Artists - Soulmate
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 fir Wills Lifestyle Fashion India Weel, Airtel, etc.
They have also performed at the International Jazzmandu Festival in Kathmandu for two consecutive years, in 2004 and 2005.
The band 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 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.
Soulmate has released an album called “SHILLONG” of which a video of the song “I AM” is presently on the VH1 channel. This album was voted the 1 Original Album in the Blues/Rock category in the year 2005.
In June 2009, they are releasing their second album "MOVING ON" with Blue Frog Records in Mumbai.
When often asked by people, why they chose the Blues, their answer has been: ”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, The Great Society!!
Rudy and Tips are endorsers for Greg Bennett Guitars.
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MOVING ON - Released JUNE 2009
1. Peace Prayer
2. Moving ON
3. Set Me Free
4. Your Sweet Loving
5. Remembering Rory
6. Come 'Round My House
7. Cup Of Tea
8. Smile At Me
9. She Is
10. Kool Kat Strut
11. Stay Away
12. Peace Prayer (Reprise) -
