Ariel

Nazril Irham (born 16 September 1981), known professionally as Ariel or Ariel "Noah", is an Indonesian singer of Minangkabau ancestry. He is the lead singer of the Indonesian band Noah, formerly known as Peterpan.

Ariel founded Peterpan in Bandung in 2000 with Andika, Indra, Lukman, Reza, and Uki. Peterpan's second album Bintang di Surga (2004) is one of the best-selling albums of all time in Indonesia. He was arrested in 2010 on charges relating to celebrity sex tapes found circulating on the internet after his laptop was stolen. Peterpan changed their name to Noah after Ariel's release in 2012. Noah also received commercial success, with their first album Seperti Seharusnya (2012) having sold over one million copies.

Career

2000–2008: Peterpan Ariel founded Peterpan in Bandung on 1 September 2000, with Andika (keyboard), Indra (bass), Lukman (guitar), Reza (drum), and Uki (guitar). Their recording career started in 2002 when they recorded their song, "Mimpi Yang Sempurna", for a compilation album by various artists, Kisah 2002 Malam. Afterward, they were contracted by Musica Studio's and under the name Peterpan released three studio albums: Taman Langit, Bintang di Surga, and Hari Yang Cerah; a compilation album titled Sebuah Nama Sebuah Cerita; and a soundtrack album for the film Alexandria.

After Andika and Indra split from the band in 2006, they demanded that their former band change their name. Ariel, Uki, Lukman, Reza, and their new keyboardist, David, planned to announce their new name in 2010, but the plan was put to a halt after Ariel was arrested.

2012–2023: Noah

After Ariel was released from prison, Ariel, Uki, Lukman, Reza, and David announced their new band name: Noah, on 2 August 2012. Noah released their first album under their new name, Seperti Seharusnya, in September 2012. The album was a commercial success, having sold over 1.2 million copies, making it one of the best-selling album in Indonesia. To date, they have released four studio albums: Seperti Seharusnya, Second Chance, Sings Legends, and Keterkaitan Keterikatan.

Solo work During his time in prison, Ariel released a solo single titled "Dara". It was released on 18 April 2011.

In 2014, Ariel, along with fellow Musica Studio vocalists Giring Nidji and Momo Geisha, collaborated with fellow Musica Studio's band d'Masiv on the band's single "Esok Kan Bahagia". In the next year, Ariel's vocals were featured in Sheryl Sheinafia's single "Kutunggu Kau Putus", which was nominated for Best Pop Collaboration on 19th Anugerah Musik Indonesia.

Ariel sang two songs from the official album of the 2018 Asian Games. The first was "Bright As The Sun", which was sung by 18 Indonesian singers including Ariel. The second one was "Janger Persahabatan", which was written by Guruh Sukarnoputra and performed by NEV+ (a side project of Nidji, focusing on electronic music), Ariel, and Hivi! former vocalist Dea.

Musicianship Ariel tried his hand at songwriting during middle school.

Ariel's musical style was influenced by the grunge band Nirvana ever since his teenage days. Ariel is a fan of Nirvana's vocalist Kurt Cobain.

Ariel's songwriting was influenced by the poet Kahlil Gibran. Ariel was introduced to Gibran's writings in high school and liked the meaning he found behind Gibran's poetry.

Celebrity sex tape scandal The Bill against Pornography and Pornoaction came into effect in Indonesia in 2008.

TV presenter Luna Maya and soap opera star Cut Tari denied being the woman in the videos. The sex video prompted an outpouring of criticism from conservative Muslims. The video could also result in prosecution under a law banning adultery, owing to Cut Tari having been married at the time it was made in 2006. The two women were not charged.

On 31 January 2011, Ariel was sentenced to years behind bars and fined 250 million rupiah (US$28,000). Prosecutors had asked for a five-year sentence. The maximum sentence possible for the charges was 12 years. On 25 April 2011 the Bandung High Court rejected his appeal. On 23 July 2012, after serving two years in prison, Ariel was released early for good behaviour.

