Resting
on the hilly terrains of the east khasi hills, Shillong is the capital city of
Meghalaya, which is famous not only for its picturesque landscape and its
commonly known insignia “Scotland of the east,” but also fancied as the rock
capital of India. The NE region is a land of vast diversity, yet the people
have two things in common that hold the diverse culture at sync; that is
western music and its culture & tenet. NE is toured by various
international bands every year during the winter season. Legendary bands like
Scorpions, Mr. Big, White Lion, M.L.T.R, Firehouse, Lost Angel, Petra, and many
other famous bands such as Hoobastank have visited the country’s rock capital
with courteous ethics and rock and roll.
Here
is a list of the famous bands and solo artists from Northeast India who have
earned global recogniton and national stardom:
Alobo
Naga and the Band
Alobo
Naga And The Band from Nagaland were nominated at the MTV music awards in 2014
for their hit debut single Painted Dreams which bagged fourth place at
the Cherokee America (India) present. Released in 2011, Painted Dreams
stayed at the VH1 top ten for weeks, competing with internationally acclaimed
artistes like Maroon 5, Lady Gaga and Jay Z.
Alobo
is a northeast base singer who is the frontman of the band “Alobo Naga and the
Band”. Born and raised in Dimapur, a small commercial town in Nagaland, he
attended Patkai Christian College. The school has the most advanced music
academy in the Northeast called “Patkai Music Academy”, run under the
supervision of a resourceful musician and a respected pianist, Mrs. Margaret
Shishak.
Tetseo
Sisters
The
famous quartet from Nagaland who call themselves the ‘Tetseo sisters’, are Nagaland based artistes critically
acclaimed for traditional folk songs and rhythmic blues. Set in traditional
attire and contemporary music blended with folk epitome, the fabulous four came
together in 1994 - all the way from Kohima, the capital city of Nagaland. Since
then, the four siblings have been performing across India and made their first
major appearance in the Asia pacific in 2008 when they were invited to perform
at the North East Trade
Opportunities Summit in Bangkok, Thailand and Handshake concert, Bangkok in 2012.
In the recent years, the girls have
toured Burma, America, England, and Scotland. The group has released a cover
song “Marvin Gaye” by Charlie Puth on 1st sept this year, achieving
20 thousand plus views by the YouTube community within one week of the release.
Soulmate
Soulmate’s
Tipaiti, known as the Janis Joplin of India, is one of the founding members of
the blues and rock band from NE India, Meghalaya, shillong. The shillong based
singer and songwriter won the best female vocalist at the jack Daniel’s rock
awards in 2009. Back in 2003, Mr. Wallang, one of the most recognized blues
guitarists of Tripati and co, conjured a breakthrough in Shillong and
eventually formed the band giving their first performance at the Umiam water
park, Jowai road, Meghalaya.
Since
then the band had been performing across Europe, America, Asia, and Middle East
apart from the shows performed at home. Soulmate attracted immense recognition
when the band represented India at the 23rd international blues
challenge hosted by blues foundation of America at Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.A.
in 2007 where the band reached the semifinals. Soulmate’s Voodoo Woman
is considered as the band’s signature song by myriad of listeners and fans.
Shillong
chamber choir
A
group of 25 promising young men and women, dressed up in alignment and sang in
choir, earned plaudits from reality TV star Simon Cowell in Oct 2010. The
chamber choir, under the direction of a noted pianist from shillong, Neil Nongkynrih -
alumni of Trinity College London, stole millions of hearts when they projected the rendition of classic
Bollywood song from the film “Sholay,” with an electrifying orchestra version.
Millions of householders from the Northeast watched the group on TV series with
prayers and support.
Much to the pride of NE people, the team became the
winner of India’s got talent season 6. Apart from India, the choir has been
performing across Great Britain,
Switzerland, Sri Lanka, Italy and Poland. The band had also performed
during the state visit of U.S. President Mr. Barack Obama and the first lady
Michelle Obama in 2010 at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi.
Lou
Majaw
Known
as the most faithful fan of Bob Dylan in India, Lou was born in a poor family.
As a child, he didn't even have the
resources to buy a guitar or a radio tape. He had to visit his friend’s house
just to listen to his favorites songs. Because of his passion, he learnt to
play guitar by his own efforts.
At
a very young age, Majaw was sent to a boarding school by his mother, and this
is where his sincere love for music developed. He was introduced to the songs
of Elvis Presley and Bill Haley when he visited one of his friends.
In
1966, he was introduced to Bob Dylan’s artistry, and was deeply inspired by his
songs and songwriting art. Since then, he has been gigging around from places
to places, mostly in Kolkata, displaying his deep connection with Bob Dylan. As
his love for Dylan continued to grow, he organized his birthday celebration in
1972, 24th May, as a homage to the living legend on his birthday and
continues celebrating in Shillong, hitherto.
