Rob Ellis, better known as Pinch, is a British dubstep artist from Bristol, England, noted for his fusion of styles such as reggae, World music, and dancehall with dubstep. He released his first album, Underwater Dancehall in 2007, on Tectonic, which he founded. One of Pinch's most well-known tracks is "Qawwali", released on Planet Mu records, which references the devotional singing of the same name, and featured samples of harmonium and singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. His songs appear on compilations such as Box of Dub: Dubstep and Future Dub 2 (Soul Jazz Records), Science Faction: Dubstep (Breakbeat Science Recordings), 10 Tons Heavy (Planet Mu) and 200 (Planet Mu). More recently, he has moved away from dubstep towards the UK bass scene, working with producers such as Mumdance and Adrian Sherwood.
Early life
Ellis was born in Scotland but moved to Newport, Wales at age 6 where he grew up until settling at nearby Bristol as an adult. As a child his interest in music was influenced by his older brother who made him tapes of Dub music.
Discography
Studio albums
Underwater Dancehall 2CD: Tectonic TECCD003, 2007
Pinch & Shackleton LP: Honest Jon's Records – with Shackleton, 2011
Late Night Endless (with Sherwood): Tectonic, 2015
Man Vs Sofa (with Sherwood): On-U Sound/Tectonics 2017
Reality Tunnels: Tectonic, 2020
EPs and singles
War Dub/Alien Tongue 12": Tectonic TEC001, 2005
Punisher 12"/Digital: Planet Mu ZIQ163, 2006
Punisher (remixes) 12"/Digital: Planet Mu ZIQ163R, 2006
Qawwali 12"/Digital: Planet Mu ZIQ133, 2006
One Blood, One Source/Trauma 12"/Digital: (limited edition album sampler) - Tectonic TEC017, 2007 Pepper Spray/Cave Dream 12"/Digital: Planet Mu ZIQ196, 2007 Chamber Dub 12"/Digital: Soul Jazz Records SJR 187–12, 2008 Dr Carlson/136 Trek 12"/Digital: Punch Drunk DRUNK 007, 2008 Croydon House/Elements 12": Swamp 81 SWAMP 007, 2011 Swish/Tunnel Home 12"/Digital: Deep Medi, 2011 Retribution/Get Out Of Here 12"/Digital: Swamp 81, 2011 Acid Reign/M25FM (with Photek) 12"/Digital: Photek Productions, 2012 Shoulda Rolla (with Roska) Tectonic : 12"/Digital, 2013 Bring Me Weed (with Sherwood) On-U Sound: 12"/CD/Digital, 2013 Music Killer (with Sherwood) On-U Sound : 12"/CD/Digital, 2013 Turbo Mitzi/Whiplash (with Mumdance) Tectonic : 12"/Digital, 2914 Obsession (The Possession) Tectonic : 12"/Digital, 2014 Down Cold Recordings : 12", 2014 Big Slug/Lucid Dreaming (with Mumdance) Tectonic: 12"/Digital, 2015 Stand Strong (with Sherwood) Tectonic : CD, 2015 Screamer/ No Justice Tectonic : 12"/Digital, 2016