Soulmate

The Blues can have roots in India.

That’s something that Soulmate truly believe in.

This talented band consists of Rudy Wallang and Tipriti ‘Tips’ Kharbangar. Rudy is one of the first singer/songwriter/blues guitar players in the country while Tips is an extremely talented vocalist and rhythm guitarist. Soulmate came together in Shillong, in February 2003, playing their first concert at the ‘Roots Festival’ at the Water Sports Complex in Umiam.

Since then the band has performed over 500 concerts in the Northeast and all over India, including The Haze Blues and Jazz Bar in Delhi, the SAARC Bands Festival in 2007, the RSJ PubRockFest in 2007 and 2008, and corporate gigs for Wills Lifestyle Fashion India Week, Airtel, etc.

They have also performed at the International Jazzmandu Festival in Kathmandu for two consecutive years, in 2004 and 2005.

The band has created history by being the first and only blues band ever to represent India (Courtesy The Blues Club of India) at the 23rd International Blues Challenge organized by The Blues Foundation of America, in Memphis, Tennessee, USA, in February 2007. They were semi-finalists and performed at The Rum Boogie Café (Blues Club of The Year) alongside 150 other bands and musicians from all over the world.

Anyone with an interest in the western music scene in India will easily recognize singer/songwriter Rudy Wallang, who leads this tight knit musical unit. Born into music, he grew up listening to his father Toto Wallang making music. Rudy gradually started singing and playing the ukulele at a very tender age, eventually graduating to the guitar. Today, Rudy has built up a long musical history in India, having also been part of the well known blues rock acts, Great Society & Mojo.

The beautiful and talented vocalist and rhythm guitarist of SOULMATE is Tipriti ‘Tips’ Kharbangar who is now one of the finest female singers to have emerged out of Shillong and India as a whole!

If there is one thing Tips is happy doing it is singing and reflecting. This she vocalizes with a joy and exuberance that is unmatched and original. She started out singing gospel songs at the local church choir and is now drawn to the Blues, Soul, Jazz and listens to Aretha Franklin, Billy Holliday, Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, Nina Simone and B. B. King, Van Morrison, Jimmy Hall, Susan Tedeschi.

A video of the song ‘I Am’ from their first album called ‘Shillong’ is presently broadcast on VH1. This album was voted the Most Original Album in the Blues/Rock category in the year 2005.

In June 2009, Soulmate released their second album ‘Moving On’ with Blue Frog Records in Mumbai.

When often asked by people why they chose the Blues, they always answer – “we didn’t choose the Blues…the Blues chose us!”

Soulmate would like to use their talent not only to entertain, but also to help society in whatever way they can. Their influences range from Toto Wallang, Sheila Wallang, The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Albert Collins, Buddy Guy, Jimi Hendrix, Roy Buchanan, George Harrison, Albert King, B.B King, Koko Taylor, Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitzgerald, Janis Joplin to Van Morrison, Etta James, Susan Tedeschi, Johnny ‘GUITAR’ Watson, Rory Gallagher, Hank Marvin, Bob Dylan, Jack Pearson, Muddy Waters, Elmore James, Jeff Beck, Allman Brothers, Jimmy Hall, Frank Zappa, Willie Dixon, Rory Block, Rory Gallagher, Peter Green, Mojo and last but not least, The Great Society!

So if you like the Blues, be sure to catch their music all this month on myopusradio.com