Modeste is an award winning Malagasy singer songwriter and guitarist whose music is rooted in his hometown of Betroka in the Central Southern region of Madagascar. His music is a unique blend of traditional Malagasy sounds influenced by softer South African dance rhythms, creating beautiful melodies & rhythms with hypnotic guitar playing and vocals. Modeste is known for his incredible live performances, having unique and outstanding skills as a guitarist. As Jamie Renton of the Independent said, ‘He’s so effective in this musical sleight of hand that audience members scan the stage in search of a (non-existent) second guitar player’. He has currently released two albums with the third coming out September 2012. The first is the self-titled ‘Modeste’ and the second is ‘Fomba / Living our Destiny’ both released by Space Shop Records. The third album, ‘Handeha Hody / Going Home’ will be released at a special gig at The Jazz Cafe in London on 25th September. Modeste has performed to audiences in their thousands at many venues and festivals across the UK and abroad, including The Barbican, The Royal Festival Hall, the Brighton Dome, the London Jazz Festival, the London African Festival, The Big Chill, Rise and WOMAD in the UK, Italy and Singapore. He has toured with Cesaria Evora for the UK stretch of her tour as well as sharing the stage with Damon Albarn, Mory Kanté, Yvonne Chaka Chaka and Lokua Kanza. Modeste has also been featured and has played live on countless BBC radio programmes including Janice Long’s Radio 2 show, the World Service, Charlie Gillett’s BBC London show and a live broadcast and performance at Union Chapel with BBC Radio 3. To hear some of Modeste’s music and for more information please go to www.modeste.co.uk
