North East India and music; ten bands you should know about

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 1^st 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 23^rd 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, 24^th 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 50^th Grammy award for the best contemporary world music album of the year. Their album, Rustic Relish, was released on 20^th 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 6^th 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 1^st 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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