Tapasya Loading

On the Mat Forever w/ Ryan Hurst

Ryan Hurst returns to Tapasya Loading on the launch of his much-awaited book On The Mat Forever (OTMF), with a conversation that leaves as powerful  and deep an imprint as our first 3 years ago.
Ryan holds four black belts, and spent twenty-eight years in Japan immersed deep in the study of martial arts and its philosophy. 
(He is also a pretty serious guitar player, even if mostly a quiet one.) 
The fact that most people have no idea about any of this is a clue towards the brand of humility and restraint that mark real mastery like his.
‘’Posture, breath, mindset’’. 
These were the three words that kept me steady when everything else felt like it was falling apart during one of the hardest chapters of my life, hours after I’d just learned of a health scare my mum was going through when OTMF reached me..
We talk about that and how the book has been a companion through personal storms, and why it feels so needed right now. 
We explore the tension between the two dominant archetypes of martial artists today, and differences he notices in how masculinity expresses itself across cultures as he moves into a new chapter with core philosophies of ‘mutual benefit and welfare’ taking the forefront in a world where kindness, generosity, and calm are often misread for weakness in times of confrontation. And we unpack the dissonance of reverse culture shock. How it can be a reminder that it is not our environment that defines us-but how we respond to it.
Timeless truths of the true warrior that risk being buried under noise, and why OTMF is an endeavour to bring them back to where they belong.
 
Connect with Ryan:
https://www.stayonthematforever.com/
https://gmb.io/
Instagram: @ryhurst
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GMBfitness/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/GMBFitnessSkills
 
(This is the official edited release of our exchange. The uncut version lives inside the community.)
 
Complete Episode
https://www.reztone.com/
https://findtl.com
Join the first cohort of my Artist Mastermind and get your first month free. 
https://holisticmusicianacademy.com/page/group-coaching
Courses:
https://holisticmusicianacademy.com/page/courses
1:1 Mentoring: 
https://holisticmusicianacademy.com/page/1-on-1-mentorship
 
Music and Audio Production: www.everynowheremusic.com
Episode Notes / Text : www.tlwrites.com
 
 

Surrender, Mortality and why Sound Remains w/ Rez Abbasi

Guitarist, composer and educator Rez Abbasi joins T L Mazumdar for a conversation that begins with music but doesn’t end there.
Born in Karachi and raised in California, NYC-based guitarist Rez Abbasi has long been a bridge between worlds: jazz, South Asian and urban traditions, intellect and instinct, virtuosic precision and play. 
A teacher at the New School in New York, apart from being a touring and recording artist, he is known for a sound that is as fearless as it is fluid, garnering him a brand of quiet, irrefutable respect amongst peers and audiences alike that is rare in the current music industry. 
His latest album Sound Remains, dedicated to his late mother, becomes the quiet centrepiece of this exchange. 
We talk about what happens when music begins to outgrow technique and extrinsic goals, when surrender starts to feel more powerful than control.
 
We touch on how ‘jazz’, in its modern form, has grown increasingly slick, and how that polish both reveals and conceals something about the times we live in. 
 
Mentoring comes up as well. Not as a profession, but as a practice in awareness, a way of transmitting freedom rather than formulas.
 
As the dialogue deepens, it becomes less about the conventional mechanics of music and more about what keeps us playing at all. 
 
Rez speaks of loss and of finding presence inside it. I share how the the loss of my father last year, and recent health-scare of my mother, peeled away my tolerance for pretense in an industry  and lifestyle in a world where so many of us still feel pressured to play along with very questionable rules.
What emerges is not grief alone, but a quiet clarity about why we keep returning to sound after the noise fades.
 
(This is the official edited release of our exchange. The uncut version lives inside the community.)
Complete Episode
https://www.reztone.com/
https://findtl.com
Join the first cohort of my Artist Mastermind and get your first month free. 
https://holisticmusicianacademy.com/page/group-coaching
Courses:
https://holisticmusicianacademy.com/page/courses
1:1 Mentoring: 
https://holisticmusicianacademy.com/page/1-on-1-mentorship
 
Music and Audio Production: www.everynowheremusic.com
Episode Notes / Text : www.tlwrites.com

Why Artists Stay in Unstable Systems (Even When It Hurts)

You play the gig. You get the praise.  Then silence.  You send the pitch. No reply.  Then—out of nowhere—a playlist bite.
Enough to keep you hooked. Not enough to feel whole.
This episode is about a subtle but powerful loop most artists find themselves in without even realizing it:  
**Intermittent reinforcement**—a reward system rooted in the nervous system, mirrored in the music industry, and normalized in relationships, rehearsal rooms, and even digital platforms.
 
