Playing outside the Finnish borders has been a childhood dream. So many great stories and artists have gone to Germany, played a gig, and great things have happened. For me, the great thing is that we made this happen with hard work, consistency, and trust that good things will happen when you keep pushing the limit.
I had a hard time even understanding that I was actually there this weekend. It felt dreamlike—like literally stepping into another reality where suddenly you’re a Finnish artist going to Germany with three other amazing artists.
Arrival in Deutschland
We were greeted at Düsseldorf airport by Benjamin, who organizes the Neon Paradise events in Cologne. Super dude, and he even was able to withstand my really shitty humor due to lack of sleep the night before. Benjamin took us to the hotel and we settled in. We took it pretty easy on Friday, as everyone had slept like 2-4 hours. At some point it was literally shitposting live between four guys.
The voice crisis
I had some challenges, to be honest. On the way to Germany, my voice almost disappeared due to aircraft ventilation or something. I sounded like a broken crow on Saturday when I woke up, but luckily the help of German cough medicine—aka Underberg—revived my vocal chords, and I was able to sing one song: a collab with Ace Buchannon and of course “Never Surrender.”
I had planned the set already in good time, but on Friday night I already understood I needed to ditch the plan and change 50% of my set. While the other guys went to town on Saturday morning, I stayed in the hotel. I was feeling low, to be fair. I was expecting to sing, as that’s something I always enjoy when doing a live show. I utilized the day well and was able to complete a new song, which I of course included in the set. I made a decision to make the whole set as energetic as I could and without any vocal songs. It was the first time in my whole history of Millennium Falck that there was no vocal song in my own set.
We agreed with Ace that we’d check my condition in the soundcheck to see if “Never Surrender” was doable.
Blue Shell
We arrived at Blue Shell around 22:00. There were two events that night, and it was nice seeing what kind of other culture is going on in the club. Noticed that Sierra was also there like a year ago—the artist me and Levinsky backed up at Ääniwalli in 2023.
The club itself was full of neon colors and really atmospheric. We set up everything around 23:30, did a really quick soundcheck, and I think it was around midnight when I played my first song. Have to give it to the German audience. The event started quite late taking into account our Finnish expectations. Germans partied like there was no tomorrow, and more people popped in when our show was about to start. I felt like yeah, this is the time we usually start to end an event in Helsinki. 😀
The performance
For me, this gig was special in many ways. First time outside Finland, making a dream come true, overcoming my sore throat, and spending time with my best buddies Ace Buchannon, Levinsky, and DJ BRU.
I can’t remember a time when I have laughed so much as I did during the weekend. Perhaps that’s it. The people you encounter on your road, spending time with them, living in the moment, and doing stuff that you’ve always dreamed of. That’s not a bad side effect of doing music that you enjoy.
The set list
- Opening Ceremony – Starting strong with pure energy
- First Period (feat. Ace Buchannon) – Bringing Ace on stage for our collaboration
- Second Period – Keeping the hockey theme alive
- Third Period – The trilogy continues
- Come Closer – One of the crowd favorites
- Beat Drop – From the classic compilation
- Cybertom – Ode to Tom of Finland
- Kessel Run – Making the jump to hyperspace
- Last Ronin – Dark and cinematic
- Stand Up and Fight – The freshly finished track, completed in the hotel that very morning
- Orbital Assault – Closing with maximum impact
Looking forward
I have a feeling this event might have worked also as a catalyst for something quite cool. More about that hopefully next year.
Special thanks to Levinsky for organizing this from the Helsinki Synth City end—superb guy.
Ace Buchannon, thanks for being with us. We’ve seen a lot, experienced a lot, and I wish that there will be many more of these we get to do. I want to remember this when we’re old uncs.
DJ BRU, you have elevated the Helsinki Synth City shows. You literally gave no mercy to the dance floor, hitting us with a barrage of bangers. Best synthwave DJ in the world, and I’m happy to have you as my friend. Sorry for fucking up in the speeches again. 🙁
Benjamin and Neon Paradise, thanks for hosting us and making our dream a reality. You are a super dude, and we hope that we can do this again soon.
With the wise words of Mr. Buchannon: Keep the flame alive and your dreams will survive.
