Jude Jeyaraj cannot identify himself with any one particular style of music. In his own words "Eastern music (and ragas) offer a spirituality that just cannot be found in Western music." as a result, his music is very diverse.

11 MP3 Songs
WORLD: Asian, URBAN/R&B: R&B Pop Crossover



Details:
Born on 18th September 1978, Jude spent his early years in the small town of Jaffna in North-eastern Sri Lanka. Whether running down its long sandy beach, chasing between the houses with his cousins and friends, or simply sitting alone on the lush green banks of one of the many rivers that sliced through the countryside, the young Jude felt that his home was a magical place.

At the age of five Judeâs father bought him a small percussion instrument called a mealam. He took it everywhere, and was constantly playing , so much so that he fractured a finger and had to visit the hospital. To this day, a crooked digit bears witness to his early passion for creating sound. Jude himself finds it hard to explain where this passion came from. Perhaps, he has mused, the incredible array of sounds around him at this impressionable age; the babbling rivers, the chatter and shrieking of children, the crashing sea, or the noises of the towns daily life all entered him , planting the seeds of rhythm and melody?

By the age of seven Jude was playing the guitar, mimicking popular movie songs for his friends, his music developing through playing in the local church. The seeds were sprouting and growing.

At ten , Judeâs family migrated to London to escape the civil war raging in their homeland. Leaving his home, his friends and traditions were hard for the young boy. A strange language, unfamiliar surroundings and the terrible cold were all tough on Jude, and to make matters worse his access to instruments and lessons were stopped dead, the cost of living in this grey land forcing sacrifices on the family. The echoes of the music of his childhood now lay dormant inside him, trapped with no outlet, silenced by the roar of the city.

Two years on and Jude was given the opportunity by a local borough initiative to learn a new instrument, he picked the keyboard. His parents encouraged his learning and practice, seeing in their son a re- awakening of the passion that was so much a part of him back in their now seemingly idyllic life in Jaffna. The lonely Jude threw himself into the instrument, the music becoming his companion and comforter, as well as his inspiration , and now he began to craft his own compositions as well as continue playing the movie songs he had entertained his friends with back home.

After some exposure in local shows, Jude was invited to join his first band ; âRainbowâ. Playing alongside , and then meeting more experienced musicians helped him develop both his musical knowledge and his performance skills. Jude continued to take formal classes to supplement his experience until, at the age of Seventeen, Jude performed his first solo show in front of a crowd of several thousand at Fairfield Hall London.

Since then, Jude has performed large shows all over Europe. He has taken to the stage with many top artists from all over the world, and has made a number of television appearances both in the educational and entertainment arenas.

Music has not been Judeâs only focus, he is a qualified Accountant and Financial Analyst working for one of the worldâs largest Investment Banking companies, but there is no doubt that the seeds of Rhythm, sound and melody planted in him so long ago and so far away, have grown roots which have spread and entwined with the very essence of him.