En route soulmate!

Precisely a decade and four years ago, in the year 2003, when musicians Rudy Wallang and Tipriti ‘Tips’ Kharbangar decided to rustle up a series of catchy blues rock tracks, little did they know it would take them places. One thing led to the other, and the band, Soulmate was born. Soulful blues rock peppered with jazz, it was indeed only a matter of time that the Indian blues band found their ground in the international music scene — the artistes found instant attention and went on to be the only blues band to represent the country at the 23rd International Blues Challenge (in the year 2007 and 2010), in Memphis, USA. In a candid chat with Bengaluru Chronicle, the duo chats with us ahead of the much talked about ‘Spirit of Shillong tour’, their most extensive India tour yet — this time with a sound that carries with it, the vitality of the hills of their hometown, Shillong.

“There are a lot of our friends and fans who want to come to Shillong, but have never had the opportunity to. Not only to meet, but to spend time here and chill and take in the scenery and experience this beautiful place we call home. So, in order to make it easier on them, we will be ‘bringing’ Shillong to them… we’re gonna tease them with this ‘spirit’ and make them want to come to these parts of the world, all the more. It’s going to be an awesome sauce mash of a few new songs along with a mix of songs from our earlier albums as well as covers of those bluesmen and blues women that have inspired us,” shares Rudy Wallang. The duo starts the tour in Delhi, followed by Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Chennai and end in Pune. Having performed in Bengaluru previously, the city has always been a treat, they say. “We love to play in Bengaluru. We have made a lot of friends and fans here, ever since we started playing there about eight to nine years ago. The Bengaluru audience is one of the best in India in terms ofresponse and vibes.  With regards to expectations, do expect positive vibrations and blues that will be sung and played from the heart and soul,” adds the recipient of the Best Guitar Player 2009 at the Jack Daniels Rock Awards. Enthusing  their music has always been ‘from their soul’, Tipriti believes it’s their mutual love for music that binds them together. “Life  and its experiences influence our music just like it does so many other musicians and artistes...  Our mutual feel and love for our music is what melds us together.” The duo has performed at International Jazzmandu Festival (2004, 2005 and 2010) in Kathmandu, Nepal; Mosaic Music Festival, 2009, Singapore; Du World Music festival 2011 in Dubai, Harley Rock Riders Season III 2012  in Bengaluru, Jakarta Blues Festival 2009 and 2010 in Indonesia, Monsteros Blues Festival, Sweden, Norway, Baltic Blues Festival in Eutin,Germany in 2012 and Mahindra Blues Fest in Mumbai in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. The duo has opened for Carlos Santana at the Formula One Rocks, 2012, in Delhi. 

Hopeful yet unperturbed, the duo has their arms open for the time ahead. “We are ready and love new experiences and playing for new audiences. Maybe a collaboration or two with our Khasi Folk musicians. You will hear about this when the time is right,” they sign off.

— Soulmate will be performing live at The Humming Tree, on July 21 as part of their ‘Spirit of Shillong tour’.