RL Grime

RL Grime is an American record producer, DJ, and musician. Born in Los Angeles, RL Grime first gained recognition for his rework of the song “Warning” by Flume. The track quickly went viral, and RL Grime soon found himself in demand as a remix artist. He has since released a series of successful singles and mixtapes, cementing his position as one of the most exciting artists in the electronic music scene. With his dark and atmospheric production style, RL Grime has carved out a unique niche for himself, winning legions of fans along the way. So who is RL Grime? Simply put, he’s one of the most exciting and innovative producers in the game.

Behind the name is Henry Steinway, born February 8, 1991, and raised in LA. Before RL Grime was RL Grime, he was actually producing under the alias “Clockwork” back in 2011, studying music business at Northeastern before transferring to NYU. The real turning point hit in 2012, when his remix of Kanye West’s “Mercy,” done alongside Salva, took off online and racked up millions of plays, putting his name on the map as one of trap music’s most promising new producers.

From there, it was a fast climb. His High Beams EP hit #1 on iTunes’ Electronic chart in 2013, and by 2014 he’d dropped his debut album, Void, featuring Big Sean and Boys Noize, with the single “Core” becoming an instant festival staple. He followed it up in 2018 with Nova, a bigger, more melodic record pulling in names like Miguel, Julia Michaels, Chief Keef, and Joji — proof RL Grime could push past straight trap and still sound unmistakably like himself.

Then there’s the Halloween mixtapes. Since 2012, RL Grime has dropped a new one nearly every year around spooky season, turning it into one of dance music’s most anticipated annual traditions, complete with surprise vocal cameos from names like Pharrell Williams and Shaquille O’Neal. In 2019, he launched his own label, Sable Valley, kicking things off with the track “Arcus” alongside graves and using the imprint to put out music on his own terms ever since — including 2023’s three-part album PLAY, split into APEX, GRID, and RUSH.

Over a decade-plus into his career, RL Grime remains one of the rare producers who can headline a festival main stage and still feel like an underground favorite. Dark, cinematic, bass-heavy, and always evolving — that’s the RL Grime sound, and it’s a big part of why he’s still one of the most respected names in electronic music.