[2] Joining Dewa, Once played a significant role in the success of two best-selling albums, Bintang Lima (2000) and Cintailah Cinta (2002), with his distinctive vocals.

After his success as a co-lead vocalist with Dewa, Once revived his solo career with the single "Dealova" (2005), which was also the soundtrack for the film of the same name.

While in junior high school, Once replaced a vocalist in a festival band, marking his entry into the music world.

He released the song "Juwita Pandang" on a compilation album in 1991 with Andy Liany Ronald and Pay Burman.

During his college years, Once experienced vocal cord problems, leading him to quit singing and focus on his studies.

[5] Once was later asked to join Dhani's band, Dewa 19, in 2000,[7] and eventually replaced Ari Lasso, who was expelled from the group for drug use.

[6][7] In 2011, Once left Dewa, and the band is currently inactive [9] In the late 2010s, Once, the husband of Ima Angelica and father of Manuel Mekel decided to focus on his solo career.

Apart from 'Dealova,' Once Mekel also released his solo singles 'Kucinta Kau Apa Adanya (Aku Mau)' and 'Simphony yang Indah.'

In 2022, Once, along with his colleagues such as Derek Sherenian, Ron 'Bumblefoot' Thal, Simon Phillips, Jeff Scott Soto, Billy Sheehan, Indra Putra, and Edo Widiz, formed the Dream Team Project and collaborated with WiseArt, a Geneva-based NFT Green company, to enter the NFT music world by launching the song titled "Human Nature."

[10] In 2016, he, along with Elizabeth Tan, Mey Chan, and Mike Mohede, became a judge on the talent show Just Duet on NET.

In December 2022, Once Mekel collaborated with StarX to introduce the Intrinsik Multi Produksi platform or IMProduction, claiming to play a role in environmental friendliness.

The grand concert, held to celebrate National Music Day, was a collaboration between the Indonesian Association of Singers, Songwriters, and Musicians (PAPPRI) with Don Sistem Suara (DSS) and Kibordis Untuk Bangsa Indonesia (KUBi).

[20] Fargat 727 Dewa 19 Once (Solo Career) Voted Best Pop Soloist at the 2005 Anugerah Musik Indonesia (AMI).