The Havoc Brothers is no new name as far as Malaysian Indian Entertainment is concerned. The duo, Mathan and Naveen, have amassed a huge following of both fans and haters alike over the past 10 years of being involved in this industry.

Being chosen as RAAGA’s Malaysian Star Of The Month, we got an exclusive heart-to-heart interview with the duo; especially for you, our readers!
 

1.

RAAGA: What stirred your interest to join this industry?
Havoc Brothers: We started off as bathroom singers. We’ve always had an inkling for music and a passion to create music. Many have encouraged us to join singing contests. But the way we look at it, we want to create our own music instead of remaking art. Even back then we have set our minds that we want to be influencers. So we started recording songs at home on Skype Mic. Those were our early days. As we improved our skills, we invested in better equipment to produce better music. Some songs that came out of this effort were Lepak Kudunggeh and Un Melle Khadal.
If you listen to the songs closely, you will definitely pick up on other noises in the background because of the lack of proper equipment.

2.

RAAGA: What were you guys doing before joining this industry?
Havoc Brothers: We did odd jobs like working at Mc Donalds, Pizza Hut and we’ve even been computer salesmen. However, our passion was with this industry. It was a dream we couldn’t give up. There are no studios whose doors we didn’t knock in pursuit of an opportunity. There is no stage that we didn’t plead for a chance to get on. But it just wasn’t time yet we guess.

We come from JB, and studios are in KL. There were times when we had to sleep in TBS and shower there, as we were adamant on breaking into the industry. Our salvation came when Psycho Unit’s Rabbit Mac found us and signed us under his label. Until we were found, we always performed for free.

We used to burn CDs using our own savings and we’ve tried to sell our wares in places like Maran. But people don’t buy CDs anymore. The struggle was real.
 

3.

RAAGA: How has your work evolved over the years?
Havoc Brothers: We changed the concept of our songs and lyrics over the years. As we grew as people, our music matured with us. We have always worked to better ourselves. Even now, we feel like there is room for growth.

4.

RAAGA: What would you like to say to your haters?
Havoc Brothers: We love you. You have helped us improve ourselves as artistes. However, we do hope there will come a day when people will actually make the effort to get to know us first before blindly judging and hating.

We believe that to grow as a community, we have got to have unity.  We need to support and encourage each other. Learn to appreciate the good so that what is good has an opportunity to grow. Anyway, thanks for all the lessons you guys have thought us. It has helped us write better lyrics. At the end of the day we will always be champions of Tamil welfare no matter how much hate is thrown at us.

5.

RAAGA: The first song you guys ever recorded in a studio, Thirunanggai. Tell us a bit about what inspired this song?
Havoc Brothers: We have utmost respect for this community and it really breaks our heart to see what they go through. We even have childhood friends from this community so we really understand what they go through. We’ve got just one message to everyone out there: stop bullying transgendered people. No one is born perfect. If the tables were turned and society was subjected to the name-calling and persecution that this community faces, many of us wouldn’t want to live anymore. So, just be kind to one another.

6.

RAAGA: What word of advice can you guys give to aspiring artistes?
Havoc Brothers: If you guys are serious about making music, go to work, grow your bank a little and invest into your music. Grow your skills slowly, nothing happens overnight. Don’t focus on becoming an artiste, focus on honing your skills as musicians first!

7.

RAAGA: Which one song that you guys wish everyone would give a listen to?
Havoc Brothers: Definitely Kaarat! Check out the lyrics, we wrote it with the Tamil community at heart. We hope you guys enjoy it.

Quite an interview it was, if we say so ourselves. Check out Kaarat’s music video below and stay tuned to RAAGA for our next Malaysian Star Of The Month.