Blind Channel Announces Hiatus: «This Hasn’t Been Fun for a Long Time»
Blind Channel, Finland’s Eurovision sensation, has announced they will be taking an indefinite break following the completion of their 2024 tour. The band, which skyrocketed to fame after their successful Eurovision 2021 entry «Dark Side,» cites burnout as the main reason for this decision.
Lead vocalists Niko Moilanen and Joel Hokka, in a candid interview, expressed that the non-stop touring and pressure over the past three years have taken a toll. «If we had continued at this pace, the band would have fallen apart,» said Hokka. «It stopped being fun somewhere along the way, and we realized it was time to step back.»
The decision to pause their activities came after completing over 300 performances across Europe and North America, with little time to rest between gigs. Touring alongside creating new music became overwhelming, despite living what they once saw as a dream life. «I found myself at a truck stop in Pennsylvania, taking yet another quick shower and eating a greasy hot dog, and it hit me—I didn’t want to be here,» Hokka admitted.
Though the band members insist they aren’t breaking up, they remain unclear about when, or if, they will return. «It could be two weeks, two years, or more,» Moilanen said, hinting at the uncertainty that lies ahead. However, they remain united in their decision, stating that this hiatus is essential for their survival as a group.
Blind Channel’s journey since Eurovision has been nothing short of meteoric. Their breakthrough song, «Dark Side,» secured them a sixth-place finish in 2021—Finland’s third-highest Eurovision result. The fame that followed brought pressure, with major record labels and external forces shaping their sound. As their career became more professionalized, the band found themselves straying from the creative roots that had brought them success.
To address this, Moilanen and Hokka have already returned to their hometown of Oulu, where they’re rediscovering their love for making music. «We’ve swapped the computer for real instruments, and we’re playing in garages again,» said Moilanen with a smile. The goal, according to the band, is to return to a simpler, more genuine creative process, far removed from the whirlwind of the past few years.
For now, Blind Channel is stepping away from the limelight, leaving fans to wonder when they’ll next hear from the Finnish rockers. The only certainty is that they need time to recover, reflect, and regain their passion for the music that once brought them together.
Brief Biography of Blind Channel:
Blind Channel is a Finnish rock band formed in Oulu in 2013, known for their energetic «violent pop» sound—a mix of rock, pop, and metal. They gained international attention after representing Finland at Eurovision 2021 with their song «Dark Side,» which earned them sixth place, marking the country’s third-best result in the competition. Since then, they’ve toured extensively across Europe and North America, releasing multiple singles and albums. The band is praised for its high-energy performances and rebellious spirit, though they are now taking a hiatus to recover from the intense pressure of their rapid rise to fame.
Source: Is.fi
