| Ari Lasso | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Ari Bernardus Lasso |
| Born | 17 January 1973 Madiun, East Java, Indonesia |
| Origin | Surabaya |
| Genres | Glam metal, Pop Rock |
| Occupations | Singer, songwriter |
| Years active | c. 1991 - present Ari Lasso's signature |
| Associated acts | Dewa 19 |
Ari Bernardus Lasso (born 17 January 1973 in Madiun, East Java), better known as Ari Lasso is an Indonesian musician and former lead vocalist of Dewa 19.
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Lasso was born in Madiun, East Java on 17 January 1973[1] to Bartholomeus B. Lasso and Sri Noerhida.[2] His mother told him that he could become a famous singer, saying that "[his] life should be beautiful" because of his voice.[1] While attending high school at SMA Negeri 2 Surabaya, he established Outsider Band along with the drummer Wawan Juniarso, from Dewa 19, and guitarist Piyu of Padi.[2][1] After graduating from high school, he attended Airlangga University and earned a degree in economics.[1]
Lasso eventually became a member of Dewa 19 together with Wawan Juniarson, Andra Junaidi, Ahmad Dhani, and Erwin Prasetya. With Dewa 19, he released the album Kangen, which was chosen as the best album of the year by BASF in 1993.[2]
Beginning after Dewa 19's third album,[2] Lasso used drugs heavily;[1] his drug addiction led to him being fired by the band in 2001[3] and going bankrupt. In order to overcome his addiction, he tried going to rehab and alternative medicine; he was also hospitalized and put under isolation at home. All of these efforts were to no avail. After promising his dying mother that he would beat his addiction, he became more adamant in attempting to recover, eventually succeeding.[1] He also quit his 20-year habit of smoking in 2010, after his son began taking and destroying his cigarettes.[4]
After his dismissal from Dewa 19, Lasso became a solo singer.[3] He released his first solo album, the commercially-successful Sendiri Dulu, that year. Two years later, he released Keseimbangan, which featured two songs performed with Dhani. In 2004 he released Kulihat Kudengar dan Kurasakan, of which two songs became used for the movie Mengejar Matahari (Chasing the Sun). In 2006, he released the album Selalu Ada, while the following year his album The Best of included a duet with Bunga Citra Lestari.[2]
In 2009 rumours spread that Lasso would become mute due to damage to his voice box; although he did not perform for four months during that period, he performed in a series of concerts between May and June of that year.[2] Lasso has expressed interest in becoming a music producer if he can no longer be a singer.[1]
When not busy with music, Lasso tries to participate in his children's lives, assisting with their homework and attending school performances. Lasso has noted that Mitch Albom's The Five People You Meet in Heaven has influenced his parenting style and belief that a parent's interest in their children's lives can be a large influence.[1]