Modest Intentions (real name Martin Modestov) has been one of this site's most consistent performers since his arrival in early March 2011, when he quietly crept onto the 'scene with "Neolith", a solid liquid roller that hinted at things to come. Since then his releases have been getting gradually higher and higher ratings until recently he hit the high 80s with two outstanding tracks, "White City" and "Wishes Come True". So what makes the 19 year old student from Tallinn, Estonia tick?

What got you into making music, and what was your first DAW?

When I was three years old my mother often took me to my grandmother’s apartment where she had an awesome piano, and I would spend most of my time playing around with it. As I can remember, even then I had already experienced the different state of soul that composing music gives me. It is one of my earliest and most awesome lifetime memories, however the piano was sold a year later because of neighbours who had been whining about me playing too loud. Only 9 years later I went to a birthday with my parents and found an old disc of eJay Dance 3, which got me into composing music again, so that was my first software 

Where did the name “Modest Intentions” come from?

When I started to get into drum’n’bass in early 2009 I didn’t know which nickname to pick, and I asked my friend to help me. “Modest Intentions” was one of his suggestions, and I decided to take it, also because it sounds a bit like my surname Modestov.

Is this just a hobby or do you have plans to make a living from music? Just how "modest" are your "intentions"? 

It’s not a hobby, it’s something more. I make music everyday, all the time. I compose it in my head, I beatbox when I’m bored, when I’m not with my girlfriend, friends or at work, I go home and spend hours in FL. I think the amount of unfinished projects of mine since 2009 is over 10,000. Talking about making a living though, I don’t really care about money, which is probably why I am unknown. I don’t spam around, send my tunes to labels 24/7 or whatever, I do it occasionally but I’m too lazy most of the time. I want to make a living as a doctor in future to be honest.

How do you promote your music, and which technique/marketing avenue has been most effective for you?

I am completely lost when I hear such phrases as “marketing avenue”, “promoting technique” etc. I think people talk about that when they want to hide their secrets away from public. I’m not like that. I just send my music to labels sometimes, search for big YouTube channels which promote dnb and try to get in there, at which I succeeded 4 times so far but that’s just about it. I tried to be active on MySpace, but it was too boring. So I made a Facebook fanpage and Soundcloud account, which is just about enough for me. But I have to agree I would like to get more people to listen to my music, because it is wonderful in my opinion, so if any “promoting techniques” or “marketing avenues” actually exist, I would like to check them out.

What other hobbies do you have apart from music-making?

Astronomy and quantum theory! I’m not a specialist and not that I know anything much about both, but I enjoy reading articles and thinking about the cosmos and how the world was made. I also applied to a healthcare university so I think studying should be added to the hobby list soon! And of course my biggest hobby is spending time with my girlfriend.. and I love to play the guitar by the fire.. who doesn't though? 

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Listen to Modest Intention's highest rated track, White City

       

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Where to find Modest Intentions
Soundcloud: http://soundcloud.com/modest-intentions
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Modest-Intentions/156361384437369