SOULMATE

“The Band That Re-Ignited the Blues in India”… “The Best Blues Band In India” …” If it’s the Blues you want then Soulmate is what you need!! “Buddy Guy rocked, but Soul Mate blew my socks off!" >SOULMATE Inspired by the roots and groove sounds of the Blues,Blues-rock,Soul,Rock ‘n Roll, Funk and R&B,SOULMATE was formed in Shillong,in October 2002 when Rudy Wallang and Tipriti Kharbangar decided to form a band dedicated to playing the Blues and spreading awareness about this important genre of music .Since then have played numerous gigs all over India and Abroad. In 2011 they played in the US selling out two shows at the Kennedy Center, in Washington DC during the Maximum India Festival, did a successful 4 city tour of Norway, played alongside John Mayall at the Jakarta Blues Festival and most recently alongside Buddy Guy , Taj Mahal and John Lee Hooker Jr at the Mahindra Blues fest 2012 and Matt Schofield,Johnny Lang and Shemika Copeland at the Mahindra Blues Fest in Mumbai 2011. < In the past Soulmate have toured the USA playing in Memphis Tn., Brown University- Rhode Island & Colorado and were twice semi finalists at the 23rd & 26th International Blues Challenge, they have performed in France(Disneyland,Paris), Germany(Baltic Blues Festival 2012),Sweden(Goteburg and Monsteras Roots and Blues Festival 2012), Singapore (Mosaic Music Festival), Dubai (Du World Music Festival), Bhutan , Indonesia (Jakarta Blues Festival 2010/2011) and Kathmandu(Jazzmandu-2004,2005,2008) . Soulmate have recorded two albums thus far, ”Shillong” and “Moving On” and are in the process of putting down songs for their next one. Anyone with an interest in the western music scene in India will recognize Guitar player/ 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 Blues guitar players/ singer / songwriters in the country with a long musical history having been part of the country‟s most well known blues rock acts, Great Society & Mojo The beautifully 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 has also begun to write songs for the band as well. She started out singing gospel songs at the local church choir and is now drawn to the Blues, Soul and Jazz. 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’s influences range from Toto Wallang, Buddy Guy, Albert Collins, Jimi Hendrix, Roy Buchanan, Muddy Waters, Steve Gaines, George Harrison, Albert King, BB King, Freddie King, Koko Taylor, Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Etta James, Susan Tedeschi, Jimmy Hall, Rory Gallagher, Janis Joplin to The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Van Morrison, Bob Dylan …to name but a few. When playing live, Soulmate are joined by Leon Wallang on Bass Guitar, Shaun Nonghulo on Drums & Raveen Panday on Keyboards. Rudy Endorses Greg Bennett Guitars,Fender Amplification,D’Addario Strings and Xotic Pedals,USA. Tips Endorses Gibson Guitars,USA. Soulmate is exclusively managed by Keith Wallang for Springboard Surprises. Mobile: +91(0) 94361 19961 Tel: +91(0) 364 2506352

SHILLONG, IN