Life & Work with Dalmane Smith of Castleberry Hill

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dalmane Smith.

Hi Dalmane, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My Journey: From Silence to Storytelling

I never planned to become an author. Writing was never about ambition—it was about survival. I started writing Atonement of Innocence: Rooted during one of the darkest periods of my life. At the time, I was dealing with pain I didn’t fully understand—emotional wounds, childhood trauma, and a silence that felt louder than anything around me.

I didn’t know what healing looked like. I just knew I needed to get the weight off my chest. So I started writing. No structure, no plan—just raw emotion. That’s how Rooted was born. I poured everything into those pages: the brokenness, the confusion, the questions I was too afraid to ask out loud. The characters were fictional, but the emotions were real. Writing that book helped me begin my own process of atonement.

I didn’t expect people to relate, but when they did—it changed everything. It made me realize I wasn’t alone.

Since then, I’ve grown not just as a writer, but as a creator—an artist, an actor, a producer. I’ve stepped into music, blending my roots in Dancehall and Afrobeats with everything I’ve learned through storytelling. Every song, every line, every scene I’m part of comes from that same place: truth.

I’m still growing. Still healing. But I know now that my voice matters. And I hope that by using it, someone else out there feels seen—feels heard—feels less alone.

I come from silence, but I’m not quiet anymore.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not even close.

I’ve taken a lot of hits along the way. One of my first business ventures was selling hair extensions. At first, it was going well—orders were coming in, and I was building a loyal customer base. But then the scams started. People would claim they never received their hair or use stolen cards on my site. Chargebacks piled up, and what started as a promising hustle turned into a financial mess I couldn’t control.

After that, I shifted gears and taught myself how to make natural hair care and cosmetic products from scratch. I put everything into it—testing formulas, designing packaging, building the brand from the ground up. When I finally launched, it was a proud moment. But even that didn’t go as planned. At my launch party, a man showed up, caused a huge scene, and the police had to be called. It was embarrassing, but I kept pushing forward.

The products started selling and demand grew fast—so fast that I couldn’t keep up with production. I didn’t have the team or resources to scale the way I needed to, and eventually, I had to shut that business down too.

I’ve reinvented myself more times than I can count. Each time something didn’t work out, I picked myself back up and tried again. Eventually, all of that struggle pushed me to write Atonement of Innocence: Rooted. That book became my therapy, my breakthrough. From there, I stepped into music—and now, that’s where I’ve found my voice.

So no, the road hasn’t been smooth. But every bump, every failure, every setback shaped me into the artist and storyteller I am today.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a storyteller at heart—whether it’s through music, books, visuals, or my YouTube web series called The Heights. I write, I create. I specialize in blending raw emotion with rhythm—my style fuses Dancehall, Reggae, and Afrobeats, but it’s deeper than just sound. Everything I put out, whether it’s a song or a scene, comes from a real place. Pain, healing, identity, survival—those are the undercurrents in my work.

I’m probably best known for being unapologetically honest. From my book Atonement of Innocence: Rooted, to my music, to everything I’ve built with no formal training or industry cosign—I’ve always led with truth. That’s what people connect to. I’m not pretending to be perfect. I’ve messed up, started over, been counted out, and still showed up.

What I’m most proud of is that I never let my past define my future. I turned trauma into testimony. I taught myself how to write, how to make products, how to produce, how to survive—and now I’m using that same energy to build something real in music.

What sets me apart is that I don’t follow trends—I follow purpose. I’m not boxed in. I can speak to the streets, the soul, and the spirit in the same breath. Everything I create carries weight because it’s coming from lived experience, not a marketing plan. That’s what makes my work stand out—it’s not for show. It’s for healing. For growth. For truth.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I was quiet—but I felt everything deeply. I was the kind of kid who stayed in the background, observing, soaking in people’s energy, and paying attention to things most others missed. I had a lot on my mind, but I didn’t always know how to say it. Words didn’t come easy—especially in school.

I had learning challenges and was borderline dyslexic, so reading and writing felt like a struggle early on. I’d often feel frustrated because my thoughts moved faster than I could get them out. But even with that, I always had a wild imagination. That’s what saved me. I was constantly daydreaming, creating stories in my head, escaping into characters and emotions.

That’s also where my love for theatre arts came in. Performing gave me freedom. When I stepped into a role or a scene, I didn’t feel limited by my learning challenges—I felt powerful. I could express myself without stumbling over words. I found my voice on stage long before I found it in real life.

I wasn’t the loudest, but I was passionate. I had a lot of pride, a lot of emotion, and a strong inner fire that pushed me to keep going—even when people underestimated me. I had to work harder than most to be heard, and that’s exactly why I don’t take my voice for granted now. The same things that made my childhood hard are the same things that make my art real today.

Pricing:

• Atonement of innocent book one rooted -Paperback $13.95

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dalmanetsmith?igsh=MXRoZzV4aHY5MGw4cg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Twitter: https://x.com/dalmanetsmith?s=21
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@likemediaproduction?si=Pd2Jy9jMgJF8A_gd
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0w330nKbBJ9CwFDVcG2dC6?si=tCE8xPF5Qc-PrNhGYtALfw