Athlone singer Zali aiming for Electric Picnic performance

A former Our Lady’s Bower student who has been earning a following for her original pop and r’n’b music has been shortlisted in a 2fm competition to play the Electric Picnic festival at the end of August.

Singer and songwriter Zali, who grew up in Coosan, is one of 29 finalists in the ‘Play The Picnic’ competition being run by 2fm in association with the Jack & Jill Foundation.

People can vote for the artist they’d most like to see at the festival, with the top ten acts getting a chance to deliver a live set at the event. The act with most votes will play the large Cosby Stage and win music masterclasses, a studio session, and airtime on 2fm.

Last month Zali had a major success when her single ‘Girls Like Us’ won the Best Irish Single accolade at the Irish Post Music Awards in Killarney’s INEC.

Speaking to the Westmeath Independent on Monday, she explained that she has now been based in Dublin for several years, but still has a number of friends in the Midlands.

“I grew up in Athlone until I was 17, and then I moved away to college. Athlone is home for me, and when I think of my childhood I think of Athlone,” she said.

Her path to a career in music has been unconventional. She studied finance and accounting in Dublin, graduating in 2013, and began a career in corporate finance before making the decision to follow her musical dream.

Attending Electric Picnic in 2016 was one of the turning points which led her in this direction.

“I went to Electric Picnic with a friend of mine whose band, Rocstrong, was playing. I remember being in that atmosphere, looking around me - this is when I was still working in finance – and (thinking) ‘this is meant to be my life. This should be me.’

“So that was when I launched, in my head, the goal of playing in Electric Picnic. And I can’t believe it’s close to happening,” she said.

Zali said she was particularly pleased to be part of a competition that would be helping support Jack & Jill, as the children’s charity will receive proceeds from people’s text message votes.

“Since things started taking off for me, I’ve always been trying to find a good cause I can be behind, that I can use my voice to be a part of.

“I would love to be an ambassador behind Jack & Jill because they do amazing work. Even if I don’t win, the music is going to create exposure for Jack & Jill and get some good donations in. But I’m hoping to win!”

For her musical career, Zali, her middle name, is the only name she uses. “It’s a name that meant a lot to my parents, and it looks good in lights!” she said.

“It means, you’re greater than the other. It’s like the larger-than-life side of me.”

Her musical style is influenced by a wide range of artists including Mary J Blige, Mariah Carey, Amy Winehouse, Aretha Franklin and Luther Vandross.

After her first live performance in Dublin early in 2017 she released her debut single, ‘Can’t Stop’, which featured in Hot Press and on the Nialler9 music website.

Her second single, ‘Girls Like Us’ went on top achieve further success.

“That’s the single that just won the award for Best Irish Single, against the Coronas and Keywest. When it won, I couldn’t believe it. Things have been moving with such momentum since then,” she said.

Her songs have been receiving a good response on streaming sites such as Spotify, and she has been on a ‘radio tour’ in recent weeks, making appearances on stations like Spin 1038 and FM 104.

Zali has a very busy couple of months ahead, as she plans to release another four singles before the end of 2018, and also appear at festivals in various parts of the country.

She is hoping to one day return to Athlone for a performance in town or to give a talk to the students at the Bower.

“This is such a different career path from everything I had planned when I was in Athlone. I would never have pictured that this would have been possible,” she said.

* Text PICNIC25 to 50300 to vote for Zali in the 2fm ‘Play The Picnic’ competition. Texts cost €2 and the Jack & Jill Foundation will receive at least €1.80 from each text. The closing date for voting is Friday, July 27