Steel Banglez

Steel Banglez, born Pahuldip Singh Sandhu on February 5, 1987, is a British record producer and musician of Indian Punjabi descent. Raised in Newham, East London, he is known for his production work with prominent UK artists such as Mist, MoStack, J Hus, and Wiley. His rise to fame came in 2018 with his single “Bad,” which charted in the UK Top 30, followed by his highest-charting single “Fashion Week,” which peaked at number seven on the UK Singles Chart. Over the years, Steel Banglez has become one of the most sought-after producers in the UK music scene.

Born into a Sikh family, Banglez grew up surrounded by traditional Indian instruments, as his mother was a music teacher. His early exposure to music, including harmoniums and tablas, played a pivotal role in his musical journey. At the age of ten, he started DJing jungle music alongside his brothers, and by his early teens, he had been introduced to the production software Fruity Loops by a teacher. This led to his first production, “Dreams,” for the grime artist D Double E, marking his entrance into the music industry. He later gained attention with a freestyle from Big H, but his career faced a major obstacle when he was imprisoned at the age of 17 for possession of a firearm.

During his three-year prison sentence, Steel Banglez befriended fellow inmates and rappers Fix Dot’M, Yung Meth, and Colours Miyagi, producing beats for them on a keyboard. This experience steered his musical direction toward rap and grime. Upon his release, he contributed production to their mixtapes and worked with various artists in the burgeoning South London rap scene. Despite gaining some recognition, Banglez struggled to establish himself fully. He eventually ran a home studio where he offered free studio time to artists like Wiley and members of Roll Deep. His career momentum was halted again in 2014 when the rapper Cashtastic, whose debut album Banglez was producing, was deported.

In 2015, Steel Banglez found renewed inspiration after hearing MoStack’s track “No Buddy.” The two connected, and Banglez produced MoStack’s debut mixtape, Gangster with Banter. That same year, he discovered Birmingham-based rapper Mist, whose use of Punjabi language in his lyrics resonated with Banglez. Their collaboration on the track “Karlas Back” marked the beginning of a fruitful partnership, with Banglez producing Mist’s breakthrough EP M I S T to the T in 2016. He further solidified his reputation with production credits on J Hus’ Common Sense album.

In 2017, Steel Banglez signed a publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Music and later joined Warner Bros. Records. That year, he released the single “Money,” followed by “Bad,” which featured MoStack, Yungen, Mr Eazi, and Not3s. The success of these tracks helped Banglez establish himself not only as a producer but also as a lead artist. In 2018, he won Producer of the Year at GRM Daily’s Rated Awards and Best Non-Traditional Asian Act at the Brit Asia TV Music Awards.

In 2023, Steel Banglez released his debut studio album, The Playlist, featuring a star-studded lineup of artists, including Giggs, Burna Boy, and Stefflon Don. The album peaked at number 29 on the UK Albums Chart, marking another milestone in his career. Steel Banglez’s journey from humble beginnings to becoming one of the UK’s top producers is a testament to his talent, resilience, and passion for music.