Yuri Mahatma was born in Jakarta, Indonesia 1972. Moved to Bali in 1980 until now. He got the first music influences from his sister, Dian Pratiwi, a professional Jazz singer.

Studied guitar since he was 12-year old (self-taught). After finished high school, Yuri intensively studied jazz music privately from many guitarists, among them is Martijn Van Iterson in Leiden,Holland ( now Martijn teaches in Antwerp Conservatory, Belgium).

His first professional career started with State of Mind Band in 1994, since then he played with many groups all around the island such as Kayane Band, Duotones, and also had played in Tokyo and Yokohama, Japan.

In 2005 Yuri formed his own band called Yuri mahatma Group with some different nationalities of members (Indonesia/U.K./Japan) which play mostly their own compositions in some jazz festivals

Nowadays, Yuri is still living in Bali, playing in clubs, cafés, and hotels, teaching guitar and vocal, and also writing and recording his own music.