

This podcast is purely for informational purposes and should not be construed as legal advice. Kindly consult a legal practitioner for specific advice on legal issues/ disputes.

© Sandhya Surendran, 2025. All rights reserved.

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In conversation with Rafael Pereira and Sushil Chhugani, two key figures advancing India’s independent music movement. As founding members of India Music Exchange (IMX) and active contributors to India International Music Week (IIMW), they have played a pivotal role in bringing together artists, publishers, and entrepreneurs to expand India’s musical reach worldwide.

Rafael, an intellectual property strategist and web3 oracle, utilizes his legal and technological expertise to guide creators through the rapidly evolving digital space. Sushil, the Founder and Director of Stubborn Company, brings a wealth of experience in nurturing emerging talent and enriching India’s diverse music culture.

In this episode we discuss IMX and IIMW, their respective objectives and their goals to promote collaboration, drive industry growth, and create international opportunities for Indian musicians.

For more information about IMX, write in to projects@indiamusicexchange.org. For any other query, please write into hello@lextalkmusic.com.

This podcast is purely for informational purposes and should not be construed as legal advice. Kindly consult a legal practitioner for specific advice on legal issues/ disputes.

© Sandhya Surendran, 2024. All rights reserved.

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In conversation with Shubha Mudgal, a powerhouse Indian vocalist who has spent decades navigating the vibrant world of Hindustani classical and contemporary music. With an illustrious career that has earned her prestigious accolades including a National Film Award for non-fiction film music in the year 1995, the Gold Plaque Award at the Chicago International Film Festival in 1998, and the Padma Shri in the year 2000, Shubha Mudgal has become synonymous with both bold innovation and profound respect for tradition. Join us as we delve into her remarkable journey—examining how she honed her craft under the tutelage of renowned mentors, forged a distinctive artistic identity, and continues to redefine the creative landscape, all while championing artists’ rights and inspiring audiences worldwide.

For any enquiries, please mail us at hello@lextalkmusic.com.

This podcast is purely for informational purposes and should not be construed as legal advice. Kindly consult a legal practitioner for specific advice on legal issues/ disputes.

© Sandhya Surendran, 2024. All rights reserved.

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In conversation with Rumpa Banerjee, Head of Marketing, Communication & Member Relations at the Indian Performing Rights Society (IPRS). IPRS was established in 1969 and has been a witness to all the major milestones achieved by the music industry. Today, for an artist, registering with a copyright society is a non-negotiable and in this episode we dive into the workings of IPRS, how it interacts with other industry stakeholders and its importance to songwriters.

If you are an artist or artist manager debating registering with IPRS or any copyright society for that matter, this episode is especially for you. Join us as we bust myths and dispel concerns around this subject, and don't forget to take notes!

For any queries, please reach out to us at hello@lextalkmusic.com.

The Lex Talk Music theme is written and composed by Sanjeev T.

This podcast is purely for informational purposes and should not be construed as legal advice. Kindly consult a legal practitioner for specific advice on legal issues/ disputes.

© Sandhya Surendran, 2024. All rights reserved.

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In conversation with Dhruv Singh, founder and head honcho at Pagal Haina. After a degree in film production and valuable stints in theatre, sports management, television, events and film, Dhruv founded Pagal Haina in 2011. Pagal Haina is an artist development agency and record label representing some of the finest independent artists in India including Peter Cat Recording Co., Lifafa, The F16s, Ditty, Shantanu Pandit, Karshni, Rounak Maiti, Run it's the Kid, Shashwat Bulusu and more.

Dhruv was instrumental in discovering singer-songwriter Prateek Kuhad and represented him from early origins till late 2018 during which time, Pagal Haina oversaw Kuhad's rise from a new artist to Indie stardom to becoming India's most prominent, truly independent global artist before signing a major label deal in 2020.

Listen in for some candid real talk as we discuss Dhruv's transition into the music industry, the business of the indie label and other no nonsense straight up truth bombs.

For more information, please write in to hello@lextalkmusic.com.

The Lex Talk Music theme is written and composed by Sanjeev T.

This podcast is purely for informational purposes and should not be construed as legal advice. Kindly consult a legal practitioner for specific advice on legal issues/ disputes.

© Sandhya Surendran, 2024. All rights reserved.

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In conversation with Tej Brar, currently heading Festivals & Live Events at Nodwin Gaming with an illustrious list of achievements in the music industry. He's been manager to some of the biggest names in the Indian music scene through OML and through his own firm, Third Culture - from Nucleya, Raja Kumari, Dualist Inquiry to J Babe, Kayan and the coolest hippest Indian indie artists of our time. Join us as we discuss his journey through the music industry, his learnings as an artist manager, what artists can learn from those lessons and so much more in this very wholesome conversation.

For more information or inquiries write to hello@lextalkmusic.com.

The Lex Talk Music theme is written and composed by Sanjeev T.

This podcast is purely for informational purposes and should not be construed as legal advice. Kindly consult a legal practitioner for specific advice on legal issues/ disputes.

© Sandhya Surendran, 2024. All rights reserved.