Exclusive: Brownland Talks ‘Donkey Call’ Creative Vision and Oscar-Winning Dreams

The filmmaker behind several of Ayetian’s standout visuals dives into his creative process, bringing authentic Jamaican storytelling to life on recent hit “Donkey Call,” while promising fresh creativity on “JAMPACK” and ambitions beyond music videos.

Video creative director Daniel "Brownland" Brown

Behind every artiste’s success are the people working behind the scenes who help shape the journey to the forefront. That has certainly been the case for dancehall artiste Ayetian, who has experienced a significant breakthrough over the past two years.

Among the key members of his team is Brownland, a video director who has played an important role in pushing the creativity behind many of the artiste’s visuals. Their latest collaboration, “Donkey Call” from Di Genius’ Hill & Gully Riddim, highlights Ayetian’s creativity while paying tribute to traditional Jamaican folklore and culture.

In an exclusive conversation with Kaboom Magazine, Brownland shared insight into his creative vision and the inspiration behind the visual concept.

“I usually approach the creative process by first connecting with the feeling and message behind the song - it’s all about how I want people to feel after watching the final visual,” he said. “With my latest project ‘Donkey Call,’ the aim was to bring back a raw and authentic feeling of nostalgia while staying loyal to Jamaican culture. The best way I felt I could achieve that was by reenacting the original Hill & Gully Ride shows that once aired on local television, along with capturing the atmosphere of a real Jamaican nine night.”

Brownland also shared that he likes leaving room for natural moments on set, as some of the most powerful shots often come from raw, unplanned energy, adding even more authenticity to the story being told.

Speaking on his journey, Brownland reflected on how creativity has been part of his life from an early age. “I’ve always been an artist from a very young age, and I was blessed to have teachers and parents who nurtured my creativity and encouraged me to embrace it through every stage of life. That journey eventually led to me earning a Bachelor of Science in Animation Production & Development,” he shared.

“So far, my journey has been like a flame that never stops burning - constantly evolving and growing stronger with every experience, challenge, and creative opportunity added to it,” he expressed.

Discussing his creative journey so far, Brownland shared that he remains grateful and passionate about every project he works on. “Honestly, I enjoy working on all my projects because no matter how stressful a shoot may be, seeing the final product always feels fulfilling,” he said.

However, he admitted that some of his most recent unreleased work has been especially exciting from a creative standpoint. “Some of my latest unreleased work has been the most fun I’ve had creatively, because I was really able to push myself to a new level visually and creatively. People will get to experience those visuals with the release of Ayetian’s upcoming mixtape, ‘JAMPACK,’” he promised.

Brownland with music producer Stephen 'Di Genius' McGregor on set (Photo: Bad Gee Studios)

Brownland, whose given name is Daniel Brown, has already directed several standout visuals for Ayetian so far, but speaking on his future ambitions, the creative visionary says his goals stretch far beyond music videos. “I’ve never really seen myself as just a music video director - I’ve always carried the title of filmmaker. My ultimate goal is to become one of the first Jamaicans to win an Oscar through film and storytelling,” he echoed.

He doesn’t plan on stopping there, as his ambitions also extend to the big screen. “I also want to see my production company, Brownland Pictures, grow to the level of major studios like Universal and Warner Bros., creating and distributing films on a global scale while representing Jamaican culture in an authentic and impactful way to the world.”