Zak David Zilesnick (born 1 March 1995), better known as Zak Abel, is an English singer, songwriter, and musician.
He has also been an English Cadet national table tennis champion.
His father, who had been born in Morocco and emigrated to Israel, died when Zilesnick was 12 years old.
Zilesnick is Jewish.
2008
Between 2008 and 2010 he won the Under 15 national singles and Under 18 doubles titles.
2009
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.
2010
In 2010, he was ranked number 39 in the senior category.
2013
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.
Zilesnick 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 re-learn it.
He also has hearing loss in his left ear and wears a hearing aid.
Zilesnick won a competition to sing at a Yom Haatzmaut celebration in Wembley Stadium when he was in primary school.
He is most notable for his 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.
2017
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.