Bhutanese student starts music band in US
Music is beautiful and to live it with passion is life. Hence, 18-year-old Sonam Tandin Wang aka Wong, heads the Dukes, a contemporary punk rock band, with his friend Justin James (JJ) in the US.
The Dukes are a power pop/pop-punk band from the small town of Olney, Maryland. They have earned a niche for themselves in Maryland and Virginia music scene after gigs with several nationwide touring bands.
The Dukes was named after a name of a band in the 1970’s where JJ’s uncle was a member.
They started doing covers, and by spring 2009, Wong and JJ had already written a number of songs. This was further boosted by addition of lead guitarist, Cameron Byrd and ex-bassist, David Thurman-Bey, to play their first gig as the Dukes.
Dukes recorded its first self-titled three-song EP album at Omega Studios. That was an experiment and a stepping stone for further their music interest.
The band has since then been gigging rigorously, booking shows and building fan base, attending high school all the while.
The Dukes recorded their “Dreams and Regrets” as a trio after the departure of Cameron. Right after the recording of the album, a new member, Kevin Fuss, joined the band. The band regards this recording as their best memory.
The band plans to find stand-in or permanent musicians and then to hit the road on tour to promote their new record and themselves.
About Wong
From Wangsimu in Thimphu, Wong is currently a college student in the State of Maryland, the US.
He is born to Dr Sonam Wangyel Wang and Karma Hangzo.
He finds writing songs a source of bliss. “When I decide I want to turn a poem into a work of music, a certain level of professionalism is involved,” he said, adding that it’s an intricate process.
Inspiration for songwriting comes from everywhere, he said. Lyrics, he says, are an extension of human emotion, something perceivable and relatable to others. “Girls are also something awesome to write about too,” he added.
His father said that, though he is a huge believer in education, it is not all about producing doctors and engineers or lawyers. Education constitutes developing the strengths of an individual to increase their options in life as well as become a positive citizen.
Wong believes that there is a place for everyone despite exponential growth of the American music industry.
On his visit to Bhutan next summer, he plans to play a few acoustic sets provided that there is opportunity.
Source: bhutanobserver