The Talktopia Sessions

What is ETHICALLY SOURCED AI Music REALLY? Debjit Mitra & Hafeez Ahmed

Debjit Mitra and Hafeez Ahmed are stepping far beyond the traditional role of musicians. They’re exploring what it means to carry the depth, nuance, and legacy of Indian classical music into a future shaped by AI. But this isn’t just about technology. It’s about responsibility. At a time when music can be scraped, processed, and repurposed at scale, they’re asking the difficult questions — how do we ensure that centuries of musical knowledge are respected, not diluted? How do we make Indian classical music more accessible globally, while protecting its soul? And most importantly, how do we make sure that the artists who built this vast “dataset” are fairly paid and properly credited? In this episode of The Talktopia Sessions, hosted by Ashish Ddavidd and Abhijit Chanda, we meet two musicians from vastly different backgrounds coming together to challenge the norm — and attempt something most wouldn’t even consider. A conversation at the intersection of tradition, technology, and the future of music. Hosted by: Abhijit Chanda (https://www.instagram.com/abhijit.chanda?igsh=MXFoZXlibGFyZWsxNA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr [https://www.instagram.com/abhijit.chanda?igsh=MXFoZXlibGFyZWsxNA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr]) Ashish Ddavidd (https://www.instagram.com/jabjoongabagboonga?igsh=MWtkcmV2YmMzeXU2bg== [https://www.instagram.com/jabjoongabagboonga?igsh=MWtkcmV2YmMzeXU2bg==]) Recorded & Mixed by: Anubhav Verma (https://www.instagram.com/anubhav.music/ [https://www.instagram.com/anubhav.music/]) Filmed and edited by: Cinesky Photography (https://www.instagram.com/cineskyofficial [https://www.instagram.com/cineskyofficial]) Shot at Talktopia Podcasts, a part of Elf Studios, New Delhi. For more information about Talktopia Podcasts and Elf Studios, please visit www.elfstudios.in [http://www.elfstudios.in], https://www.instagram.com/elfstudios.in/ [https://www.instagram.com/elfstudios.in/] or https://www.instagram.com/talktopiapodcasts [https://www.instagram.com/talktopiapodcasts]

What NOT to do when trying to get into Bollywood! Aryan Sharma Explains

Aryan Sharma may describe himself as a singer and actor in his bio — but he’s clearly much more than that. Friendly, courteous and incredibly hardworking, Aryan has been steadily hustling and making impressive inroads into Mumbai’s fiercely competitive worlds of Bollywood playback singing and acting. In this episode, he shares stories from his journey so far — the highs, the struggles, and the lessons learned along the way. More importantly, he talks about the mistakes to avoid when you finally land in India’s tinseltown metropolis — the proverbial city of dreams that tests everyone who arrives chasing ambition. Ever wondered what it’s really like to leave your hometown and head to Bombay in search of fame, fortune and the spotlight? See it all through the eyes of our poster boy Aryan Sharma, in the latest episode of Talktopia Sessions, with hosts Abhijit Chanda and Ashish Ddavidd. Hosted by: Abhijit Chanda (https://www.instagram.com/abhijit.chanda?igsh=MXFoZXlibGFyZWsxNA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr [https://www.instagram.com/abhijit.chanda?igsh=MXFoZXlibGFyZWsxNA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr]) Ashish Ddavidd (https://www.instagram.com/jabjoongabagboonga?igsh=MWtkcmV2YmMzeXU2bg== [https://www.instagram.com/jabjoongabagboonga?igsh=MWtkcmV2YmMzeXU2bg==]) Recorded & Mixed by: Anubhav Verma (https://www.instagram.com/anubhav.music/ [https://www.instagram.com/anubhav.music/]) Filmed and edited by: Cinesky Photography (https://www.instagram.com/cineskyofficial [https://www.instagram.com/cineskyofficial]) Shot at Talktopia Podcasts, a part of Elf Studios, New Delhi. For more information about Talktopia Podcasts and Elf Studios, please visit www.elfstudios.in [http://www.elfstudios.in], https://www.instagram.com/elfstudios.in/ [https://www.instagram.com/elfstudios.in/] or https://www.instagram.com/talktopiapodcasts [https://www.instagram.com/talktopiapodcasts]

Pushing the boundaries of music with Arjun Sen (AJ)

