Ari Lasso

Biography

Ari Bernardus Lasso (born 17 January 1973) is an Indonesian singer, songwriter, musician, and former lead vocalist of Dewa 19.

Biography

Lasso was born in Madiun, East Java on 17 January 1973 to Bartholomeus B. Lasso and Sri Noerhida. His mother told him that he could become a famous singer, saying that "[his] life should be beautiful" because of his voice. While attending high school at SMA Negeri 2 Surabaya, he established the Outsider Band along with the drummer Wawan Juniarso, from Dewa 19, and guitarist Piyu of Padi. After graduating from high school, he attended Airlangga University and earned a degree in economics.
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.
Beginning after Dewa 19's third album, Lasso used drugs heavily; his drug addiction led to his personal decision to resign from the band in 2001. 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. He also quit his 20-year habit of smoking in 2010, after his son began taking and destroying his cigarettes.
After his dismissal from Dewa 19, Lasso became a solo singer. He released his first solo album, the commercially successful Sendiri Dulu×Sendiri Dulu8 August 2001 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Percuma3:582Selamat Jalan Mama3:433Ampunilah3:534Misteri Illahi3:545Nelangsa2:586Relakan Aku Pergi3:327Penjaga Hati4:078Jika5:259Perbedaan5:07, that year which sold over 500,000 copies. Two years later, he released his most successful album Keseimbangan×Keseimbangan10 February 2003 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Rahasia Perempuan3:302Tulus5:033Hasrat Sekejap4:284Jalanku Tak Panjang4:295Cinta Sejati4:466Hampa4:597Ironis4:358Jika Aku Bukanlah Aku3:559Gagal3:5810Yang Terbaik4:14, which featured two songs performed with Dhani. This album sold more than 800,000 copies. 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×Selalu Ada17 July 2006 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Perjalanan Panjang3:442Cinta Terakhir3:573Tolonglah Aku3:174Seandainya4:415Tuhan Kau Tahu4:096Berakhir Indah4:387Belahan Jiwa3:508Kau3:549Sampai Kapan3:4310Lirih4:06, while the following year his album The Best of included a duet with Bunga Citra Lestari.
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. Lasso has expressed interest in becoming a music producer if he can no longer be a singer.
In 2012, Lasso released a compilation album, Yang Terbaik×Yang Terbaik3 June 2012 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Kisah Kita3:222Rahasia Perempuan3:263Hampa4:574Cinta Terakhir3:575Karena Aku Tlah Denganmu3:386Cintailah Aku Sepenuh Hati4:077Misteri Illahi3:538Aku dan Dirimu4:269Satu Cinta4:1710Penjaga Hati4:0911Arti Cinta4:0912Perbedaan5:1113Doa Untuk Cinta4:0514Cinta Adalah Misteri4:46. The album was only sold at KFC outlets in Indonesia. The album compiled top hit singles and six new songs, "Kisah Kita", "Karena Aku Tlah Denganmu", "Cintailah Aku Sepenuh Hati", "Satu Cinta", "Doa Untuk Cinta" and "Cinta Adalah Misteri". Lasso also includes musicians who merged his albums sold in KFC stores like Cinta Laura, Indah Dewi Pertiwi, Agnes Monica, SM*SH, T.R.I.A.D, Rossa, Slank, Last Child, Ello, Sammy Simorangkir, Armada and Ungu.
In 2016, Ari Lasso joined the judging panel of season 2 of The Voice Indonesia.
In 2021, Lasso was diagnosed with DLBCL (Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma) cancer so he had to undergo chemotherapy. In July 2022, Lasso announced that his treatment had ended.

Personal life

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.