Zak Abel
Zak David Zilesnick, 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 several songs, such as "Be Kind", "Unstable", "Say Sumthin", and "Freedom", among others.
Early and personal life
His father, who had been born in Morocco and Migration of [Moroccan Jews to Israel|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.Having been suffering from 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.
On 24th December 2025 he sang Silent Night at the Royal Carols at Westminster Abbey.
Discography
Singles
;As lead artist| Title | Year | Album |
| "These Are the Days" | 2014 | Joker presents Zak Abel |
| "Wise Enough" | 2015 | Joker presents Zak Abel |
| "Say Sumthin" | 2015 | One Hand on the Future |
| "Everybody Needs Love" | 2016 | |
| "Unstable" | 2017 | Only When We're Naked |
| "Rock Bottom" | 2017 | Only When We're Naked |
| "All I Ever Do " | 2017 | Only When We're Naked |
| "Only When We're Naked" | 2017 | Only When We're Naked |
| "The River" | 2017 | Only When We're Naked |
| "Love Song" | 2018 | rowspan="2" |
| "You Come First" | 2018 | - |
| "The Power" | 2019 | Duality |
| "Sad in Scandinavia" | 2020 | Sad in Scandinavia |
| "Be Kind" | 2021 | rowspan="5" |
| "Right Side of the Bed" | 2021 | - |
| "Why Can't We Get Along" | 2021 | - |
| "Less of a Man" | 2021 | - |
| "Good Times" | 2022 | - |
| "What Love Is" | 2023 | Love Over Fear |
| "Dance with You " | 2023 | Love Over Fear |
| "Woman" | 2023 | Love Over Fear |
| "How Do We Stay in Love?" | 2023 | Love Over Fear |
| "Home" | 2025 | rowspan="4" |
| "My Way" | 2025 | - |
| "Brother to Me" | 2025 | - |
| "Champagne Supernova" | 2025 | - |
;As featured artist