Once
Once Elfonda Mekel, better known by his stage name Once ([ËÉ"ntʃə], pronounced Ohn-chx), is an Indonesian singer and former lead vocalist of Dewa 19. Once was born Elfonda Mekel in Ujung Pandang, South Sulawesi, on 21 May 1970. He began singing while attending junior high school at Tirta Marta Junior High School; he also learned how to play the drums, piano, and guitar. He eventually began participating in singing competitions, including an inter-high school competition in Jakarta. After graduating from Tirta Mirta Senior High School, Once joined numerous bands. His 1st bands, Brawijaya and Dimensi, were cover bands. After joining Java Burns, he began singing songs he had written himself; he eventually provided a song for the compilation album Seribu Angan in the early 1990s. Due to a problem with his voice box, Once took a hiatus from singing between 1993 and 1997. He used this time to study law at the University of Indonesia, graduating in 1996. He also worked for a constru