Zeek Power Arrives

With his playful, urban interpretation of Bob Evans’ modern classic “Don’t You Think It’s Time”, EMI Music Australia is proud to announce the winner of Telstra’s 2nd Chance Song competition: 23-year-old Brisbane singer and guitarist Zeek Power.
Zeek’s captivating entry – recorded in just one take and uploaded on the final day of the competition – won over thousands of voters. Telstra’s 2nd Chance Song competition called on emerging talent from across the country to give an underrated Aussie song a second chance. With his looped beats (made using just his voice), synth, and unmistakable energy, Zeek’s version was an immediate hit, capturing almost half the total competition votes for the win.

“Zeek added a new dimension to the chords and melody of the song and really made it his own” says the song’s author Bob Evans (aka Jebediah frontman Kevin Mitchell)

Selected as a finalist by music journalist Kathy McCabe (News Corp), Scott Horscroft (GM A&R at EMI Music Australia) and John O’Donnell (MD EMI Music Australia) as well as Kevin Mitchell himself,  Zeek was flown to Sydney to lay down the track professionally with producer Andy Mac at Studio 301, and also won a $10,000 cash prize, which will be spent in part on new recording equipment.

“The best thing is how excited my mum and dad are,” Zeek laughs. “It’s an amazing opportunity, to be able to work with the teams at EMI, Universal and Telstra… I’m just going to keep working hard and being honest about my music. Who knows what the future holds?”

Born in the Whitsundays and raised in central Queensland, music is in Zeek’s blood. “When you grow up in a musical family,” he says, “you can’t help but pick up things, like how to harmonise. Al Green, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles… I look back now and realise how the music my parents loved really did have an influence on me.”

With 17,000 subscribers for Zeek’s covers and tutorials, Zeek’s online work shows off his wide-ranging influences: Reliant K to Owl City, Frank Ocean to Mutemath, Bruno Mars and beyond. And with his band Slip-on Stereo, Zeek’s already on the airwaves on Brisbane radio.

“I love interacting with people, getting requests, I love the community feel,” Zeek says of his online popularity.

Effortless and authentic, Zeek’s take on “Don’t You Think It’s Time” is a bright winning start from this young performer.

Head to www.telstra.com/2ndchancesong to see the winning entry and learn more about the competition.

“Don’t You Think It’s Time” is available for pre-order from August 15 and released on August 22 via EMI Music Australia.

Pre-Order on iTunes here: http://smarturl.it/ZPDontYou