Ari Lasso

Ari Bernardus Lasso was born in Madiun, East Java, Indonesia, on January 17, 1973. His musical journey began during his high school years at SMA Negeri 2 Surabaya when he co-founded the Outsider Band alongside Wawan Juniarso and Piyu. After completing his high school education, he pursued higher studies at Airlangga University, where he earned a Bachelor of Economics degree. His professional music career began when he became a member of the band Dewa 19, alongside Wawan Juniarson, Andra Junaidi, Ahmad Dhani, and Erwin Prasetya. The band released their debut album, “Kangen,” in 1993, which was recognized as the best album of the year by BASF.

Lasso’s tenure with Dewa 19 continued successfully for several years. However, following the band’s third album, he experienced significant personal challenges, including drug addiction, which ultimately led to his departure from Dewa 19 in 2001. After overcoming his addiction, he embarked on a solo career, releasing his first album, “Sendiri Dulu,” in the same year. This album achieved commercial success, selling over 500,000 copies. His second solo album, “Keseimbangan” (2003), proved even more successful, selling over 800,000 copies and featuring collaborations with Ahmad Dhani. This was followed by “Kulihat Kudengar dan Kurasakan” (2004), which included songs featured in the movie “Mengejar Matahari.” He continued to release successful albums such as “Selalu Ada” (2006) and “The Best of” (2007), which featured a duet with Bunga Citra Lestari. In 2012, he released “Yang Terbaik,” a compilation album sold exclusively at KFC outlets in Indonesia, featuring both his greatest hits and six new tracks. In 2016, Ari Lasso joined the judging panel for “The Voice Indonesia” season 2. In 2021, he was diagnosed with Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) cancer; he announced the completion of his treatment in July 2022.

Beyond his musical pursuits, Ari Lasso has also shown interest in becoming a music producer. His career highlights include being a founding member and lead vocalist of one of Indonesia’s prominent rock bands, transitioning to a highly successful solo career, and serving as a judge on a major television singing competition. His dedication to his craft and resilience in overcoming personal challenges have solidified his position as an influential figure in the Indonesian music industry.