Shez Raja was the son of an English mother and an Asian father in the North-West region of England. He was classically trained as a violinist from age nine. A few years later, he switched to electric bass and has not looked back. Raja studied at Leeds College of Music and toured the UK with bands such as Elephant Talk, Loka, (signed to the renowned label Ninja Tune), before becoming a sought-after session musician. After performing at Glastonbury Festival and the prestigious Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London, Raja also performed at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre (Shepherd’s Bush Empire), Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London Forum, and toured Europe with the platinum-selling hip hop artist MC Lyte. Shez was inspired by his childhood trips to India’s Punjab region with his father. He also immersed himself in South Asian music culture. He now combines his rich musical heritage and a vastly varied playing experience to create passionate music that fuses East and West. from www.pizzaexpresslive.com
