Viktoria first appeared on the cover of Bizarre in 2008. She has an amazing life story – she was born in Latvia, moved to London, became involved in the fetish club scene, and because of long-standing medical difficulties, had her leg amputated in 2008.

Modesta is Viktoria’s musical project. A collaboration with producer Nik Hodges, her songs are all snarling electro, twangy rockabilly guitars and dirty pop. Even from a young age she knew she wanted to have a career in music, attending performing arts school in Latvia at the age of six.

However, her musical influences were limited – Latvia wasn’t a hotbed of avant garde sounds. She says, “There was the Russian eurotrash pop stuff which I think vaguely rubbed off on my project, and whatever my mum used to listen to – Queen, Kim Wilde and the whole eighties brigade.”

But when she discovered The Prodigy, Viktoria’s musical life changed. She says, “I discovered Prodigy in 1997. I was about 11 and it changed me forever. They were the first band I actually chose to listen to. I must have been the only fan in my entire town wearing my yellow hoodie with their logo and platforms.”

After moving to London and spending her teenage years running around in fetish clubs her tastes broadened. Now her tastes run to eighties music such as “Annie Lennox, Depeche Mode, experimental bands like Electronicat and Thee Majesty, rockabilly and Tarantino soundtracks and booty stuff like Santogold, Princess Superstar and drum n bass.” She grins, “It’s all about the sub bass. That brings out the rude girl in me. There must be something in the science of it.”

Modesta are planning a sonic assault on the UK. Viktoria is planning to show off her freshly recorded songs with a series of showcases in London. Watch her fly.

Listen to the preview of MODESTA's new track JaneBond on YouTube

www.myspace.com/viktoriamodesta

Photography: www.victoriahopkinson.com