Daniel Levi Viinalass says he was tricked into learning guitar

Musician Daniel Levi Viinalass said he was shocked when the music school where he had expected to learn electric guitar handed him a nylon-string classical guitar instead. He recalled the experience on Vikerraadio’s Heli nälg programme, ERR reported.

Viinalass said he gradually grew to love the instrument and still finds classical guitar music moving. He had imagined playing electric guitar solos, but said the sound of classical guitar is among the most beautiful he knows.

Born in the United States to an Estonian father and an American mother, Viinalass spent his early childhood in Columbus, Ohio. His family moved to Estonia when he was eight. He did not speak Estonian at first, but said he began receiving grades in most subjects, including Estonian, after six months.

Music was a constant in his family, which often sang together. As a child, he disliked going carol singing at neighbours’ doors with his family at Christmas. He now considers it his favourite holiday tradition.

About 10 years ago, Viinalass moved to Tallinn after what he described as an unexpected decision. He was interning there and making advertisements when he felt a calling from God to move to the city. Starting a new church became the main focus, and he said he and others have worked on it alongside music for nearly a decade.

His band also grew out of the church, where young people formed a church band. Viinalass said the same group still performs together a decade later. He added that he had once tried to write songs everyone would like, but found that approach left him creatively unfulfilled. He feels at home on stage and said he is happy to perform his own songs without adopting a stage persona.