The band is often praised by critics for tackling social issues in its music and for combining Indian folk elements with metal. Can you describe your sound without using those words?

Our music is driven by our emotions, we write about things that either we’ve gone through or someone we know has gone through or going through…things we feel about. Nothing in our music is there for the sake of it, it’s there because it flows well with whatever we create. The process includes a lot of introspection and is true to us.

MP Saket Gokhale recently asked for musicians to suggest policy changes so that the “ecosystem for independent music in India” can get an “overhaul”. With your latest song, Nu Delhi, you’ve started a new journey with American label Fearless Records. Do you agree that the scene needs an overhaul, and are there any glaring issues you’ve noticed through the years?

Yes, the independent music scene in India does need an overhaul. While there has been growth, major challenges persist, including lack of infrastructure, limited access to funding, and insufficient platforms for artists to showcase their work. Copyright enforcement is weak; there’s an over-reliance on Bollywood which overshadows other genres. Through our journey, including the release of Nu Delhi with Fearless Records, we’ve realised the importance of creating spaces for diverse voices and ensuring fair opportunities for independent artists to thrive globally.

Your band was formed in 2016 with the intention of “destroying pop songs.” You’ve, since then, indicated that you began covering pop and Bollywood songs to gain momentum. Today, do you think metal’s appeal in India is still from a point of counter-culture? If not, what’s changed?

That has always been the plan, to get eyeballs on us before we put out our original music. There was no point in dropping it when there was no one around to listen. The best way to get those eyeballs was by creating something unique by taking something familiar and presenting it to the masses, and that’s why we have so many supporters who have been there with us from the absolute start and we thank them with all our hearts for sticking with us.

Metal and the indie music scene as a whole, its appeal in India has evolved significantly. We have gone from having a handful of bands to having so many of them that it’s unreal to see such amazing talent across all genres. Artistes are breaking borders and are making a name for themselves across the globe. The internet has a huge role to play in it. It’s a great time to be an artist and see how everything plays out for you.

What are you working on at the moment?

We are working on our second album — the recording, mixing, and mastering process is done but there’s a lot more that needs to be done in terms of shoots and planning the tours ahead.

What was the process of writing and shooting for Nu Delhi? How did you decide who would cameo in the video?

Working on Nu Delhi was really interesting because it was all done in-house. There’s a lot of stuff that we did the same old run-and-gun style that we’ve done with a majority of our videos and then some more organised things in terms of permissions. It was a tiring process but worth it. The love and support that song is receiving is unreal and we don’t want to stop at just that, there is a whole bunch of new stuff ready to be unleashed.

In terms of the cameos, we reached out to our friends and they were very kind to agree.

What is your advice to Indians in their teens trying to start a metal band?

The Internet is your best friend. Keep trying hard and listen to what your heart says when you create. Most importantly, it’s easy to give up when times are hard but just keep at it.