The scandal became a popular topic. Communications and Information Technology Minister Tifatul Sembiring engaged in a Twitter debate after suggesting that the possibility of mistaken identity was similar to the Muslim belief that a lookalike of Jesus of Nazareth had been crucified; he stated that the internet could "destroy" the nation.

Awards and nominations

Ariel has received various awards and nominations as a member of Noah, including the Anugerah Musik Indonesia (AMI Awards) for Best of the Best Album for Bintang di Surga, Seperti Seharusnya, and Keterkaitan Keterikatan; and for Best of the Best Production Work for the songs "Bintang di Surga" and "Separuh Aku".

In December 2010, Rolling Stone Indonesia ranked Ariel the 43rd-greatest Indonesian singer on its list of the 50 Greatest Indonesian Singers. In February 2014, the magazine ranked him 28th on its list of the 100 Greatest Indonesian Songwriters.

Award Year Work Category Result Ref. Anugerah Musik Indonesia 2005 "Ada Apa Denganmu" Best Pop Songwriter 2015 "Seperti Kemarin" (with Dewi Lestari) Best Pop Songwriter 2016 "Kutunggu Kau Putus" (with Sheryl Sheinafia) Best Collaborative Production Work 2020 "Menghapus Jejakmu" (with Bunga Citra Lestari) Best Collaborative Production Work Inbox Awards 2012 "Dara" Most Inbox Video Clip Indonesian Movie Awards 2010 Sang Pemimpi Best New Actor Most Favorite New Actor Johnny Andrean Awards 2010 Ariel Peterpan Best Hairdo for Male Singer SCTV Music Awards 2009 Ariel Peterpan Favorite Vocalist 2013 Ariel Noah Most Popular Band Vocalist 2014 Ariel Noah Most Popular Band Vocalist 2015 Ariel Noah Most Popular Band Vocalist 2016 "Kutunggu Kau Putus" (with Sheryl Sheinafia) Most Popular Collaboration

Singles Year Title Album 2011 "Dara" 2020 "Cinta yang Diam" (with Difki Khalif) 2020 "Lara" (acoustic version) (with Difki Khalif) 2023 "Little Old Man" (new version) (with Caessaria) 2024 "Nada-Nada Cinta" (new version) (with Rossa)

As featured artist Year Title Album 2014 "Esok Kan Bahagia" (D'Masiv featuring Giring Nidji, Momo Geisha, and Ariel Noah) Hidup Lebih Indah 2015 "Kutunggu Kau Putus" (Sheryl Sheinafia featuring Ariel Noah) II 2017 "Bright as the Sun" (as part of Energy18) Energy of Asia: Official Album of Asian Games 2018 2018 "Janger Persahabatan" (with NEV+ and Dea) Energy of Asia: Official Album of Asian Games 2018 2019 "Moshimo Mata Itsuka" (with Ariel Nidji) 2020 "Menghapus Jejakmu" (Bunga Citra Lestari featuring Ariel Noah) 2020 "Bukannya Aku Takut" (with Mirriam Eka and Difki Khalif)

Filmography

Films Year Title Role Notes 2009 Sang Pemimpi Arai 2013 NOAH: Awal Semula Himself Documentary 2025 Jumbo Don's father Voice role2026 DilanUpcoming release

Television series Year Title Role Notes 2015 Tetangga Masa Gitu? Ginaga Indra / Panda Guest appearance

Music videos "Pria Idaman Wanita" — The Changcuters (2006) "Sedang Ingin Bercinta" — Dewa 19 (2006) "Lirih" — Chrisye (2008)

Endorsement XL (With Noah) Sunsilk Lux Yamaha KFC Vaseline men (with Noah) Kakao Talk (with Noah) Vitamin Water (With Noah) BRI (With Noah) BRImo Greenlight Geoff Max Gosend Kratingdaeng