Meet Dorrell Smith of Grindin ENT Studio in Ellenwood

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

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
In 1997, I and my childhood friend Eddie Bankhead formed Grindin Entertainment in Columbus, MS. We were making beats for local artists. Things were slow but we continue to move forward in our dream. As we all know dreams need to be funded. I joined the Army and continue to network with other producers and engineers during my Amry career. Eddie Bankhead continues to support the dream by networking between Mississippi and Georgia to gain music industry contacts. His life was taken from him due to someone robbing him and shot him as he pulled into his driveway. It took a toll on our music dream. I focused on the Army but I still did music on the side. I was working at a local studio when I was stationed at Fort Knox, KY. Working there opened my eyes to build my own studio. Once again another obstacle got in my way. The Iraq war had started. I began to deploy back to back to Iraq leaving me drained and no motivation. I have suffered some injuries during my first and second deployments leaving me lost and frustrated. This pushed me back to music to cope with the pains of my deployments.

By this time I’m stationed at Fort Hood, TX where I met a lot of talented people. This fueled my drive and I gathered up the pieces of Grindin ENT and revamped it to Grindin ENT. Studio. After retired from the Army, I took a government contract job overseas to fund my dreams. While I was overseas working my cousin asked me to come to Atlanta to continue my journey in the music industry. I thought about it and I made the decision to move to Atlanta. I made it to Atlanta in December 2017. Once I touched down, I started building my studio. It took me 4 ½ months, working 19-20 hours a day. I finished the first week of May, just in time to start school at SAE of Atlanta in the audio engineering program. I will be finished with the audio engineering program on April 26, 2019, and will graduate July 17, 2019. I have hosted network events, album listening party, and affordable recording sessions. This year,  4th quarter me and my cousin Chevie Revies have a surprise for the music industry. So, keep watching great thing are about to happen.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I had some rough times, the loss of my mom, my sister, and my childhood friend.

Please tell us about Grindin ENT Studio.
I’m a producer/audio engineer. My company provides a safe and drug-free recording environment. I specialize in tracking, editing, and mixing. What I am known for is my time management and attention to detail. As an engineer, you have to manage your time and pay attention to your client’s needs. I’m proud to say I built and my designed studio. What set me apart from the rest of the world is mentoring artists, my rates and it’s private.

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I would get my degree in audio engineering early.

Pricing:

• Recording $50 an hour
• Mixing $110 a song

Pricing:

• Recording $50 an hour
• Mixing $110 a song

Contact Info:

• Email: grindinent1@gmail.com
• Instagram: @grindinentstudio

Image Credit:
Dorrell Smith

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