Voted one of the ‘Hottest Bass Players in the World’ by readers of Bass Player magazine, the British-Asian virtuoso has built a reputation for a highly distinctive style that blends the raw power of funk and rock with the intricate beauty of Eastern traditions.

Leading the way on his custom hand-crafted 5-string Fodera bass, Raja leads an ever-evolving ensemble of musicians through seven studio tracks and two live takes characterised by deep grooves, dazzling improvisation, and hypnotic soundscapes.

The underlying spirit of East-meets-West is captured not only in the compositions but in the line-up itself. Paying tribute to his Asian roots – a passion deepened through trips to the Punjab region with his father – there are contributions from sitar virtuoso Roopa Panesar, renowned Pakistani bansuri master Ahsan Papu, seventh-generation sarangi player Zohaib Hassan, singing prodigy Fiza Haider, and Indian tabla maestro Gurdain Rayatt.

This dedication to the rich tradition of the Indian sub-continent is balanced deftly with the power of Western music: the fiery guitar work of Guthrie Govan and John Etheridge, the rhythmic mastery of Dennis Chambers on drums, and the soulful saxophones of Tony Kofi and Vasilis Xenopoulos. The core rhythm section draws us back to the UK jazz scene, which has for so long been a mainstay on Shez’s calendar: Sophie Alloway and Jamie Murray on drums, with Chris Jerome on keyboards, together uniting the two worlds into a dynamic, fluid fusion.

As the name suggests, Raja’s mesmerising melodies, intricate rhythms, and boundary-pushing compositions are set to provide fans old and new with a spellbinding experience. With audiophile-grade sound quality on both vinyl and CD assured by Gearbox Records’ “Gearbox Cut” stamp, Spellbound is sure to transport, transform, and inspire listeners in 2025.