Introduction to STEREO: The Electronic Side-Project Born from Finnish Rock Royalty
When thinking of Haloo Helsinki!, massive stadium-filling pop-rock anthems, high-energy guitar riffs, and frontwoman Elli Haloo usually come to mind. However, during the band’s well-documented hiatus in 2018–2019, the group’s masterminds behind the guitars—Leo Hakanen and Jere Marttila—decided to channel their creativity into an entirely different sonic universe.
The result was STEREO (stylized as STEREO), a Finnish electronic dance music (EDM) and DJ-producer duo that caught the Finnish music scene by surprise and delivered a string of high-profile collaborative hits.
The Genesis of the Duo
As key songwriters and guitarists for Haloo Helsinki!, Hakanen and Marttila had spent years perfecting mainstream radio-friendly rock. When the parent band took a break to recharge, the duo didn’t want to stop making music. Instead, they shifted gears toward electronic production, club beats, and contemporary pop arrangements.
Launching the project in early 2019, STEREO was built on a philosophy of artistic freedom, allowing the duo to step into the roles of primary producers, main songwriters, and occasional vocalists.
High-Profile Collaborations and the Album 00740
Rather than remaining a strict underground electronic act, STEREO leveraged their industry connections to build an impressive roster of guest artists for their tracks. Their debut singles, “Vuosien päästä” (featuring rapper Etta) and “74”, dropped simultaneously on February 1, 2019, immediately establishing their electronic footprint.
Throughout 2019, they rolled out a series of diverse singles featuring some of the biggest names in Finnish music:
- “Sä saat mut palasiksi” featuring Samu Haber
- “Woo Woo” featuring rock icon Michael Monroe
- “Bonnie & Clyde” featuring Ida Paul & Kalle Lindroth
- “Rauhaa ja rakkautta” featuring Aste
- “Katon peiliin” featuring Sini Yasemin
This momentum culminated in the release of their full-length studio album, 00740, later in 2019. The production standard of the project turned heads internationally as well; for instance, their single “Vuosien päästä” was mixed by top-tier engineer Miles Walker, renowned for his work with global superstars like Beyoncé, Rihanna, Bruno Mars, and Coldplay.
Legacy and Return to Haloo Helsinki!
STEREO was primarily conceptualized as a focused project for the duration of the Haloo Helsinki! break. When Haloo Helsinki! ended their hiatus and returned to active duty (making a major comeback in 2021), Hakanen and Marttila returned their primary focus to the band.
Despite its short-lived active window in 2019, STEREO stands out as a fascinating creative detour. It proved that Hakanen and Marttila were much more than just rock guitarists—cementing their status as versatile, modern music producers capable of dominating the electronic and pop charts under a completely different banner.
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