Inside the Soundwaves: The Story of STEREO
When prominent musicians step away from their comfort zones to explore new creative horizons, the results are often unpredictable, bold, and entirely refreshing. For STEREO (stylized as STEREO)—the Finnish electronic dance music (EDM) and pop duo created by guitarist Jere Marttila and guitarist/songwriter Leo Hakanen—this exact creative impulse birthed one of the most interesting side-project ventures in modern Finnish pop culture.
Best known as the hitmaking powerhouses behind Haloo Helsinki!—one of Finland’s most successful rock and pop-rock institutions—Marttila and Hakanen used STEREO as a vehicle to channel a completely different sonic energy.
The Genesis of the Duo
The project came to life during a well-deserved hiatus taken by Haloo Helsinki! around 2018–2019. Rather than taking a quiet break from the industry, Marttila and Hakanen dove headfirst into electronic production, contemporary club beats, and a sleek, synth-driven aesthetic.
While Haloo Helsinki! traded in stadium-sized organic rock anthems, STEREO focused on modern nocturnal club culture, heavy basslines, infectious pop hooks, and atmospheric electronic textures. It was a chance for two seasoned musicians to deconstruct pop music and rebuild it through a fresh, digital-first lens.
00740: The Breakthrough Era
STEREO made a massive splash on the Finnish music scene in 2019, rolling out a string of high-profile collaborative singles before releasing their debut studio album, 00740, in 2019.
True to their collaborative spirit, almost every track on the project featured guest appearances from a wide array of prominent Finnish artists, bridging different genres and generations. Key highlights from their explosive 2019 run include:
- “Vuosien päästä” (featuring Etta) – A slick fusion of melodic pop and rap phrasing.
- “Woo Woo” (featuring rock icon Michael Monroe) – A high-energy cross-pollination of electronic rhythm and rock-and-roll attitude.
- “Sä saat mut palasiksi” (featuring Samu Haber) – A soaring emotional pop track that blended Haber’s signature raspy vocals with electronic club production.
- “Bonnie & Clyde” (featuring Ida Paul & Kalle Lindroth) – A seamless blend of alternative pop storytelling and modern danceable beats.
Legacy and Cultural Impact
Though initially conceived as a specific project for a designated downtime period, STEREO demonstrated the sheer versatility of its creators. By stepping out behind standard rock instrumentation and experimenting with contemporary club production, Marttila and Hakanen expanded the boundaries of what Finnish pop producers could achieve.
For fans of electronic music and smart pop craftsmanship, STEREO remains a brilliant snapshot of artistic freedom—proving that great songwriters can bend any genre to their will.
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