In this episode of The Talktopia Sessions, we sit down with Arjun Sen known also in the music circles as AJ, an accomplished Indian guitarist known for his musical depth, versatility, and years of experience across live performance, studio work, and collaborations. Arjun talks about his journey as a guitar player in India—early influences, shaping a personal sound, navigating the live music scene, session work, practice philosophy, gear choices, and what it really takes to sustain a life in music beyond just talent at his current age of 66 and still gigging! Hosted by Abhijit Chanda and Ashish Ddavidd, this conversation dives into the realities of being a working musician today—discipline, consistency, creative identity, and the unseen work that goes into staying relevant and fulfilled. Whether you’re a guitarist, a musician, or simply someone who loves honest conversations about music and craft, this episode offers insight, perspective, and inspiration straight from the source and as always this episode too has some performances as a wonderful bonus, besides just the conversations! Hosted by: Abhijit Chanda (https://www.instagram.com/abhijit.chanda?igsh=MXFoZXlibGFyZWsxNA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr [https://www.instagram.com/abhijit.chanda?igsh=MXFoZXlibGFyZWsxNA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr]) Ashish Ddavidd (https://www.instagram.com/jabjoongabagboonga?igsh=MWtkcmV2YmMzeXU2bg== [https://www.instagram.com/jabjoongabagboonga?igsh=MWtkcmV2YmMzeXU2bg==]) Recorded & Mixed by: Anubhav Verma (https://www.instagram.com/anubhav.music/ [https://www.instagram.com/anubhav.music/]) Filmed and edited by: Cinesky Photography (https://www.instagram.com/cineskyofficial [https://www.instagram.com/cineskyofficial]) Shot at Talktopia Podcasts, a part of Elf Studios, New Delhi.

Ravi Iyer's Journey to Revolutionizing Indian Fusion Music

Ravi Iyer is a living example that one can be like no one else and still hold their own as a Musical Voice that’s endured changing tides for over three decades of life. Even if you have heard Indian Fusion you’ve probably never heard music like his and YES we do have a lot of music in this episode as usual! His life and times, his influences and beliefs, all the places he’s been to and the promises of everything that’s yet to come. All this and much more coming up in this latest episode of Talktopia Sessions with Abhijit Chanda and Ashish Ddavidd. Hosted by: Abhijit Chanda (https://www.instagram.com/abhijit.chanda?igsh=MXFoZXlibGFyZWsxNA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr [https://www.instagram.com/abhijit.chanda?igsh=MXFoZXlibGFyZWsxNA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr]) Ashish Ddavidd (https://www.instagram.com/jabjoongabagboonga?igsh=MWtkcmV2YmMzeXU2bg== [https://www.instagram.com/jabjoongabagboonga?igsh=MWtkcmV2YmMzeXU2bg==]) Recorded & Mixed by: Anubhav Verma (https://www.instagram.com/anubhav.music/ [https://www.instagram.com/anubhav.music/]) Filmed and edited by: Cinesky Photography (https://www.instagram.com/cineskyofficial [https://www.instagram.com/cineskyofficial]) Shot at Talktopia Podcasts, a part of Elf Studios, New Delhi. For more information about Talktopia Podcasts and Elf Studios, please visit www.elfstudios.in [http://www.elfstudios.in], https://www.instagram.com/elfstudios.in/ [https://www.instagram.com/elfstudios.in/] or https://www.instagram.com/talktopiapodcasts [https://www.instagram.com/talktopiapodcasts]

The Surprising Sound of Brazilian Acoustic Jazz Revealed | Pranay Verma Live!

In this episode of Talktopia Sessions, we sit down with Pranay Verma, guitarist, composer, session musician, and one of Delhi’s most in-demand musical collaborators. From jazz and soul to blues, rock, and Brazilian grooves, Pranay has steadily built his reputation in the modern Indian independent music scene, both on stage and in the studio. We dive into his journey of growing up as a guitarist in Delhi and how early influences shaped his musical voice. He shares his path from being a dedicated student of the instrument to becoming a sought-after professional session player, navigating the realities of practice, performance, and persistence. We talk about his experiences working with bands, singer-songwriters, and live acts across genres, and what it takes to adapt and deliver in every musical setting. Pranay also opens up about studio life, the discipline, etiquette, and mindset required to be a reliable session musician, along with the challenge of finding your own sound in a crowded and constantly evolving music ecosystem. Finally, we explore his inspirations, long-term dreams, and his perspective on the future of Indian original music. Whether you are a guitarist, a band leader, a singer-songwriter, or someone who loves behind-the-scenes music stories, this conversation is full of insight, honesty, and inspiration. Hosted by: Abhijit Chanda (https://www.instagram.com/abhijit.chanda?igsh=MXFoZXlibGFyZWsxNA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr [https://www.instagram.com/abhijit.chanda?igsh=MXFoZXlibGFyZWsxNA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr]) Ashish Ddavidd (https://www.instagram.com/jabjoongabagboonga?igsh=MWtkcmV2YmMzeXU2bg== [https://www.instagram.com/jabjoongabagboonga?igsh=MWtkcmV2YmMzeXU2bg==]) Recorded & Mixed by: Anubhav Verma (https://www.instagram.com/anubhav.music/ [https://www.instagram.com/anubhav.music/]) Filmed and edited by: Cinesky Photography (https://www.instagram.com/cineskyofficial [https://www.instagram.com/cineskyofficial]) Shot at Talktopia Podcasts, a part of Elf Studios, New Delhi. For more information about Talktopia Podcasts and Elf Studios, please visit www.elfstudios.in [http://www.elfstudios.in], https://www.instagram.com/elfstudios.in/ [https://www.instagram.com/elfstudios.in/] or https://www.instagram.com/talktopiapodcasts [https://www.instagram.com/talktopiapodcasts]