Amrit Saab found his voice after working jobs no one ever remembers

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Before the roaring crowds, flashing stage lights, and Punjabi chart-toppers, there was a young man quietly navigating life’s gritty realities in the industrial streets of Birmingham, UK. That man was Amrit Saab—long before the name meant anything in the world of Punjabi music.

Today, fans know him as the voice behind hits like Kabza and the pen behind iconic tracks like Kangna. But few know about the long, often unseen path that led him there. It’s a story of resilience, hustle, and belief. It’s about the jobs no one remembers, but the ones that built the man we celebrate today.

From Punjab to Birmingham: A New Beginning
Born in Khaira village, Punjab, Amrit Saab was surrounded by the sights, sounds, and soul of Punjabi culture. But at the age of 15, his world flipped. His family moved to the UK, chasing better opportunities like countless Punjabi families did during that era. The promise of the West was alluring, but the reality was far from glamorous.

For a teenager used to wide fields and warm evenings in Punjab, Birmingham felt cold—both literally and emotionally. The streets were unfamiliar, and the language barrier was daunting. But Amrit was no stranger to adapting. He knew early on that nothing would come easy.

First Steps into the Working World
In the years that followed, Amrit did what many immigrant teens had to: work hard, work often, and work quietly. He picked up one of his first jobs in a shoe factory, where days were long, hands were tired, and recognition was rare.

Every shift was a routine—machines humming, soles being stitched, and hours crawling by. It wasn’t glamorous, but it paid the bills. More importantly, it taught Amrit something essential: discipline.

“I didn’t love it, but it gave me time to think,” he once said. “Some of my first lyrics came to me while stacking boxes.”

The factory floor may not have offered a stage, but it gave him rhythm—literally and figuratively.

Side Hustles and the Vending Machine Dream
Not content with just one source of income, Amrit began exploring side hustles. His most notable one? Running his own vending machine business.

It was a small operation—machines in offices, garages, and waiting rooms—but it was his. He filled the machines, tracked the earnings, and made sure everything ran smoothly. It was far from music, but it gave him a sense of independence and entrepreneurial grit.

And while his hands were busy with snacks and sodas, his mind stayed busy with melodies.

“I’d be restocking cans and humming tunes in my head,” Amrit recalled in an interview. “Every coin that dropped into those machines was another small investment into my dream.”

Nights of Reflection, Dreams of Music
Days were packed with work, but nights were for dreaming. After his shifts, Amrit would go home and write lyrics, record rough vocals on tape decks, and listen to old Punjabi classics. His inspirations were rooted in folk, Sufi, and bhangra, and he admired artists who carried the soul of Punjab in their voices.

He often performed at community events, local gurdwaras, and small private parties—not for fame, but for expression. These moments, however small, were his escape from the factory floor. Each song he sang made the next shift more bearable.

But still, music felt like a faraway world—a luxury reserved for the lucky.

A Twist of Fate: Sabar Koti’s Impact
Everything changed in 1999 when destiny brought him face-to-face with Sabar Koti, the renowned Sufi singer whose voice had moved millions. Amrit got the chance to sing casually in front of Koti during a small event. What followed was something he never expected—an invitation to perform on stage with him.

Journalist Details

Jitendra Kumar

Jitendra Kumar is an Indian journalist and social activist from Hathras in Uttar Pradesh is known as the senior journalist and founder of Xpert Times Network Private Limited.