In this solo episode, I explore:
– What intermittent reinforcement actually is (beyond pop psych)  – How it shows up in artist careers through gigs, praise, playlists, and power dynamics  – Why our nervous systems get addicted to “maybe”  – How scenes like *Whiplash* aren’t just cinema—they’re memory  – And what a healthier, rhythm-based alternative could look like
This one’s personal. For every artist who’s confused their grind for devotion.  
For every creator who's stayed too long because something *almost* happened once.
 
📝 Join the Free Training:  → https://holisticmusicianacademy.com/page/artist-mindmap
 
📖 Read the full blog post (with academic references):  
👉 https://holisticmusicianacademy.com/blog/artists-and-intermittent-reinforcement
 
🎓 Explore coaching + courses for independent artists:  
👉 holisticmusicianacademy.com
–––
🧭 Work with me:  → C.I.A.R. self-paced course:
https://holisticmusicianacademy.com/page/ciar  
→ HMA group coaching & 1:1 mentorships
https://holisticmusicianacademy.com/page/coaching
 
📲 Connect:  IG: @everynowheremusic  
YT: Tapasya Loading  
Podcast archive: https://www.tapasyaloading.com/

Artists and Trauma-Bonding

Art often emerges as a vital sanctuary for those navigating life's deepest fractures, offering a sense of connection and safety.
Yet, this very refuge can unwittingly evolve into a subtle trap, where unprocessed wounds forge unbreakable ties that blur the line.
As artists chase authenticity and belonging, they may find themselves ensnared in cycles of pain and relief that hinder true growth and joy. 
Unprocessed trauma can distort the mind into mistaking familiar feelings (even if painful) for safety, and survival for intimacy.
 
Free Training:
artistmindmap.com
 
Read the blog post.
 
Join the first cohort of my Artist Mastermind and get your first month free. 
https://holisticmusicianacademy.com/page/group-coaching
 
Courses:
https://holisticmusicianacademy.com/page/courses
 
1:1 Mentoring: 
https://holisticmusicianacademy.com/page/1-on-1-mentorship
 

The Toll of Hustle Culture on Artists

In the fast-paced world of independent artistry, the concept of "hustle" has evolved from a symbol of self-reliance to a relentless pressure to produce and promote without pause. This episode delves into the historical roots and modern implications of hustle culture, revealing how it has shifted from a tool for liberation to a potential trap that can erode an artist's inner life and creative joy. 
Free Training:
artistmindmap.com
 
Read the blog post.
 
Join the first cohort of my Artist Mastermind and get your first month free. 
https://holisticmusicianacademy.com/page/group-coaching
 
Courses:
https://holisticmusicianacademy.com/page/courses
 
1:1 Mentoring: 
https://holisticmusicianacademy.com/page/1-on-1-mentorship

Otherness, Art, and the The Myth of the ‘Professional Musician’ w/ Soumik Datta

Composer, sarodist, and cultural shapeshifter Soumik Datta joins T.L. Mazumdar for a conversation that goes far beyond the usual talk of craft and career.
Born in Mumbai and raised in London, Soumik grew up between cultures, mentored by Pandit Buddhadev Das Gupta in Kolkata and later trained in composition at Trinity Laban. 
Today, he stands as one of the rare contemporary artists bridging heritage and innovation with equal devotion. His work spans collaborations with Beyoncé, Anoushka Shankar, Nitin Sawhney, Akram Khan, and the BBC Singers, as well as large-scale projects through his own organisation, Soumik Datta Arts.
But what makes his story compelling isn’t the résumé — it’s the restlessness underneath it.
In this conversation, we revisit the early years and the quiet ways we both learned what it meant to be ‘othered’, long before we had the language for it.
We talk about the invisible labour behind becoming a professional artist, the parts of the iceberg that rarely see daylight, and why the industry’s current definition of a “professional musician” might not be serving anyone — not the artist, not the audience, not the art.
This is the official edited release of our exchange. The complete, unedited version — with all the silences, laughter, and contradictions intact — lives exclusively inside the community.
https://www.soumikdatta.com/
https://findtl.com
Complete Episode
 

