From selling CDs to surviving streaming, the TAAQ frontman reflects on three decades of independent music, going full-time twice and building a musical ecosystem in Bangalore.
We spoke to one of the coolest cats in Bangalore! Bruce Lee Mani, the voice and guitar behind Thermal and a Quarter (TAAQ), joined Sinusoidal Music for a conversation about songwriting, the Bangalore rock scene, and what it really takes to build a sustainable career in music.
Three Decades of TAAQ and the Changing Bangalore Ecosystem
With 30 years of TAAQ behind him, Mani has witnessed the independent music landscape transform dramatically. From recording early demos with just ₹1,000 and borrowed instruments to navigating the streaming era, the band has learned to adapt without compromising its identity.
But the journey hasn’t always been smooth. TAAQ attempted to pursue music full-time twice, and the first attempt ended after nine financially difficult months.
“Well, the first time we were idiots. I mean, we had no clue.”
The biggest lesson? Musicians must understand the business behind their art. Mani reflected on the importance of knowing your audience, generating revenue and building something that lasts.
Their second attempt took a different route. In 2010, the band launched The TAAQ Academy with support from investors, creating more than just a music school.
“And it’s become this little ecosystem. So many musicians have passed through.”
Students became teachers, teachers became performers and managers, and many returned to mentor the next generation. Mani continues to dedicate 17–20 hours every week to teaching.
From CDs to Streaming: Learning the Business of Music
The conversation also explored how streaming transformed musicians’ earnings. While physical CDs once offered healthy margins, streaming pushed independent acts to rely more heavily on live performances and other income streams.
“The streaming thing just changed the whole mechanics of how we get paid from these things.”
Three decades in, TAAQ continues to write, perform and evolve. For Mani, the journey reveals a larger truth: making music takes creativity, but sustaining it demands resilience, community and a willingness to learn the business.
Watch the full interview here:
Writer by the day, musician by night!
