/ Rupa and the April Fishes

by Anokhi Admin

Rupa and the April Fishes

Jul 29, 2013

A Bohemian Sonic Experience

Rupa and the April Fishes, a band whose music defies traditional genres, will find a place in your heart, be sure of it. Incorporating Rupa and the April Fishes have gathered quite the following since the release of their debut album, eXtraOrdinary rendition, in April 2008. They've landed performances at San Francisco's Outside Lands and Stern Grove festivals, New York's Central Park Summer Stage, the Montreal Jazz Festival and several of Europe's most prestigious festivals and venues. The album was also one of ITunes's top 10 world albums for 2008. The release of Este Mundo in October 2009 has only contributed to the band's success.

Rupa, the songstress and driving force behind Rupa and the April Fishes, is a woman of the world. Of Indian heritage, she has lived in France, Spain and San Francisco. Rupa currently resides in the San Francisco area, where she practises medicine, but she still makes time for music and touring with her band.

Through her time spent in jarringly different environments, she has gained perspective and experience that has surfaced in the sounds and stylings of Rupa and the April Fishes. Determined to not let normal expectations and traditional pathways limit her happiness, Rupa has found a way to excel in the generally opposing fields of art and science. Her unusual dual life has been a source of inspiration. She says about the album's fifth track, "Rose", that "this song is a declaration of who I have become through accepting my path in medicine and music, who I have realized myself to be."

Both French and Spanish make regular appearances on the band's most recent album, Este Mundo (This World). Whether she's singing in English, Spanish or French, Rupa is able to bridge the linguistic divide, conveying meaning and emotion regardless of the language.

The destruction of boundaries and the questioning of expectations seem to be a common theme in Rupa's life as well as her music. "I believe that in human history, the expressions that embody what is greatest about us come about in places where cultures and different groups are in close contact with one another," she has said.

The combination of cello, flute, accordion, trumpet, bass and drums make for a somewhat bohemian sonic experience. Lead by the strong and oftentimes flirty vocals of Rupa, who also plays guitar, the band is able to experiment with their craft, creating music that ranges from the sultry and seductive "Maintenant" to the playful "Culpa de la Luna", with its mischievous lyrics, peppy trumpet and strong bass lines.

The band is home to some experienced and highly skilled musicians. Ed Baskerville and Pawel Walerowski play cello, Marcus Cohen plays trumpet, Aaron Kierbel is on the drums, Safa Shokrai plays the upright bass and Isabel Douglass plays accordion. Their skill has enabled them to challenge expectations and assumptions of what new music should and can be. The sheer number of instruments paired with the various backgrounds of the artists has resulted in an album where no song resembles the next. Each one introduces its audience to a dynamic and fresh set of rhythms, vibes, meanings and messages.

Este Mundo is a passionate declaration of the preciousness of life, love and the spontaneity that accompany both. Rupa has refused to shy away from the fragility that defines our humanity, while highlighting the value of passion, love and simple pleasures. This album is many things, but above all it is honest. You will find yourself falling in love with Rupa and Este Mundo after just one listen.

_{BY: SHANNON BUSTA / PUBLISHED: MARCH/APRIL 2010 ISSUE

(PHOTOS COURTESY OF: JUDITH BURROWS (RUPA & THE APRIL FISHES); TIM O'MALLEY (ALBUM COVER)}