Zena James was born in Chippenham, near Bath, south west England. Her father was a songwriter and guitarist, and Zena spent time as a teenager in his home studio recording pop tunes. After she had studied German and Russian at Sussex University, she joined soul and pop bands in England and Germany, before starting a London career in public relations. After a few years Zena went freelance, and she is now happily self employed building her singing career. After sending a demo to the radio station Jazz FM in 2003, she has become a regular on the London and South East jazz scene and has also played at Brecon International Jazz Festival.