Once : popular Indonesian singer

Once

Once, also known as Elfonda Mekel, is a popular Indonesian singer who used to be the lead vocalist of Dewa 19. He was born on May 21, 1970, in Ujung Pandang, South Sulawesi. During his time at Tirta Marta Junior High School, Once started singing and also learned how to play the guitar, drums, and piano. He participated in several singing competitions, including one held among high schools in Jakarta. Once joined various bands after graduating from Tirta Mirta Senior High School, starting with cover bands like Brawijaya and Dimensi. He began singing his own songs when he joined Java Burns, and he contributed one of his songs to the compilation album Seribu Angan in the early 1990s.

Once had to take a break from singing between 1993 and 1997 due to a problem with his voice box. During this time, he attended the University of Indonesia to study law and graduated in 1996. In addition to his studies, he worked for a construction company. In 1997, he resumed his singing career by performing in cafes. He then collaborated with Ahmad Dhani to produce the soundtrack for the film Kuldesak in 1998. Once was later invited to join Dhani's band, Dewa 19, in 2000. He replaced Ari Lasso, who was expelled from the group for using drugs. At the beginning of his time with the band, Once struggled to meet the high expectations of Lasso's fans, and he was criticized for being distant from them and having an awkward stage presence. However, Once eventually gained the acceptance of Dewa 19's fans after the success of Pandawa Lima, his first album with the band, which sold 1.7 million copies. He went on to record four more albums with Dewa 19 and also released three solo singles, "Dealova", "Aku Mau", and "Symphony yang Indah" (meaning "A Beautiful Symphony").

Once announced his resignation from Dewa 19 on 19 January 2011, citing his desire to pursue a solo career as the main reason, although rumors have circulated that issues with royalties may have also played a role in his decision. After leaving Dewa 19, Once joined forces with other musicians, including Lasso, Doadibadai Hollo of Kerispatih, Maggi of /rif, Irfan of Samsons, and Yuke, to establish the AYLI Project. At the time of June 2011, he was in the process of recording his debut solo album. Once's musical talent has been recognized in the past, having been awarded the Best Pop Soloist award at the 2005 Anugerah Musik Indonesia and the Best Pop Song award at AMI the following year for one of his compositions.

Elfonda Mekel

Elfonda Mekel

Elfonda Mekel, who is popularly known by his stage name Once ([ˈÉ"ntʃə], pronounced Ohn-chx), is an Indonesian former lead vocalist of Dewa 19 and a singer. Once was born in Ujung Pandang, South Sulawesi, on May 21, 1970. During his time at Tirta Marta secondary school, he started singing and learned to play the drums, piano, and guitar. He participated in various singing competitions, including an inter-high school competition in Jakarta. After completing his studies at Tirta Mirta high school, Once joined different bands, including Brawijaya and Dimensi, where he performed cover songs. Once began singing songs he had written himself after joining Java Burns, and he provided a song for the compilation album Seribu Angan in the early 1990s.

Unfortunately, Once had to take a break from singing between 1993 and 1997 due to a vocal cord issue. During this period, he studied law at the University of Indonesia and graduated in 1996. Additionally, he worked for a construction company.

In 1997, Once began singing again in cafes, and in 1998 he recorded the soundtrack for the movie Kuldesak with Ahmad Dhani. Then, in 2000, Dhani invited Once to join his band, Dewa 19, as a replacement for Ari Lasso, who had been expelled from the group due to drug use. At the start, Once had difficulty meeting the high expectations of Lasso's fans, and he was criticized for his stiff on-stage persona.

However, Once eventually won over Dewa 19's fans with his first album with the group, Pandawa Lima, which was a huge success and sold 1.7 million copies. He went on to record four more albums with Dewa 19, as well as three solo singles, including "Dealova", "Aku Mau", and "Symphony yang Indah" ("A Beautiful Symphony").

On January 19, 2011, Once resigned from Dewa 19 to focus on his solo career, citing issues with royalties as a factor in his decision. He later joined forces with Ari Lasso, Doadibadai Hollo of Kerispatih, Maggi of /rif, Irfan of Samsons, and Yuke to form the AYLI Project. As of June 2011, he was working on his first solo album.

Once was awarded the Best Pop Soloist Award at the 2005 Anugerah Musik Indonesia. The following year, one of his songs was named Best Pop Song at AMI.

Cinta Laura : German-Indonesian role player

Cinta Laura

Cinta Laura Kiehl is a German-Indonesian actress, electropop singer, and model in Indonesia. She began her career in 2007 and has starred in numerous TV series and movies while also working with various local and international brands. Over the years, she has won many awards for her acting and singing, including two from the "Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards Indonesia" and "SCTV Awards." Her debut single, "Oh Baby," was part of the soundtrack for her film of the same name. Cinta Laura proudly claims to be a citizen of the world, as she was born to a German father and Indonesian mother, Michael and Herdina Kiehl. Due to her father's work as a hotel manager, Cinta Laura spent most of her childhood traveling around the world, moving from country to country every two years, which has heavily influenced her Americanized accent. Before making her debut on Indonesia's TV screens, she learned enough Indonesian language to speak it fluently. She also starred in the film "Oh Baby" by MD Entertainment in 2008. In addition to her acting and modeling career, she is also known for her music and has released several albums and singles.

