Ismail Mubarak rose to fame in 2010 on UAE talent show Najm Al Khaleej, where the pitch-perfect Saudi crooner won the hearts of the Gulf audience and generated a huge fanbase across the Middle East. His classically trained vocals radiate warmth and tenderness, with eloquent lyrics sitting alongside traditional instruments and intricate rhythmic patterns typically associated with Khaleeji music. Effortlessly switching between tracks such as the heart-rending “Walhan” and the musically complex religious folk of “Ya Lehi”, this is a selection of the balladeer's best chart-topping hits.