Mihir: Lets do this from the start. History lesson to begin with eh? How’d you guys happen? How’d Devoid come about?
Arun: About roughly three years from now I quit my earlier band called BBR because of various different reasons, so I and another friend of mine started jamming together, he'd be Shubham. By then even Shubham had quit his previous band called Demise. We started off with me on a Givson guitar and Shubham on chairs and books as percussion and we were ripping Whiplash and the likes. Later we felt could make use of our time and decided to form a band and hence we were on a look out for a Lead guitarist and Bass guitarist to complete the band's sound. In time we ran into another buddy of mine who lived in the same locality and he is Keshav. He used to come to my brother's guitar classes and we soon became good friends. Keshav quit his job back then so he could start jamming with Shubham and me. The first time we jammed we hit off on a brilliant note and from there on there was absolutely no looking back. We still lacked a bass guitarist and soon sought help from a guy called Ninad. He was a major thrash fan and was excellent at his bass parts. We recorded a song called 'The Obsolete' with Ninad which was released in a compilation called "We are the Scene - Vol I". But because of the distance factor Ninad could no longer be a part of the band. We were again left without a bass guitarist. A few other friends of mine tried out for the part of the bass duties but sadly none worked out. But as fate would have it some where down the line we met up with a guy called Frank and he was willing to try out as our bass guitarist. The very first jam was good enough for us to know that we now finally have a permanent bass guitarist. Frank fit the band perfectly. Since then we have played shows and continued to make music.

Mihir: What was the first big show you guys did?
Arun: The first big show we did was actually our 2nd gig! It was the Mumbai leg of Campus Rock Idol and it was held at MMRDA Grounds at Bandra Kurla Complex. We played before a crowd as big as 500 and yes, back then seeing so many people below you at a single glance meant something. Something HUGE!

Mihir: Lets talk a bit about your music. You guys have quite a few originals now and they’re really catching on with the crowd in a big way. Why do you think that your music is connecting with the people?
Arun: To be brutally honest, I dont know. When we sit down to make music we think little of the consequences or the effects it will have on the crowd because then your creativity gets gravely stunted. The riffs, the snarling vocals, the chorus and the leads and the thumping bass and pulsating drums in ANY of our originals speak of something and perhaps that something is what connects them (the people) to us and vice versa. Its hard as a musician to tell why this 'certain feeling' is generated or let loose in such a large magnitude and that too simultaneously, well, I guess thats the beauty of Metal and the aggression of Thrash Metal.

Mihir: Tell us a bit about all of your songs
Arun: Er... this will take some time :)
Black Fortress - This is a song based on a fictional edifice called the Black Fortress. This was our very first song as a complete and a changed Devoid. This Black Fortress is actually a place where Shubham, Keshav and me jammed for the very first time. It looked like a fortress in the night fall and since we had a weird connection to the place I penned down Black Fortress as a tribute to it.
Crowning Of the Dead - This song is about reclaiming the lands and the mentality that were taken away by 'the others'. Its about those people who face opposition and oppression by things that are proclaimed to be righteous in nature. Its about undoing everything that modern society believes. Its about coronating the masses that have a metal heart. This song is constructed by everyone in the band and the lyrics are written by me.
Possessed - I being a huge horror buff wrote this song as a tribute to the one movie I consider KVLT - The Exorcist. The song like the rest are constructed by everyone in the band but the lyrics are written by me.
Kali - This one song is an off beat from the regular material. As the name suggests, its based on our true God. Kali. The song describes the unfathomable fury and wisdom that our deity is. This is a song that still gives me the goosebumps! Its constructed and written by me.
Devoid Of Emotions - Finally a non fictional and a personal song. It was so on its way haha! Well 'Devoid of emotions' is quite self explainatory actually. It talks about the phase of one's life (could be an entire lifetime) where one lacks to show emotions towards anything because of any particular reason. It throws light on the fact that because of the society and because of all the set rules a person can become max-ed out off emotions. Something that is quite evident in really disturbed teenagers and it stays that ways for bad. Or good. Song constructed by the band and lyrics written by me.
A God's Lie - This is the newest addition to our setlist. The song is made by the whole band and written by me. It speaks of why God, the greatest power according to humankind, is a curse on us. It speaks of, how the lie that was to be our saving grace, changed the way the world looks at things now. The lyrics are quite blatant in nature and is kept that way for a reason. Its an outcry for reasoning. Its a song that pities our plight. Haha!
Thats all for now.

Mihir: People really watching you boys play live. What is the best part of a live gig for you?
Arun: The best part of any gig is to see a person actually feel the song by punching the shit out of the person standing right next to him. Peace out? hahah!

Mihir: You’ve played in some really big gigs. Tell us some of your favourite places to have played live.
Arun: Hyderabad was my best experience by far. Those people there know how to obliterate each other for a just cause, Devoid :). Then of course any Razz gig has always been fun! Gladly awaiting Resurrection, for I know, that shall be one gig worth remembering.

Mihir: Any place you really want to play at?
Arun: I could say Europe, US and so forth but as for now, Bangalore would do! haha.

Mihir: Whats new with Devoid these days? What’re you guys up to?
Arun: We are gonna be back after a 3 month break and we shall be playing at Resurrection VI on 8th of April. Working on some new material and hoping to be back full-time on the gigging circuit.

Mihir: Best of luck with everything to you Arun…and to the band. Any message for your fans?
Arun: A big fucking thanks to everyone who are there for all the Devoid gigs because it is you all that back us up at every fronterior. No more bullshit. Thrash all the fucking way!