Without the Blues, there would be no Metal

A Blues band from Shillong launch their second album this Thursday at Blue Frog, a day after they perform their first tribute concert. WHAT's ON finds out why new age rockers owe it to the Blues

A Blues band from Shillong launch their second album this Thursday at Blue Frog, a day after they perform their first tribute concert. WHAT's ON finds out why new age rockers owe it to the Blues

The Soulmate sound borrows influences from various different schools of Blues the 1920s, 30s, the Chicago style, the Mississippi riffsu2026 even Jazz, R 'n' B and Soulu2026 while modernising it by just a notch. Mostly done unintentionally. Twenty six year-old Tipriti "Tips" Kharbangar's vocals aren't heavy with a desi hangover; they have a neutral accent, uplifting the music to a global level. Rudy's guitaring fits her crisp vocals like a glove.

Soulmate's guitarist-songwriter-vocalist Rudy Kallang

With the response their debut album received, coupled with time spent touring, Rudy (Kallang), the band's songwriter-vocalist-guitarist says they've come a long way. With their second effort Moving On, "We have got guts. Our sound has opened up." The recording process has been given a "live" touch.u00a0

The duo that has been part of hugely successful groups like The Great Society and Mojo in Shillong, are teaming up with Sam on drums, Ferdy on bass guitar and Amit on second guitar, to provide a knockout tribute to Jimi Hendrix. Why not Bob Dylan, considering the north east has a fascination for him. "We love Dylan too. But, Hendrix is the God of the modern electric guitar. We will give his covers a Soulmate touch, of course. All his music is not very easy to perform, since he unveiled most of his magic in the recording studio," Rudy
tells us.

The album launch will see the band perform tracks from their old and new album. "This time, Blues rock, jazz is what we have infused into our sound. It's for everyone, from 6 to 60 year-olds," says Rudy, who is so passionate about Blues, he can't watch it turn into a dying art. He emphasises its importance by pointing out,u00a0 Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Death Metal are all derivatives of Blues. Without the Blues, their would be no metal!

Catch the Shillong-based Blues band, Soulmate pay homage to Jimi Hendrix on June 10.u00a0
Time: 9.30 pm onwards
Entry: Rs 300 per head
At: Blue Frog, Mathuradas Mills Compound, Tulsi Pipe Road, Lower Parel.
Call: 40332300
On June 11, the band will launch their second album, Moving On. Entry to the album launch is free.

WIN Free Albums of Soulmate's Moving On.
From which capital city of India is Soulmate from?
a) Shillong b) Sikkim c) Gangtok
Send in your answer to features@mid-day.com with full contact information. 3 winners will be picked through a random draw and informed on phone