Mari-Liis Vaarend surprises contestants on The Big Music Game

Singer Mari-Liis Vaarend made a surprise appearance on the fourth episode of ETV’s The Big Music Game, ERR reports. Contestant Kristjan Jõekalda quickly recognised her; he has toured with Vaarend and she was once his son’s kindergarten teacher.

Vaarend, a singer with Caatri and a disco star who rose to prominence under the name Mari-Liis, said she was 14 when she first performed with the group. Next summer will mark 30 years since then. She now works as a music teacher and said her four children are her life’s work.

Jõekalda recalled attending a concert featuring Vaarend’s young music students, saying the children went on stage eagerly. Vaarend wrote all of Caatri’s songs, which she said she composed when she was 14 and described as children’s songs.

On the show, she performed “Mis tegema nüüd pean” with a group of dancers. The Big Music Game airs on ETV on Fridays at 20:00.