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The solo project of San Francisco-based bassist and composer Leela Paymai, ZHENIIA blends Persian music with modern jazz, psychedelic rock, and hip-hop. Drawing on her family's musical legacy and a deep commitment to social justice, Paymai crafts emotionally charged, politically rooted songs that move across genres and generations.
Backed by a rotating cast of Bay Area musicians, ZHENIIA made its live debut at San Jose Jazz’s New Works Festival in 2025, earning immediate attention from local press. With bass at the center and electric oud weaving through every set, ZHENIIA is music for grief, resistance, and joy.