SOULMATE Inspired by the roots and groove sounds of the Blues,Blues-rock,Soul,Rock ‘n Roll, Funk and R&B,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 many concerts all over The Northeast as well as in different parts of India. They have also performed at the International Jazzmandu Festival in Kathmandu for three years...2004, 2005 and 2009.
Anyone with an interest in the western music scene in India will 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 and he started singing and playing the ukulele at a very tender age eventually graduating to the guitar. Today, Rudy is one of the foremost singer / songwriter / blues guitar players in the country with a long musical history having 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 has earned a name as one of the finest female singers to have emerged out of Shillong and India as a whole! If there is one thing Tip’s 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.
They have released 2 albums, the first being ‘SHILLONG’ and the 2nd Album,’ MOVING ON” was released by Blue Frog Records in June 2009. Soulmate have played numerous gigs all over India as well as in Kathmandu, France(Billy Bobs' in Disneyland Village), USA(23rd and 26th INTERNATIONAL BLUES CHALLENGES for 2007&2010 as well as in Colorado and Rhode Island) and in Singapore(MOSAIC MUSIC FESTIVAL). They are looking forward to touring Europe and Canada sometime in the middle of this year.
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