Samu Haber

Samu Aleksi Haber (born 2 April 1976) is a Finnish singer, songwriter, television music competition judge and entrepreneur. He was the lead vocalist and frontman of pop-rock band Sunrise Avenue. In 2022, the band went on an indefinite hiatus, allowing Haber to focus on his solo career. As a solo artist, Haber sings in both Finnish and English.

Early life

Haber's father's family is from Germany, but his family has always lived in Finland. He has one sister, Sanna (born 23 January 1978) and one brother, Santtu (born 29 January 1989).

Career

Haber established the band Sunrise in 1992 with his friend Jan Hohenthal. Hohenthal left the band in 2002 as he wanted to focus on his solo career. In 2002, Haber changed the band name to Sunrise Avenue. Between 2002 and 2005, Haber visited 102 record companies and agents trying to find a label for Sunrise Avenue's music. The first album was made with financial help from Haber's friend Mikko Virtala, who sold his house to pay the studio costs.

Haber's band Sunrise Avenue released five studio albums, the first three selling more than 3 million albums and 2 million singles worldwide. Haber was Sunrise Avenue's main songwriter and he wrote all the band's songs either alone or with a producer and co-writer. The band's last international hit "Hollywood Hills" was written by Haber alone.

Haber is working as co-manager for new Finnish bands and artists together with the CoMusic Management. Haber owned studio Sonic Kitchen with producers Jukka Backlund and Aku Sinivalo from 2007 to 2010.