Rhythm, Rejuvenation, and Resistance: The Story of STEREO

When massive, stadium-filling rock bands take a breather, what happens to the creative minds behind the riffs? For Jere Marttila and Leo Hakanen—the acclaimed guitarists and songwriters of Haloo Helsinki!, one of Finland’s most successful pop-rock groups—the answer wasn’t to rest. Instead, during their parent band’s well-deserved hiatus in 2018–2019, they stepped away from traditional rock configurations to dive headfirst into electronic dance music.

The result was STEREO (stylized as STEREO), an innovative Finnish EDM duo that took the domestic music scene by storm. Far more than a mere side project, STEREO became an artistic outlet that redefined what collaborative, producer-driven Finnish pop and electronic music could look and sound like.

🎧 Genesis and Musical Identity

The genesis of STEREO was born out of a desire to experiment. Having spent over a decade crafting radio-friendly, high-energy rock anthems with Haloo Helsinki!, Marttila and Hakanen wanted to explore the vast landscapes of club culture, synthesizers, and electronic production.

Operating heavily during 2019, the duo carved out a distinct niche that merged the emotional resonance and infectious hooks of mainstream pop with heavy-hitting electronic dance beats. Rather than locking themselves in a studio and keeping things exclusive, they turned STEREO into a massive collaborative vehicle, inviting a powerhouse roster of guest vocalists and fellow artists to lend their talents to the project.

🌟 Star-Studded Collaborations and Breakthrough Hits

What truly defined STEREO’s breakout run in 2019 was its all-star lineup of featured artists. By blending their electronic soundscapes with diverse vocal talents spanning various genres of Finnish modern music, the duo generated a string of chart-climbing hits:

• “Vuosien päästä” (feat. Etta): A compelling track blending emotional depth with a driving electronic pulse, featuring the talented rapper and singer Etta.
• “Woo Woo” (feat. Michael Monroe): A legendary collaboration bringing in the raw, unapologetic rock energy of Hanoi Rocks frontman Michael Monroe, injecting punk attitude straight into electronic sound production.
• “Sä saat mut palasiksi” (feat. Samu Haber): A massive track pairing the duo’s slick production with the unmistakable, raspy vocals of former Sunrise Avenue frontman Samu Haber.
• “Bonnie & Clyde” (feat. Ida Paul & Kalle Lindroth): A seamless fusion of acoustic-pop sensibilities and modern club textures.
• Other Notable Singles: Tracks like “Marijuana” (with Teflon Brothers), “Rauhaa ja rakkautta” (with Aste), and “Katon peiliin” (with Sini Yasemin) solidified their presence across Finnish radio and streaming platforms.

💿 The Album 00740

All of these creative explorations culminated in their debut full-length studio album, 00740, released in 2019. The album acted as a sonic diary of that era, showcasing Marttila and Hakanen’s versatility as producers who could navigate everything from ambient, textured electronics to peak-hour festival bangers.

For fans accustomed to seeing them behind electric guitars on massive festival stages, STEREO provided a thrilling plot twist. It proved that their musicality wasn’t bound to a single genre, but rather rooted in an innate understanding of melody, rhythm, and crowd energy.

🚀 Legacy and Cultural Impact

Though STEREO was primarily active during Haloo Helsinki!’s hiatus, its impact on the Finnish music landscape remains distinct. The project demonstrated how established rock musicians can gracefully pivot into electronic spaces, breaking down rigid genre barriers that often isolate rock and club cultures.

Whether blasting through festival sound systems or dominating streaming playlists, STEREO captured a unique lightning-in-a-bottle moment of reinvention—proving that sometimes, the best way forward is to turn the dials, shift the perspective, and let the electronic beats take over.