How to Find a Music Mentor (Without Falling for the Hype)

A real mentor isn’t someone polishing your next single for the algorithm. They’re a guide who holds space for your whole journey—creative, human, and messy.
In a world crowded with 'coaches' promising shortcuts, the difference lies in lived craft and soul.
Real mentorship goes deeper than strategy. 
This piece unpacks the myths and points to what matters: a mentor who’s both a practicing artist and a trusted guide, who understands that evolution is about becoming—not just producing. 
 
Free Training:
artistmindmap.com
 
Read the blog post.
 
Join the first cohort of my Artist Mastermind and get your first month free. 
https://holisticmusicianacademy.com/page/group-coaching
 
Courses:
https://holisticmusicianacademy.com/page/courses
 
1:1 Mentoring: 
https://holisticmusicianacademy.com/page/1-on-1-mentorship
 

Between Tradition and Reinvention w/ Harini Iyer

What happens when social expectations collide with artistic vision? In this episode, vocalist, producer, and founder of Tamil Jazz Collective, Harini Iyer shares her journey of carving out a path beyond conventional definitions of success. With a diverse background including engineering and business analysis, and a Grammy nomination as part of a Berklee ensemble, Harini’s story bridges the worlds of structure and improvisation. From navigating the pressures of tradition, playing the quintessential overachieving immigrant, to experiencing the double-edged sword of virality, we riff on the setbacks that shape resilience and the breakthroughs that led to her unique artistic voice. 
 
This episode is brought to you by Holistic Musician Academy.
 
Group Coaching: 
https://holisticmusicianacademy.com/page/group-coaching
 
Course:
https://holisticmusicianacademy.com/page/ciar
 
Coaching: 
https://attractwell.com/holisticmuscianacademy/page/coaching
 
Download my FREE 'Artist Mindmap'. A one-page mini-masterclass for independent musicians.
Music and Audio Production: www.everynowheremusic.com
Episode Notes / Text : www.tlwrites.com

The Multi-hyphenate artist: Problem or Solution?

In today's creative landscape, the multi-hyphenate identity—where artists juggle roles like musician-producer-coach—has become a badge of survival, but it often masks deeper struggles in an unforgiving economy. While diversification promises adaptability, it can lead to fragmentation, diluting the very passion that fuels artistic pursuits. Experts warn of the invisible tradeoffs, where spreading too thin risks sacrificing true mastery for mere breadth. Yet, beneath this hustle lies a path to genuine alignment, challenging outdated myths about art and commerce. Dive deeper to uncover practical frameworks that could transform how you navigate your creative journey.
 
In an era where artists are subtly coerced into the roles of content creators and market disruptors, the core essence of artistry risks being overshadowed by entrepreneurial ambitions. Modern creative culture often blurs the lines between genuine self-expression and commodified authenticity, leading artists toward the tempting yet restrictive path of scale, predictability, and market demand. Read on to understand how to strike a balance between financial sustainability and creative integrity.
 
Read the blog post.
Join the first cohort of my Artist Mastermind and get your first month free. 
https://holisticmusicianacademy.com/page/group-coaching
 
Free Artist Training:
artistmindmap.com
 
Courses:
https://holisticmusicianacademy.com/page/courses
 
1:1 Mentoring: 
https://holisticmusicianacademy.com/page/1-on-1-mentorship

Artists vs Entrepreneurs

In an era where artists are subtly coerced into the roles of content creators and market disruptors, the core essence of artistry risks being overshadowed by entrepreneurial ambitions. Modern creative culture often blurs the lines between genuine self-expression and commodified authenticity, leading artists toward the tempting yet restrictive path of scale, predictability, and market demand. Read on to understand how to strike a balance between financial sustainability and creative integrity.
 
Join the first cohort of my Artist Mastermind and get your first month free. 
https://holisticmusicianacademy.com/page/group-coaching
 
Free Artist Training:
artistmindmap.com
 
Courses:
https://holisticmusicianacademy.com/page/courses
 
1:1 Mentoring: 
https://holisticmusicianacademy.com/page/1-on-1-mentorship