Guru
Reuben Mashangva
Knighted
by the North East Zone
Cultural Centre (NEZCC), the conventional blues
singer was born in a small
village, in Ukhrul district, Manipur on 21 June 1961. He is famous for adopting
strange musical instruments made from the horn of bulls and one stringed
ukulele-like instrument called “tingteila”,whose string was made from
the hair from a pony tail. Besides, he is an excellent guitarist too. During
his youth, Guru was deeply influenced by the work of Bob Dylan, Bob Marley, and
B.B. Kings. Inspired by reggae and blues, he later embarked a new charter in
his career, and subsequently became the “king of the blues” in India.
He was known by
several miscellaneous insignia such as “the king of Naga folk song” “Bob
Marley” and sometimes “Bob Dylan.” But among all these titles conferred to him,
he likes the title “Guru” the most. As his popularity gained immense pace at
the national and international forum, a documentary film titled “Guru Rueben
Mashangva” was produced and released in 2012 by one celebrated Manipuri
film maker Oinam Doren, starring the Guru himself. Whether this earns him the
title of an actor or not, still remains ambiguous. A holder of several awards
and nominations, Guru Mashangva is a father of five children.
Abiogenesis
Abiogenesis is the
only band from Northeast India to have been nominated for the 50th
Grammy award for the best contemporary world music album of the year. Their
album, Rustic Relish, was released on 20th august 2008 by one
of the world's most reputed label called APH Records, Georgia, United
States. Arenla Ao, the acclaimed female vocalist, bagged the award of best
female vocal at the 6th Jack Daniels rock awards with ease.
They have the
establishment to remunerate return fees under the ministry of external affairs,
to any band
performing in foreign nation if the band requested them. The Nagaland based
rock fusion band got its album Wake Up Call nominated at the GIMA
(global Indian Music Awards) in 2013 for the best rock album. In recent times, the band was seen performing magnanimously at the Northeast Festival held at hotel Taj, Mumbai, which was organized by the North East Socio-cultural Trust, Trend MMS with support from GMS on 1st august 2015.
(global Indian Music Awards) in 2013 for the best rock album. In recent times, the band was seen performing magnanimously at the Northeast Festival held at hotel Taj, Mumbai, which was organized by the North East Socio-cultural Trust, Trend MMS with support from GMS on 1st august 2015.
Magdalene
Inspired by a positive
hard rock band “Gotthard,” “Magdalene” is no less a band than any of its
peers. Exceptionally talented and admirers of great Christian rock music, these
five young men from Mizoram came together in august 2005 and formed the band
“Magdalene.” The name was an excerpt from a biblical text wherein a woman
called “Mary Magdalene,” who is portrayed as a woman possessed by devil,
in Luke chapter 8 verse 3.
Their incorporation of
Nu metal with a spiritual angle, earned the band a recognition of the most
sought after Christian rock band in India. The band became an ambassador of a
significant slogan “Jesus is the rock”, especially in the Northeast.
Their signature song, Save Me, featuring the boomerang Rastafarian
frontman, Atea, had
gathered over 56 k views on YouTube.
“Boomerang” is
also a prominent metal band from Mizoram which that has performed at stages like the great Indian rock fest and
the Hornbill festival in Nagaland.
Devine Connection
A popular Christian rock band from
Nagaland became popular overnight, after winning the “kurkure desi beat contest
– 2010”.
Hundreds of people who witnessed
the eccentric atmosphere at the Chitrath studio of Mumbai, fell in love with
the frontman Obed, when he ruled the stage performing the rendition of Wake up
Sid and Zara Sa in contemporary rock version. Until then, the band had been
performing across the country. The band had also performed at international
forum in Bangkok and featured with John Schlitt, frontman of the world's most
famous gospel band ‘Petra’, at a live concert in shillong 2012.
Minute of Decay
(M.O.D)
M.O.D
is a band of three Delhi based sisters who have been gigging around the Delhi
NCR neighborhood for quite some time. They are natives of a major district
called Ukhrul in Manipur. Growing up with the prototypical musical accessories
since their tender age, the three sisters acquired the passion in venturing the
cannibalistic music world and its culture under quick conjecture.
The vocalist plus guitarist of the band, Worshon Muivah is an exceptional talent. The bassist is a figure of no less marvel, but the sister percussionist with her glamorous conduct invites much serendipity for the already intimidating trio. Just like any other band, the band drew immense inspiration from legendary artistes, such as the Beatles, Janis Joplin, Mr. Big, Suzi Quatro and many more. The four year old band released their first video on Sep 19, 2012 on youtube.
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Introduction
Ningreikhan Wungkhai, alumnus of IIMC Dhenkanal, currently working as a freelance journalist
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