Donelle Smith Makes British Virgin Islands Proud with Historic Grammy Win

Donelle Smith, hailing from the British Virgin Islands, has emerged as the first Grammy Award winner from the territory.

Smith, celebrated for his role as one of the engineers behind the acclaimed Barbie movie soundtrack, secured the coveted title of Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media for the Barbie Album at the 66th annual Grammy Awards.

Speaking exclusively with Jahphix Television after the announcement, the 29-year-old Grammy winner shared, “Honestly, I haven’t fully grasped the reality of it yet; it’s still fresh, but I’m grateful for this moment in my life. Knowing how hard I’ve worked for this and seeing everything come together is simply amazing. A quote I would give is, Dreams manifest when you want them to.”

Donelle Smith’s journey into the realm of audio engineering commenced in 2015 during his college years. However, it wasn’t until 2018, when he immersed himself as an intern at Neighborhoodwatche Studios, that he truly grasped the intricacies of the music industry. Within those hallowed studio walls, Smith not only honed his technical skills but also acquired the art of studio etiquette, client interaction, and handling the diverse challenges that come with the profession.

Smith’s involvement in the Barbie project was serendipitous, stemming from a studio session with Trinidad James, a major player in the music industry. Trinidad James, alongside collaborators Young Fyre and Kaine, opened the door to a project that would go on to make musical history.

Recalling the genesis of the Barbie collaboration, Smith explained, “The label was finishing up the soundtrack for the Barbie movie, so Kaliii was actually coming to the studio that night to record her verse for the song. She was coming to work on another song too, so you could say it was like a perfect timing kind of situation.”

Working on the Barbie movie soundtrack was not merely a professional milestone for Donelle; it was a surreal experience that unfolded like a cinematic plot twist. “If I’m being very honest, I didn’t even know a Barbie movie was being made at all until Kaine had brought it to our attention in the session,” confessed Smith. The realisation of contributing to such an iconic brand left an indelible mark on him.

Jahphix Television/JTV’s management and staff wish to extend heartfelt congratulations on your remarkable achievement.