The ninth artist in our Who Is series for Eurovision 2021 is Blind Channel from Finland.
Blind Channel was formed in 2013 in Oulu in northwestern Finland. The band consists of Joel Hokka (vocals and guitar), Niko Vilhelm (vocals), Joonas Porko (guitar and backing vocals), Olli Matela (bass), Tommi Lalli (drums) and Aleksi Kaunisvesi (sampler and percussion). All of the members have been in the band since its inception except for Aleksi, who joined last autumn.
In 2014, Blind Channel were invited to perform at Wacken Open Air, the largest open-air heavy metal in Germany and the world. They soon signed a recording contract and released their debut singles “Naysayers” and “Calling Out” later that year. In 2016, they released their debut album “Revolutions”. Two more albums followed in the years afterwards; “Blood Brothers” in 2018 and “Violent Pop”, which the band uses to describe their music, in 2020.
Blind Channel were chosen to represent Finland at Eurovision 2021 with “Dark Side” after winning Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2020. They received the highest points from both the international juries and the public vote. The song was written and composed by band members Aleksi Kaunisvesi, Joonas Porko, Joel Hokka, and Olli Matela alongside Niko Moilanen.
Blind Channel will perform in the second half of the second semi-final on May 20.
Image Source: YLE / Miika Varila
Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest
Finland first participated in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1961, they debuted alongside Spain and Yugoslavia. Finland has finished last in the contest on 10 occasions and has received ‘nul points’ three times. It wasn’t until 2006 that Finland won the Eurovision Song Contest. Lordi represented the country in Athens with the song “Hard Rock Hallelujah” scoring 292 points, a record total at the time.
