Prostitute is a noise rock band from Dearborn, Michigan. Their music fuses the chaotic, experimental edge of punk with Arabic and Middle Eastern textures, creating something that’s as jarring as it is hypnotic. Frontman Moe Kazra’s lyrics have been described by Pitchfork as “disturbingly poetic”, with a talent for lacerating imagery that hits hard without warning. Prostitute was initially formed by main-vocalist Moe Kazra, eventually evolving into the full lineup of: Andrew Kaster on drums, Dylan Zaranski on bass, Ross Babinski on guitar, and Bret Wall, who played bass on the tracks In The Corner Dunce and Joumana Kayrouz. The band’s debut album, Attempted Martyr, was written in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Across its runtime, Attempted Martyr constantly critiques xenophobic stereotypes against Arabs, the cyclical sexualization of Arab women under patriarchal structures, and a host of other violent and volatile themes which the band picks apart. 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.
