The Sound of STEREO: Inside the Finnish EDM Project Born from Haloo Helsinki!
When massive mainstream rock bands take a breather, it often opens the door for side projects that let musicians stretch their creative boundaries. For Leo Hakanen and Jere Marttila—best known as the guitarist and songwriter duo behind one of Finland’s biggest rock acts, Haloo Helsinki!—that break became the genesis of STEREO (stylized as STEREO), an innovative electronic dance music (EDM) project.
Launched during Haloo Helsinki!‘s well-documented hiatus, STEREO allowed Hakanen and Marttila to step away from stadium-rock guitars and plunge headfirst into synthesizers, club beats, and pop-driven electronic soundscapes.
Shifting Gears: From Arena Rock to Club Beats
For years, Hakanen and Marttila shaped the soundscape of modern Finnish rock music. However, their shared passion for production, electronic textures, and club culture inspired them to create a project where they could experiment freely.
Operating primarily during 2018 and 2019, STEREO was never meant to be a permanent replacement for their main band, but rather an intense, focused creative outlet. They traded acoustic and electric six-strings for drum machines, heavy bass drops, and sleek, futuristic production values.
Collaborations and the Album 00740
What made STEREO stand out on the Finnish music scene was its collaborative spirit. Instead of sticking to a single vocalist, the duo functioned as master producers and curators, inviting an impressive roster of prominent Finnish artists to lend their voices to the tracks.
Their debut album, fittingly titled 00740 (released in 2019), alongside a string of high-profile singles, showcased an eclectic mix of genres and styles. Highlights from their collaborative catalog include:
- “Sä saat mut palasiksi” featuring Samu Haber (known globally from Sunrise Avenue).
- “Vuosien päästä” featuring Etta.
- “Woo Woo” featuring rock legend Michael Monroe.
- “Bonnie & Clyde” featuring Ida Paul & Kalle Lindroth.
- “Marijuana” featuring Teflon Brothers.
This cross-pollination of genres allowed STEREO to bridge the gap between underground electronic music and mainstream Finnish pop, creating radio-friendly hits that also packed heavy punchlines for club environments.
Legacy and Impact
Though STEREO was conceptualized as a temporary project for a specific era, it left a distinct mark on contemporary Finnish pop-EDM. It proved that mainstream rock musicians could successfully pivot into electronic production without losing their melodic sensibilities.
For fans of Haloo Helsinki!, STEREO offered a fascinating peek into the diverse musical palettes of Hakanen and Marttila, demonstrating that great songwriting transcends genres—whether it’s driven by a distorted guitar riff or a pulsing synthesizer.
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