Banka Turns ‘Pain Into Art’: Meet the Video Director Behind Bankroller Visuals

Talented video director Javon ‘Banka’ Dewar reflects on crafting cinematic magic with rising dancehall stars Skippa, Areakode, and his vision for the future

Javon "Banka" Dewar, "In mind is something that has never been done in Jamaica"

Alongside a new wave of emerging artists, producers, and composers in the digital age, young Jamaicans are also gravitating toward video direction—an essential component of the local music scene, shaping the release of music videos alongside new tracks.

One of them is 24-year-old Javon Dewar, better known as Banka, the creative force behind Bankroller Visuals. His résumé already includes collaborations with rising stars like Skippa, Jquan, Ai Milly, Areakode, Roze Don, and many others.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7M-_fjm8zE

"I decided to become a video director during my final year of university. A friend suggested investing in a camera and broke down the pros and cons of videography. That conversation sparked my interest, and I ended up buying my first camera that same week. After a few trials, and watching a lot of YouTube videos, I got the hang of it, my passion for videography kept growing," he shared in a conversation with Kaboom Magazine.

Embracing the slogan “Pain Into Art,” he is dedicated to bridging the connection between visuals and lyrics. “I feel like all songs are an audio story, and whenever I am on set, I try to immerse myself in the song, which helps bring the story to life visually in a cinematic way,” Banka conveyed.

Discussing his creative process, Banka explained, "Each artist I work with sends me the song beforehand, and I ask if they have any ideas they’d like to include in the video. But in most cases, I get full creative control of the project."

The Jamaican video director has contributed to the visuals for some of the lead singles from one of 2024’s breakout artists, Skippa, including “Wandaful,” “Midnight,” “3 Days,” and his latest release, “Convoy.”

“I feel like all songs are an audio story, and whenever I am on set, I try to immerse myself in the song, which helps bring the story to life visually in a cinematic way“

"I believe having a relationship with an artist affects the outcome of the project, seeing that I’m a very spiritual person who believes in the universe and its energy," he expressed. "Working with them came naturally, as I was already a fan of Skippa and Govana beforehand. Therefore, the first time I met them, I felt a sense of familiarity, as if I had known them due to the influence of their music," he added, mentioning his work on Govana’s 'Legacy' album, capturing behind-the-scenes shots of the mixing and mastering process for the powerful track “Four Storey.”

Reflecting on his biggest project so far, he noted, “If we’re going by numbers, it would definitely be 'Hugo' by Skippa, which currently has 8.4 million views on YouTube," Dewar said. "But if we’re talking about the project I’m most passionate about, it would be '3 Days' by Skippa, as I not only directed the video but also produced the song under the Bankroller Entertainment label—our first track to hit #1 on YouTube.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5TaHni0ha0

He has already collaborated with rising talent Areakode on the "Ghetto Project" visuals, but Banka had an unexpected comparison for the dancehall artist. "Areakode reminds me of Nipsey Hussle—someone I look up to in the music diaspora, so working with him also came naturally," he shared.

He also listed artists like Alkaline, Chronixx, Protoje, Armanii, Shenseea, Dyani, Jada Kingdom, and Chronic Law among those he’d love to collaborate with. “I would also love the opportunity to officially shoot a music video for Govana, as working with him brings a sense of validation to your craft as a creative in the industry,” he echoed, also naming international artists like Rod Wave and Central Cee.

“Areakode reminds me of Nipsey Hussle—someone I look up to in the music diaspora, so working with him also came naturally“

As someone who strongly believes in the universe and its energy—both good and bad—he remains guarded about his future plans. “I don’t like to talk openly about my future plans, but what I can say is that what I have in mind is something that has never been done in Jamaica,” he revealed.