Who’s Zooming who while Donel is signing his deal with Warner Records? The top row is, from left, Donel, Richard Griffiths (Director, Modest! Management), Tom Corson (COO & Co-Chairman, Warner Records), and Sarah Gallagher (Manager, Modest! Management). Middle row is Monica Payne (EVP, Artist Management & development, Artistry Group), Monee Perry (Co-President, Artistry Records), Chris Atlas (EVP Urban Music & Marketing, Warner Records), KeyzBaby (Producer) and Max Gousse (CEO, Artistry Records). And across the bottom we have Aaron Bay-Schuck (CEO & Co-Chairman, Warner Records), Adam Small (Co-President, Artistry Records), and Miriam Camara (Business Affairs, Warner Records).

Two years after winning the hearts of viewers of The Voice UK, 18-year-old Donel is prepping for an American arrival via a record deal with Warner and publishing pact with Sony/ATV.

After meeting Donel in a London session, Artistry Records Founder & CEO Max Gousse was so impressed by Donel during a London recording session, he signed him to a publishing and record deal on the spot. JV deals led to him signing with Warner Records and Sony/ATV in the U.S.

Currently working on his first EP for Artistry/Warner with his next single planned for release later this year, he signed his deals via Zoom. Artistry is the home of Saweetie.

“Meeting artists for the first time over Zoom is never ideal, but in this case it was all we needed to see just how amazing and talented Donel was,” said Warner CEO & Co-Chairman Aaron Bay-Schuck. “He lit up the proverbial room with his energetic and charismatic personality and then pressed play on a collection of songs that blew us away. Tom Corson and I, along with the Warner Records family, are thrilled to give Donel a platform to take his music and the afrobeat movement to new heights and equally as excited to do it in partnership with Max Gousse and The Artistry team.”

Donel was 16 when he first appeared on The Voice UK. Prince Harry invited him to perform for Queen Elizabeth II’s 92nd birthday at The Royal Albert Hall and introduced him as “a star of the future.” His debut recording was “Bang Like A Drum,” released through Polydor.

Raised in Zimbabwe, Donel blends Afrobeat with modern pop & R&B. He has written and collaborated with MNEK, Guilty Beatz and others; Mr Eazi included Donel’s latest single, “Wish You Well,” in his African incubator program emPAWA. Richard Griffiths, Harry Magee and Sarah Gallagher are managing him at Modest! Management.

“As an exciting young talent with unlimited potential, Donel brings a new energy to the global Afrobeat movement,” said Jon Platt, Chairman & CEO, Sony/ATV Music Publishing. “We’re glad to welcome Donel to Sony/ATV.”