Extraordinary Rendition

Born to Indian parents in California, raised in the US, India and southern France, and leading a double life as a musician and a doctor, singer / guitarist / composer Rupa Marya and her polyglot band of musical renegades have taken the San Francisco Bay Area by storm. With their enchanting mix of chic French nouvelle vague, energetic Gypsy swing, and dreamy Indian ragas, the trend-setting band is spearheading a multicultural movement that is redefining the sound of contemporary music.

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 to Pink Martini. 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.

The band's sold-out shows at large venues in San Francisco have earned renown for their circus-like atmosphere that channels a modern-day Moulin Rouge. The band's informal, acoustic line-up includes Rupa on guitar and vocals backed by upright bass, cello, accordion or bandoneon, percussion and trumpet.