Sandra Nurmsalu

Early Life and Education

Sandra Nurmsalu was born on December 6, 1988, in Alavere, a small village in Harju County, Estonia. Her musical journey began early as she attended a music school in Kose, where she learned to play the violin. During her childhood, she was part of the children's folk group Pillipiigad for seven years and later sang with the folk group Virre for three years. As a teenager, she joined the Estonian girl group Pink Tank and graduated from Georg Ots Music School in Tallinn in 2008.

Career

Nurmsalu's professional career took off in 2007 when she participated in the Eesti Televisioon (ETV) singing competition Kaks takti ette. It was during this competition that she formed the group Urban Symphony with fellow musicians from her music school. Their unique blend of classical crossover and electronic music was showcased in their performance of "Hungry" by Kosheen, which became a defining sound for the group. Although she placed fourth in the competition, her talent caught the attention of Estonian songwriter and producer Sven Lõhmus, leading to her signing with Moonwalk Records.

In 2009, Urban Symphony entered the inaugural Eesti Laul, the competition to select Estonia's Eurovision representative, with their debut single "Rändajad." The group gained further recognition and success, solidifying Nurmsalu's place in the Estonian music scene.

Personal Life

Outside of her music career, Nurmsalu has been in a long-term relationship with professional poker player Tarmo Kask since 2004. Together, they have three daughters and one son. Nurmsalu is also known for her activism, particularly in animal rights, and has expressed her views on various social issues, including same-sex marriage and COVID-19 restrictions. In 2025, she joined the Conservative People's Party of Estonia and was elected as a councillor in the municipal elections in Märjamaa, Rapla County.