With the elegance of a classic crooner and the sensibility of a new generation, the young French-based vocalist is giving timeless melodies a compelling new life.
There is something wonderfully transporting about a voice that can make an old standard sound newly discovered. William Lubelli possesses just such a gift. With a rich, velvety baritone, impeccable articulation, and an instinctive understanding of phrasing, the young British-French-Italian singer evokes the golden age of vocal jazz, when Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin could make an entire room hang on a single note. Yet Lubelli is no mere revivalist. His interpretations are strikingly assured, balancing reverence for the great American songbook with a freshness and emotional intimacy that are entirely his own. In an era dominated by manufactured vocal theatrics, his understated elegance is particularly refreshing.
“What makes Lubelli particularly compelling is not simply the beauty of his instrument, but the care with which he inhabits a lyric.”
Music has been a lifelong pursuit for Lubelli, who began studying piano at six before entering the prestigious Conservatoire de Strasbourg, where he spent nine years immersed in classical training, jazz, blues, and music theory. Remarkably, he recorded his first album, Dreamer, in his bedroom at just 15. Since then, his artistic evolution has embraced both contemporary pop and the timeless crooner tradition, with performances backed by a 17-piece big band and sold-out concerts celebrating Sinatra’s legacy. His growing repertoire, performed in both English and French, reveals a musician equally comfortable interpreting the classics and composing his own material.
His 2026 release, Back to the Start, is an engaging five-track collection that brings these musical worlds together. Original compositions including “Stay,” “Addicted to You,” and the title track sit alongside beloved standards “Moon River” and “You Belong to Me,” offering a glimpse of an artist finding his own voice within a distinguished musical lineage. What makes Lubelli particularly compelling is not simply the beauty of his instrument, but the care with which he inhabits a lyric, allowing familiar words to recover their meaning. At an age when many performers are still discovering their musical identity, he already displays a sophistication that belies his years. The golden age of the crooner may belong to another century, but in WilLubelli, its spirit has found an eloquent young ambassador.
— G. Dhalla
Discover William Lubelli: Listen to Back to the Start | Explore His Albums | Official Website
