Biography
Who is Ariel?
Early life and musical start
Nazril Irham, known professionally as Ariel, was born on September 16, 1981, in Pangkalan Brandan, Indonesia. He possesses Minangkabau ancestry. During his middle school years, he began writing his own music.
One song he penned while in high school, titled Yang Terdalam, received positive feedback from peers, encouraging him to pursue songwriting further. His musical style was significantly shaped by the grunge band Nirvana, and he expressed a long-standing interest in the work of Kurt Cobain. Also, he found inspiration in the poetry of Kahlil Gibran, which he discovered during his high school education.
The rise of Peterpan
In 2000, he founded the band Peterpan in Bandung along with members Andika, Indra, Lukman, Reza, and Uki. The group began recording in 2002, contributing the song Mimpi Yang Sempurna to a compilation album titled Kisah 2002 Malam.
Following this, they signed a contract with Musica Studio's. They went on to release several studio albums, including Taman Langit, Bintang di Surga, and Hari Yang Cerah. The album Bintang di Surga, released in 2004, became one of the top-selling records in Indonesian history. The band also provided the soundtrack for the film Alexandria.
Legal challenges and band transition
In 2006, members Andika and Indra left the group and requested that the remaining musicians cease using the name Peterpan. By 2008, the name was retired. The remaining members, including Ariel, planned to announce a new name in 2010.
However, this process was interrupted when he was arrested in June 2010. Authorities charged him under the national anti-pornography laws after sex videos surfaced online. He maintained that the recordings were stolen from his home and distributed without his permission. He was eventually found guilty and sentenced to three and a half years in prison, plus a fine. He was released early in July 2012 for good behavior.
Noah and recent career
Upon his release, the group officially announced their new name, Noah, in August 2012. The lineup included Uki, Lukman, Reza, and David. Their debut under the new moniker, titled Seperti Seharusnya, arrived in September 2012 and sold over 1.2 million copies.
The band continued to release studio albums such as Second Chance, Sings Legends, and Keterkaitan Keterikatan. Beyond his work with the band, he has contributed to various collaborative projects. For example, he worked with artists like Giring Nidji and Momo Geisha on the single Esok Kan Bahagia in 2014. He also performed Janger Persahabatan for the 2018 Asian Games.
Awards and commercial work
Over the course of his career, he has received numerous accolades, including multiple AMI Awards for albums like Bintang di Surga and the song Separuh Aku. Rolling Stone Indonesia recognized his contributions to the industry by ranking him as one of the greatest singers and songwriters in the country.
He has also been involved in many commercial endorsements, representing brands such as Sunsilk, Yamaha, and KFC. His career has remained active for over two decades, spanning his time as a solo artist and as the lead singer of two major Indonesian bands.
Birthday and age
Ariel was born on September 16, 1981, which makes Ariel 45 years old today. That birthday falls under the Virgo sign. Ariel shares the date with 55 other famous people.
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