Cinta Laura Kiehl's debut film "Oh Baby" did not receive critical acclaim, but its soundtrack became very popular among teenagers not only in Indonesia but also in neighboring countries like Malaysia and Brunei. Additionally, she was selected by AXN channel to be the regional icon for their new program "Dance Off," which was a surprise to many. 

Cinta Laura is also active in charity work and has a foundation called "Soekarseno Peduli" which helps to rebuild damaged schools in Bogor, Indonesia. The foundation has collaborated with several multinational corporations and NGOs and has assisted over 4000 children since its establishment in 2003. After the success of her debut single, "Oh Baby," Cinta Laura collaborated with couple arthropod genus on the song "Penghianat Cinta" and Afgansyah Reza on the song "Let's Get the Beat." In January 2010, she released her first studio album, "Cinta Laura," which sold over a million copies and received a record-breaking thirteen times platinum from sales in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.

Cinta Laura

Cinta Laura

Cinta Laura is the 1st studio album by the German-born singer, Cinta Laura. The album was released on February 27, 2010 throughout Indonesia, produced by Jan Djuhana and labeled Sony Music Entertainment Indonesia. In this album, he brings the kind of dance-pop and electropop song. In all album sales in Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam, she was awarded 13 x platinum. The 1st single from this album "Cinta Atau Uang", released in December 2009. In this album, contains ten tracks which also included songs that had already been released as a soundtrack a movie or television series. In marketing this album, Cinta Laura and the record label working with KFC that the album will be circulated in all KFC stores in Indonesia. The album was nominated for "Best Pop Album of Solo" awards SCTV Music Awards 2011.

Cinta Laura is the debut album by Cinta Laura, named after herself and was released in February, originally scheduled the album was released on January 23, 2010, but due to no contact Cinta Laura to work "Icon Dance Off Asia", however because there is contact to work "Icon Dance Off Asia", then release this album postponed until February 27, 2010. On this album, she brings the kind of electropop song like a songs sung by the American singer, Lady Gaga. Her 1st album release contains 10 songs that 7 of them are new songs, rhythmic dance in accordance with a young child. Not only contains a homage electropop song, Laura also serves other musical genres in his work. Like Indo pop song and blues music.

Her desire to do the job one by one as well which makes it just released her album in February 2010, after a few times a duet with popular Indonesian singer, such as Ahmad Dhani, Duo Maia, and Afgan. She revealed in the making of this album takes about six months, from July to December 2009.

Starting with the song "Cinta Atau Uang" are her electropop type music and of course able to be accepted by the wide as her 1st single. The song was awarded Indonesian Music Award 2011, category "Best Dance/Electronic Dance Production". In May 2011, Cinta Laura released "Shoot Me" as the 2nd single and music video inspired by the character Lara Croft that back nuances of dance-pop and able make the audience stomped. Laura also showed his ability to sing sweet songs like "Cape Hati" and "Guardian Angel" of the opposite pop-blues music.

Songs in this album is also much used as a soundtrack song or theme song on Indonesian television. The song "Oh Baby" is the debut of her 1st single which is also in the soundtrack of the movie Oh Baby, the soundtrack Ost. Oh Baby there is also a song titled "We Can Do It". In the same year he also recorded a song entitled "You Say Aku" for the soundtrack of the television series, Upik Abu and Laura. Her hits song in 2010, entitled "Cinta Atau Uang" was also the theme song from the 2nd movie that starred, Seleb Kota Jogja. This song was nominated in the category of "Favorite Theme Song" awards FTV Awards 2011, As well as a serial drama backsound of FTV on SCTV, with other songs that became the theme song is "Guardian Angel".

Sony Music as the party label claimed to work with KFC in marketing this album. After less than 2 weeks the album had sold up to 100,000 CDs, and Laura was awarded "Platinum Award". This Cinta Laura album is that special packaging, as any packaging in which there is a mini magazine called "Cinta Magazine". Mini magazine in cooperation with the teen magazine featuring all things about Cinta Laura, so that fans can get to know her personality.

Cinta Laura performed the song "Cinta Atau Uang" in the Indonesia's Got Talent final on July 17, 2010. He also performed this song in awards SCTV Music Awards 2011 that the album was also nominated for "Best Pop Album of Solo". Not only shown in the singles main musical events, it also shows the other songs in this album such as "Guardian Angel", "Shoot Me", "Kebebasan", "You Say Aku", "Oh Baby", "We Can Do It" in the event music broadcast on television such as Inbox and Dahsyat.

After six months of the release, Cinta Kaura blessed 11x Platinum, physical sales eventually reached nine hundred thousand copies. In addition to the sales achieved fantastic, Cinta's album is also used for the dance competition program entitled KFC Ayo Ngedance Bareng Cinta Laura which is also to promote the album and the singles. Following sold one million copies cds studio album marketed through KFC store, Laura gets certified 12x Platinum.

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