Biography

Echa Soemantri began his music career in the early 2000s by forming the Christian band YES!. After meeting Tengku Abdul in 2003, they briefly formed a band together before Abdul pursued a solo career, with Echa becoming his first session drummer. Echa’s career continued to grow when he joined the Erwin Gutawa Orchestra in 2006, performing alongside renowned musicians such as Addie MS, Dewa Budjana, and Yovie Widianto. One of his notable achievements was his contribution to Yovie & Nuno’s album *The Special One*, especially through his signature fill in the song "Menjaga Hati." He also performed at major events like the 3 Diva Concert in Kuala Lumpur and international music festivals in Russia with Indro Hardjodikoro and The Fingers. Echa has been active as a session drummer for talent shows like *Indonesian Idol*, *The Voice*, *Rising Star*, and *The Next Indonesian Big Star*, and contributed to JKT48's single "Eurika." He also served as Music Director for *Praise God Talent* and led a coaching clinic called *Nguber Drummer*. Through his project *ES & Friends*, he explored genres such as Jazz, Fusion, RnB, Gospel, and Pop-Rock, releasing numerous singles and mini albums between 2019 and 2024, including personal tracks like “Lagu Papa,” “Jeje,” and a remake of traditional worship songs. In 2024, he formed a praise and worship team named *Echa Soemantri & Joyful Noise*. He is currently working on new music, both as a solo artist and in collaboration with others.