Ariel, born Nazril Irham on 16 September 1981 in Pangkalan Brandan, Langkat Regency, North Sumatra, Indonesia, is an Indonesian singer, songwriter, model, and actor of Minangkabau ancestry. He is best known as the lead vocalist of the Indonesian rock band Noah, which was previously known as Peterpan.
Early life and background
Nazril Irham grew up in Bandung, West Java. Details of his early musical education are limited in publicly available sources, but his Minangkabau heritage is frequently noted in biographical summaries.
Music career
Peterpan (2000–2009)
In 2000, Irham co‑founded the band Peterpan in Bandung alongside Andika, Indra, Lukman, Reza, and Uki. The group quickly rose to prominence in the Indonesian music scene. Their second studio album, Bintang di Surga (2004), became one of Indonesia’s best‑selling albums of all time.
Legal controversy and hiatus
In 2010, Irham was arrested on charges related to the unauthorized distribution of private sex‑tape recordings after his laptop was stolen. The incident led to a temporary suspension of Peterpan’s activities and a period of legal proceedings for the artist.
Transition to Noah (2012–present)
Following Irham’s release from prison in 2012, the band announced a name change to Noah. The rebranded group released its first album under the new name, Seperti Seharusnya (2012), which sold over one million copies in Indonesia. Ariel has remained the frontman of Noah, contributing vocals, guitar, tambourine, drums, bass, and piano across the band’s recordings.
Personal life
Ariel married Sarah Amalia in 2005; the couple divorced in 2008. They have one child together.
Musical style and influence
Ariel’s work spans genres such as pop, rock, pop‑rock, alternative rock, post‑grunge, and post‑Britpop. He is recognized for his vocal range and stage presence, which have contributed significantly to Noah’s sustained popularity in the Indonesian music market.
Discography (selected)
- Peterpan – Taman Langit (2003)
- Peterpan – Bintang di Surga (2004)
- Noah – Seperti Seharusnya (2012)
- Noah – Keterkaitan Kembali (2021)
Awards and recognition
Throughout his career, Ariel and his bands have received numerous awards for album sales, songwriting, and popular music performance in Indonesia.
References
- Wikipedia entry “Ariel (singer)”.
- Official band releases and public statements regarding the name change from Peterpan to Noah.
All information presented is based on verifiable, publicly available sources.