Biography
Who is Sebalter?
Early life and career beginnings
Born in the town of Faido, located in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino, Switzerland, Sebastiano Paù-Lessi grew up in a region known for its strong cultural identity. Before focusing on music as a solo artist, he pursued formal education and graduated from the University of Zurich. During his university years, he also worked in television broadcasting. Between 2005 and 2007, he co-presented the youth program Le vostre vacanze on the Swiss channel TSI, which included special segments broadcast during New Year celebrations.
His musical foundation started with bands. From 2000 to 2002, he played bass for The Stalkers, a group that performed hard rock covers of bands like Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin. He subsequently joined the folk rock group The Vad Vuc. During his ten-year tenure with the band from 2002 to 2012, he contributed to three studio albums, including Il monastero dei folli, Trans Roonkaya Express, and La parata dei secondi, while touring across the country.
Eurovision and solo music
In 2013, Sebalter transitioned toward a solo career. His breakthrough occurred when he entered the Swiss national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest. His track Hunter of Stars was chosen to represent Switzerland at the 2014 contest held in Copenhagen, Denmark. He successfully qualified for the grand final and secured 13th place with a total of 64 points, which marked the best result for Switzerland in the competition since 2005.
Following his Eurovision appearance, he continued releasing music. He issued the single Saturday in mid-2014, followed by his debut studio album, Day of Glory, in early 2015. This record reached the ninth position on the Swiss Albums Chart. He later released a second album titled Awakening in January 2017. He has also remained involved with the Eurovision franchise, serving as a commentator for the broadcaster RSI alongside Clarissa Tami starting in 2017 and presenting the Swiss jury votes in 2016.
Legal profession and ongoing work
While music has been a significant part of his life, he has maintained a career as a business lawyer. He famously put his legal practice on hold to prepare for the Eurovision Song Contest. Although he announced a retirement from music in 2015 to focus on his work as an attorney, he did not abandon the stage entirely. He continues to perform live concerts throughout Switzerland and Italy.
He maintains these live performances with a small ensemble, featuring guitarist Mattia Bordignon and banjo player Rocco Casella. He also attempted to return to the Eurovision stage in 2019, submitting the song Carry the Light for consideration, though the broadcaster ultimately selected a different artist.
Birthday and age
Sebalter was born on July 1, 1985, which makes Sebalter 41 years old today. That birthday falls under the Cancer sign. Sebalter shares the date with 68 other famous people.
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