ZASKA

Max Zaska is the guitarist, songwriter, bandleader, and producer behind the band ZASKA. A groundbreaking neo-soul artist, he has been instrumental in establishing the scene in Ireland that blends jazz, hip hop, soul, R&B, and funk. Zaska’s ability to spot and record with up-and-coming Irish vocalists began with Hozier and continues with artists like shiv, Tolü Makay, Melina Malone and more.

The band ZASKA’s high-energy live shows leave audiences buzzing with media describing performances as “masterful,” “incomparable,” and “joyous”. From upstairs at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club to the Mladí ladí Jazz Open Air Festival in Prague and the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival, ZASKA delivers groove-driven good vibes.

ZASKA's 3rd studio album is NECTAR, an upbeat, danceable blend of soul, R&B, jazz, and hip-hop featuring appearances by shiv, Gemma Dunleavy, Melina Malone, jarjarjr, J Smith, and the legendary Mik Pyro from Republic of Loose. NECTAR will be released in full to streaming services on June 5, 2026, but the album is available to purchase on vinyl and CD formats from zaskamusic.com now.

As a songwriter, Max’s influences come from neo-soul (Erykah Badu, D’Angelo, Anderson .Paak), jazz-funk (Snarky Puppy, Vulfpeck), and indie soul (Hiatus Kaiyote, Tom Misch, Nubiyan Twist). Zaska’s guitar style is rooted in jazz, inspired by Wes Montgomery and John Scofield, with the grooves of Nile Rodgers and Carlos Santana, crafting a sound that’s unmistakably his own

“Zaska plunders the worlds of neo-soul, funk, hip-hop, rock, and jazz, making for an enjoyably idiosyncratic listen” (Hot Press)

“A benchmark example of the talent that exists in this country” (The Irish Times)