Pinch

Real name: Rob Ellis
Moniker(s): DJ Pinch, Mr E

The Bristol producer explores a range of tempos and textures.

Pinch is among a core of dubstep figureheads who have helped define the very meaning of the term. From his Bristol base the producer, real name Rob Ellis, has headed up the highly respected Tectonic label and Subloaded parties since the mid-'00s, releasing groundbreaking bass weight from Loefah, Skream and 2562, while engraining dubstep in the psyche of the city's club goers. In terms of his own productions, Ellis has often played away from home—Planet Mu, Soul Jazz, Punch Drunk and Swamp 81 have all welcomed his deeply meditative music down the years—while tracks like "Midnight Oil" and "Qawwali" could rightly be termed as classics. Ellis' deep-seated appreciation of dub's origins was formalized late last year as he enlisted pioneering producer and engineer Scientist to rework a collection of new music from some of dubstep's biggest players.

House, techno and a bit of Brian Eno inform the first half of Ellis' mix, before the screw is turned and the tempo raised for a rousing and bass-heavy finale.