2XL

2XL (later known as Soul Militia) formed in Estonia in 1997. The group was founded by Sergei Morgun (stage name Semy) and Indrek Soom (Ince), who began as a hip-hop/R&B duo mixing smooth vocals with street dance and breakdance influences. They soon sought to expand their sound. In 2000, Kaido Põldma (Craig) joined as a vocalist, bringing choir-honed singing skills to the band. Later that year, 18-year-old Lauri Pihlap (Lowry) was recruited after impressing the others in a national singing contest. With four members, 2XL developed a blend of R&B melodies, rap, and choreographed dance. The young group honed their craft by performing in Estonia and neighboring countries like Latvia, Finland, and Denmark, building experience and a local fan base.

Eurovision Song Contest 2001

In spring 2001, 2XL achieved a breakthrough on the international stage. The group teamed up with singers Tanel Padar and Dave Benton to perform the song “Everybody” at the Eurovision Song Contest 2001 in Copenhagen. 2XL provided backing vocals and dance energy to the upbeat track. The performance was a huge success. “Everybody” won first place, giving Estonia its first ever Eurovision victory with a total of 198 points. This historic win put 2XL in the international spotlight as part of the winning act. Riding the wave of their newfound fame, the group released a follow-up single, “Got To Get Down,” in summer 2001. 

From 2XL to Soul Militia: Name Change and Debut Album (2002–2003)

By 2002, the band members had refined their musical direction and decided to rebrand the group. They chose the name Soul Militia (meaning “soul army”) to symbolize the passionate, united spirit with which they created and performed their music. Under the new name, the quartet focused on recording original material. In November 2002, Soul Militia released their debut album, On The Rise, under the independent label Downtown Records. The album was written and produced by the band members themselves. On The Rise blended silky R&B vocals with hip-hop beats and yielded several radio-friendly songs.

One of the standout tracks was “Freak In Me,” a funky single that Soul Militia remixed and promoted with a high-budget music video. The video for “Freak In Me” won the Best Music Video award at Estonia’s 2003 Golden Record (Kuldne Plaat) gala. Soul Militia kept up the momentum with other catchy singles from the album, including “Hey Mami” in late 2003 and “Say It” in 2004. Throughout 2002–2003, the band toured Estonia extensively to promote On The Rise.

Lineup Change and Second Album (2004–2005)

In 2004, Soul Militia underwent a significant lineup change. Co-founder Indrek Soom announced he was retiring from the music business due to personal life changes and burnout, and he departed the group in the autumn of 2004. His exit marked the end of 2XL’s era as a quartet. The remaining three members decided to continue as a trio. Despite the change, the group’s creative output did not slow down. In late 2004, Soul Militia released their second studio album, Silence Before The Storm, again on Downtown Records. This album showed the band evolving and experimenting with their style. It featured Soul Militia’s first song in the Estonian language: “Tõmbab käima”, an up-tempo party track recorded with local rapper Chalice (Jarek Kasar). 

In the summer of 2005, Soul Militia hit a new high point in their live performance career. The trio was chosen as the opening act for American rock star Lenny Kravitz during his Electric Church Tour stop in Tallinn. On July 13, 2005, Soul Militia took the stage at the A. Le Coq Arena in front of a crowd of about 25,000 people. The group earned positive feedback, even from Kravitz’s own background vocalists, for their high-energy performance. 

Evolving Style and Eurovision Attempts (2006–2007)

By the mid-2000s, Soul Militia had established themselves in the Estonian music scene with their blend of American-style R&B and hip-hop. In 2006, the band continued to experiment and also respond to local tastes. In March 2006, they released “Tule kui leebe tuul” (translation: “Come Like a Gentle Wind”), a cover of a popular 1980s Estonian rock ballad by Henry Laks. Their modern R&B interpretation of this Estonian-language classic demonstrated the group’s versatility and willingness to embrace their national musical heritage. 

