The Blanko, who blew up the Finnish rock scene in 2011 with their debut album Flying Colours, are ending their half-decade-long hiatus. The single Shine, released on March 5th and finalized in collaboration with producer Jukka Backlund, presents The Blanko’s enormous energy in a new light and with the spices of 2025 – without forgetting the original sound of the band’s power trio.
At the same time, The Blanko will be presenting itself in a new line-up, which includes drummer Sami Osala, who gained international fame in Sunrise Avenue. Alongside vocalist-guitarist Pauli Hauta-aho, bassist Jykke Tikka continues to play in the front row.
“I’ve been following the band’s activities since the beginning and have noticed that they’ve been downright beastly live. I was already thinking back then that I’d like to be involved in that kind of activity again someday. I had played with Pauli before and noticed that he is a really great player and that this kind of energy is what I want from a band. I never would have thought that suddenly I would be witnessing that whirlwind live behind the drums. I’m really excited about this!”, Osala enthuses.
“The trio is a king of bands, where each member has a significant role. Sami has taken over the drummer’s position better than expected and faster than I dared to hope. It feels great to bring out the band’s new energy with a new song!”, Pauli enthuses.
The trio’s first song together, Shine, is closely tied to this time, reminding us of the power of love in the turmoil of the times.
“From the north, it echoes until it echoes. The world is in transition and new winds are blowing hard, and they won’t let up until we react to them. However, one thing remains and remains, and that is love. It is the brilliance and glow that lives in all of us. It’s a torch that burns through storms and turmoil, and it never dies,” Pauli states and continues:
“Shine is a return to the roots, a return home and a return to the authenticity of who we have always been. The process of creating the song was like a dark night of the soul, where things were faced eye to eye, until finally the love for the riff swept over the useless crumbs. The end result is a power song, where the sacred connection of the feminine and the masculine is rockingly balanced. This world needs that kind of energy.”
The Blanko will also return to live gigs, the first of which will be held in Helsinki at On The Rocks on May 2nd. Tickets for the event are now on sale.
The Blanko is:
Pauli Hauta-aho – Vocals, guitar
Jykke Tikka – Bass
Sami Osala – Drums