While the music of Rupa & the April Fishes defies categorization, their intimate sound combined with a broad appeal has earned them comparisons to everyone from Manu Chao, Pink Martini and Lhasa to Beirut, Dengue Fever, Gogol Bordello and Keren Ann. Rupa’s nomadic upbringing has led her to write songs in a multitude of languages, including French, Spanish, Hindi and English. With themes ranging from love and death to politics and philosophy, the songs offer a magic carpet ride through time and place and embody Rupa’s goal of breaking down borders both real and imagined, arranged for cello, accordion, guitar, trumpet, upright bass and drums.

Besides being a songwriter and band leader, Rupa is also a doctor, splitting her time between her music career and caring for patients, whom she often finds inspiration from. “A lot of my music feels like it derives its heart from these vulnerable encounters with people,” says Rupa. “Taking care of people is such a deep inspiration for so many things, but especially music.”