In late 2006, Soul Militia decided to make a bold bid to return to the Eurovision stage, this time as lead performers. The trio wrote an uptempo R&B/hip-hop song titled “My Face” (later retitled “My Place”) with provocative lyrics and a modern sound. They entered the song into Eurolaul 2007, Estonia’s national selection contest for Eurovision. The entry was accepted, and Soul Militia became one of the 10 finalists in the 2007 competition. The song stirred up attention even before the finals due to its edgy, candid lyrics, which the national TV producers asked the band to soften slightly for the family-oriented broadcast. Soul Militia complied with minor lyric changes without altering the song’s message. In the Eurolaul 2007 final, held in February 2007, “My Place” delivered an impactful performance. The band finished in a respectable 5th place out of the ten finalists. Although they did not win, Soul Militia’s effort was widely noted. It kept the group in the public eye and proved they could still compete with Estonia’s best, six years after their Eurovision victory as backing performers.

Band member Lauri Pihlap also gained visibility that year by serving as Estonia’s spokesperson to announce the country’s voting results at Eurovision, a role he would take on multiple times, reminding international audiences of 2XL’s 2001 triumph.

Hiatus and Solo Projects (2007–2011)

After the excitement of early 2007, Soul Militia decided to take a step back. The latter half of 2007 marked the beginning of a hiatus for the group. The three members put Soul Militia on pause and turned their focus to personal projects and new challenges. Lauri Pihlap used this time to kick-start his solo career. Adopting his nickname Lowry as a stage name, he released his R&B solo debut album Split Personality in late 2007. The album spawned a string of successful singles in Estonia and showcased Lauri’s songwriting and production skills. He even returned to the Eurovision selection as a solo artist, reaching 4th place in the Eesti Laul 2009 finals with a self-penned song. Lauri’s solo ventures earned him several awards and solidified his reputation as a versatile vocalist in the Estonian music industry.

Meanwhile, Sergei Morgun (Semy) pursued his passion for dance and music production. He founded a dance company (Semiir Dance Company) and worked behind the scenes, producing tracks for other Estonian artists in genres ranging from hip-hop to pop. Kaido Põldma (Craig) also shifted into songwriting and production, collaborating with local hip-hop groups and helping to craft songs for emerging singers. Soul Militia occasionally reunited for one-off performances at private events and appeared individually on television. 

Reunion and Recent Years (2011–2025)

After a five-year break, Soul Militia’s members found their way back together. In late 2011, Lauri, Sergei, and Kaido reunited in the recording studio with a fresh enthusiasm to create new music as a group. This reunion reignited Soul Militia’s signature mix of soulful R&B vocals and hip-hop beats, but now with the maturity and influences they had each gained during the hiatus. The result of this comeback was the single “The Future Is Now,” written by Lauri Pihlap as an inspiring, modern R&B track. In early 2012, “The Future Is Now” was entered into Eesti Laul 2012, marking Soul Militia’s return to the national music competition scene. The song made it into the semi-finals, once again putting the band on the radar of Eurovision fans and local media.

Soul Militia followed up with more new music that year. In April 2012 they released “Gotta Do It,” another upbeat single that the trio co-wrote. The group also collaborated with Estonian pop singer Helen Adamson on a track called “Ausus” (meaning “Honesty”). Released in late 2012, “Ausus” was a cover of Billy Joel’s classic ballad “Honesty”. Uniquely, “Ausus” was performed in Estonian, adding a local touch to an American song. 

In the years since 2012, Soul Militia has not released another full album, but the group remains active in various ways. They have occasionally reunited for special performances on TV and at concerts, often evoking nostalgia for their early-2000s hits. Each member also stays involved in the music and entertainment field. Lauri Pihlap has continued to release solo material and perform on television. For example, he attempted another Eesti Laul entry in 2022. Sergei Morgun and Kaido Põldma have been working in music production, artist management, and other creative ventures in Estonia.