Beyond the Arena: The Story of STEREO, Finland’s Electronic Side-Project Phenomenon
When music fans think of Haloo Helsinki!, they picture massive stadium anthems, chart-topping mainstream pop-rock hits, and roaring guitar riffs. However, during the band’s scheduled hiatus, two of its core creative masterminds—guitarists and songwriters Leo Hakanen and Jere Marttila—decided to pivot away from traditional rock arenas and dive deep into the world of electronic dance music (EDM).
The result was STEREO (stylized as STEREO), a high-energy producer-and-DJ duo that injected a fresh, club-ready pulse into the Finnish music scene.
From Stadium Rock to Underground Club Beats
Formed in early 2019, STEREO was born out of a long-standing passion that Hakanen and Marttila shared for electronic production, synthesizers, and modern club culture. While Haloo Helsinki! was taking a well-deserved break, the duo seized the opportunity to explore soundscapes they hadn’t previously targeted under their primary band’s banner.
Rather than treating the project as a casual side hobby, they approached it with high-end production values and ambitious goals. They hit the ground running with simultaneous single drops like “Vuosien päästä” (featuring Etta) and “74”, signaling an immediate departure into sleek, bass-heavy, and rhythm-driven electronic pop.
The 00740 Era and Star-Studded Collaborations
In late 2019, STEREO cemented their place in the domestic electronic scene with the release of their debut full-length album, 00740, via Vallila Music House. The album was a masterclass in modern Nordic EDM production, blending melancholic melodies with explosive drops and infectious dance grooves.
What made the project particularly engaging was its collaborative spirit. Instead of hiding behind anonymity or keeping vocals internal, Hakanen and Marttila partnered with an eclectic roster of top-tier Finnish vocalists and musicians, creating a dynamic cross-genre bridge:
- “Bonnie & Clyde” featuring pop duo Ida Paul & Kalle Lindroth
- “Katon peiliin” featuring Sini Yasemin
- “Woo Woo” featuring legendary rock icon Michael Monroe, proving that their rock roots could seamlessly merge with electronic intensity.
The album’s creative direction earned them critical acclaim, including an Emma Award nomination (Finland’s equivalent of the Grammys) for Best Pop Album of the Year in 2020.
Live Shows and Legacy
True to their electronic roots, STEREO brought their vision to life on festival stages across Finland, debuting live at Helsinki’s historic Vanha Ylioppilastalo before headlining major summer festivals. Their performances combined atmospheric light shows with driving basslines, offering audiences a completely different perspective on two of Finland’s most established modern songwriters.
While STEREO primarily operated as a focused project during Haloo Helsinki!’s operational pause, the duo demonstrated how established artists can successfully reinvent their creative output, break genre boundaries, and energize new audiences without losing their signature melodic touch.
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