Notable as the third and most well known Drummer of the Finnish rock group The Rasmus, Hakala contributed to many of the band's award-winning albums, including Dead Letters (2003) and Hide from the Sun (2005).
Before becoming a member of The Rasmus, he performed with the bands Killer and Kwan. He recorded Into, his Double Platinum first album with The Rasmus, in 2001.
An occasional actor as well as a Drummer, he appeared on the Finnish television series Siamin Tytot.
He grew up in Espoo, Finland. His first child, a daughter, was born in the summer of 2007.
He and vocalist Lauri Ylonen both rose to fame as members of The Rasmus.
