Pariah

Initially known as a producer of introspective, sometimes emotionally turbulent post-dubstep during the early 2010s, Pariah (Arthur Cayzer) re-emerged in 2018 with Here from Where We Are, an album of lush, dreamlike ambient music. Originally from Scotland, Cayzer was first into punk and hardcore before he moved to London and became interested in the then-flourishing dubstep scene. Inspired by Burial's classic Untrue, he began making tracks using the music production program Logic toward the end of 2008. His first track as Pariah, the J Dilla-influenced "Detroit Falls," received attention from Pitchfork, and by the end of 2009 Cayzer remixed the xx's song "Basic Space." He then signed to Belgian dance powerhouse R&S, who released "Detroit Falls" as a 10" single, backed with the haunting garage track "Orpheus." An EP titled Safehouses followed, further establishing Pariah's melancholy, nostalgic post-dubstep sound, while venturing into ambient for the closing title track. Also during the year, Pariah remixed Forest Swords' "Hjurt" and Erykah Badu's "On & On" (on a bootleg white label 12"). In 2011, Cayzer and Jamie Roberts (Blawan) started releasing banging analog techno under the name Karenn. Pariah remained with R&S for his third release, 2012's Rift. He also collaborated with Midland on an untitled 12" that was closer to his club-centric work as one half of Karenn. Following Rift, Cayzer remained highly active as a DJ and remixed tracks by Lucy and Clark, but he had a hard time finishing his own work. In 2018, he returned with the rich, emotive ambient full-length Here from Where We Are, his first release for the Fabric-affiliated Houndstooth label. ~ Paul Simpson, Rovi