Formed in 2020 in Dearborn, Michigan, Prostitute is an experimental post-punk and Arab rock band. Born out of the isolation of the COVID-19 lockdown, the band’s debut album, Attempted Martyr, was written in the midst of global and personal turmoil, capturing the zeitgeist of a world unraveling. A loose concept record, it chronicles the rise and fall of a doomed zealot whose pursuit of holy vengeance spirals into a psychotic orgy of violence, greed, and lust.

The band was initially formed by Moe Kazra who enlisted childhood friends Andrew Kaster and Dylan Zaranski, with Ross Babinski and Bret Wall later completing the lineup. Together, they self-funded the album, working with legendary engineer Chris Koltay to shape a sound that's both abrasive and hypnotic—an unrelenting blend of warped guitars, primitive basslines, frenzied drumming, and corrosive synthesizers, interwoven with samples from diverse cultures, ranging from African to Middle Eastern and East Asian influences.

Tracks like “All Hail” (inspired by the 1977 Hanafi Siege of Washington D.C.) immerses listeners in a volatile, hostage-like environment. "Judge" channels Milton's Satan in a chilling rallying cry, while “Body Meat” grapples with religious desperation and the tenuous boundary between faith and madness. Khachab and Kaster’s lyrics have been described by Pitchfork as "disturbingly poetic" with the ability to "lacerate with image alone." Crude sloganeering and scenes of horrific violence are juxtaposed with literary allusion and Islamic symbolism, creating what the band calls a "theatricalization of terrorism." Through this lens, they examine and critique the xenophobic stereotypes targeted at Arabs, distorting them into grotesque caricatures.

Over the past four years, Prostitute has established a reputation for their punishing, high-energy performances. The band’s live shows, described as “dangerous” and “volatile”, finds Moe delivering politically charged sermons atop a deafening bacchanal of sound. In 2023, Prostitute performed at the re-opening of the iconic UFO Bar in Detroit, followed by a series of benefit concerts for Palestine, Lebanon, and Sudan. These performances solidified their growing presence, leading to invites to play at No Rest Fest and New Colossus Festival.

As Prostitute continues work on their sophomore album, they are delving deeper into electronic and Arabic dance influences, drawing inspiration from the ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon. Their sound continues to evolve, with new tracks incorporating dabke rhythms, Arabesque melodicism, and industrial synth textures, all while retaining the same anarchic energy that defines their unique sound.

DR John Cooper Clarke

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