Margus Põldsepp: Estonian soldiers' songs are my greatest passion

Musician Margus Põldsepp, known from ensembles Untsakad and Lõõtsavägilased, has opened up about his deep passion for military history and Estonian soldiers' songs. In an interview on the show 'Heli nälg', he also reflected on the nature of musical talent, which he believes cannot be learned but is given from somewhere higher.

Margus Põldsepp, one of Estonia's best-known folk and accordion musicians through his work with the ensembles Untsakad and Lõõtsavägilased, has revealed that alongside his love of music, he harbours a deep fascination with military history — and in particular, the songs sung by Estonian soldiers throughout the ages.

In an appearance on the cultural music programme "Heli nälg", Põldsepp spoke candidly about how this passion for soldiers' songs has become one of the defining interests of his life. He sees Estonian martial folk music as a vital but often overlooked part of the nation's cultural heritage, one that deserves greater attention and preservation.

Reflecting on his own musical gift, Põldsepp said he believes that a true feel for music is not something that can be acquired through study or practice alone. In his view, it is bestowed from somewhere higher — an innate quality that either lives in a person or does not. This perspective shapes how he approaches both performing and his broader cultural research.