Zak David Zilesnick (born 1 March 1995), better known professionally as Zak Abel, is an English singer, songwriter, and musician. He has also been an English Cadet national table tennis champion. He is known for songs including "Be Kind", "Unstable", "Say Sumthin", and "Freedom" (as a featured artist with Kygo).
Early and personal life His father, who had been born in Morocco and immigrated to Israel, died when Zilesnick was 12 years old. Zilesnick is Jewish. He grew up in Hendon with his mother Rachel, and attended the Jewish state school Matilda Marks, and University College School, from which he graduated in 2013. He later moved to Hackney. He is a vegan.
After experiencing hearing loss, he was diagnosed with otosclerosis aged 21 and underwent surgery on his right ear. This restored most of the volume but affects his ability to hear pitch and so he had to relearn it. He also has hearing loss in his left ear and wears a hearing aid.
Table tennis youth player He was ranked No. 1 in the Cadet age group in England and was 2009 Cadet Boys' Singles national champion at the age of 14; he was also ranked No. 5 for under 18s in England. Between 2008 and 2010, he won the Under 15 national singles and Under 18 doubles titles. In 2010, he was ranked number 39 in the senior category.
Music career
Zilesnick won a competition to sing at Israel's Yom Haatzmaut celebration in Wembley Stadium when he was in primary school.
He made a featured appearance on the UK top 20 hit "Unmissable" with Gorgon City. He has also released two extended plays, entitled Joker presents Zak Abel and One Hand on the Future.
In 2016, he worked with producers such as Kaytranada and Wookie on his debut album, Only When We're Naked, which was released on 6 October 2017, and debuted at number 100 on the UK Albums Chart. He was signed by Atlantic Records.
On 7 May 2023, he replaced Freya Ridings in the Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle.
Discography Studio albums Title Details Peak chart positions UKPeak positions in the United Kingdom: For all except noted: For "Unmissable": Only When We're Naked Released: 6 October 2017 Label: Atlantic Formats: CD, DL 100 Love Over Fear Released: 25 August 2023 Label: BMG Rights Management Formats: CD, DL — "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Extended plays Title Details Joker presents Zak Abel Scheduled: 6 February 2015 Label: Atlantic Records Formats: DL One Hand on the Future Scheduled: 28 August 2015 Label: Atlantic Records Formats: DL
Singles As lead artist Title Year Album "These Are the Days" 2014 Joker presents Zak Abel "Wise Enough" 2015 "Say Sumthin" One Hand on the Future "Everybody Needs Love" 2016 "Unstable" 2017 Only When We're Naked "Rock Bottom" "All I Ever Do (Is Say Goodbye)" "Only When We're Naked" "The River" "Love Song" 2018 rowspan="2" "You Come First" "The Power" 2019 Duality "Sad in Scandinavia" 2020 Sad in Scandinavia "Be Kind" 2021 rowspan="5" "Right Side of the Bed" "Why Can't We Get Along" "Less of a Man" "Good Times" 2022 "What Love Is" 2023 Love Over Fear "Dance with You (The Comeback)" "Woman" "How Do We Stay in Love?" "Home" 2025 rowspan="5" "My Way" "Brother to Me" "Champagne Supernova" "Hallelujah" 2026
As featured artist Title Year Peak chart positions Album UK UK DancePeak positions in the United Kingdom Dance Singles Chart: For "Unmissable": For "For Life": GER SCO SWI "Higher" 2014 — — — — — "Unmissable" 19 5 — 16 — Sirens "Make You Love Me" 2017 — — — — — "Bad" 2020 — — — — — Forever "Freedom" 77 — 90 — 25 Golden Hour "Endless Summer" 2023 — — — — — Walkerworld "For Life" 2024 75 29 — — 75 Kygo "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Other appearances Title Year Album Artist "Ten More Days" 2015 Stories Avicii "Beautiful Escape" Beat Tape 2 Tom Misch "Drink to You" 2018 Blue Jonas Blue "Gotta Get Thru This" 2019 Garage Classical DJ Spoony with Katie Chatburn and The Ignition Orchestra
Songwriting credits Title Year Artist(s) Album Written with "I'll Be Gentle" 2017 Paloma Faith The Architect Paloma Faith, Thomas Barnes, Peter Kelleher, Benjamin Kohn "Somebody" 2018 Sigala Brighter Days Bruce Fielder, Sky Adams, Daniel Shah, Lawrie Martin-Prime, Justus Nzeribe
References
External links Official website