Dyllón Burnside is a man of many talents. Just in the past year, he played Ricky in the final season of the cult series ‘Pose’, released his new song ‘Heaven’ and hosted an Emmy-winning special ‘Prideland’, where he interviewed members of the LGBTQ+ community fighting for change in the American South. Now, Burnside is stepping into the Ryan Murphy universe once again – he’s starring in an upcoming episode of American Horror Stories, a spin-off anthology series based around the scary and camp classic franchise American Horror Story. We spoke to Burnside about his fondest memories of shooting ‘Pose’, his favourite season of AHS and what to him feels like heaven.
Trench, sweater and boots SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO, pants MM6
Your special ‘Prideland’ has just received an Emmy, congratulations! What were some of the biggest lessons that you’ve learned while working on this project?
One of the major themes for me was thinking about the idea of ‘home’ – what ‘home’ actually means and what ‘family’ actually means. I left my hometown of Pensacola, Florida nine years ago and moved to New York City, where I started to create a home for myself, and really found a community and built my family there. This idea of a chosen family is something that connects both ‘Prideland’ and ‘Pose’ – both of these projects show how important it is for the LGBTQ+ people to have a community like that when so many of our families have rejected us. I also realized how important it is for us to sometimes stay in the place where we grew up, stand up for our rights, be proud of who we are and where we come from. There’s a value in that just as there is a value in going out and finding life in the big city. It was really inspiring to meet all of the people who decided to stay in their home states in the South and see how they are sparking change.
Suit AMI, shirt and boots SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO
You mentioned ‘Pose’, which premiered its final season earlier this year. What have been some of your fondest memories of shooting the show?
There’s been so many! All of the dance sequences that I did pop into my mind immediately. I’m a dancer, but I never thought that I would be asked to dance as much as I did on ‘Pose’. That was always very exciting and challenging, but also hard on my body. I also think back to the scene where Ricky finds out that he’s HIV-positive, and his love scene with Pray Tell [played by Billy Porter] – those two were monumental for me as an actor. The scene with Billy was also a huge moment for television – having two black characters who are HIV-positive make love on the screen and it being shot in such a beautiful manner. In the series finale, there was a number of beautifully written and directed scenes that I was very grateful to be a part of – the choir scene was a moment where I think I was the most grounded in my character since the beginning of the show.
Full look LANVIN
Up next, you’re starring in American Horror Stories. Is there anything you can tell me about your character?
My character’s name is James. [laughs] It was super fun to shoot and enter that world of horror, which was a big departure from my work on ‘Pose’. The fans of the AHS franchise love the show so much and are so invested in it – they create this whole zeitgeist around it and it’s really cool that I get to be a part of it now.
Full look LANVIN
Which season of American Horror Story has been your favourite so far?
I really liked the ‘Cult’ season for its political and cultural commentary. And I’ll say that there is definitely some cultural commentary in American Horror Stories as well.
Left Sweater SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO
Right Shirt SUPREME + NIKE shirt, coat and pants MM6, boots SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO
“I wanted to express the feeling of euphoria – what in my mind feels like heaven, which is the act of lovemaking and being in love”
.
Are you a fan of scary films and shows in general?
No! That’s also probably why ‘Cult’ was my favourite season – I could watch it without squirming. I get very squirmish and I’ll watch them only if I have a bunch of friends by my side. It’s a lot for me. [laughs]
Trench, sweater and boots SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO, pants MM6
What’s your worst horror movie experience? Something that traumatized you for life?
I think when I saw ‘It’ as a kid and the fucking clown came out of the sewer. [laughs]
Shirt SUPREME + NIKE shirt, coat and pants MM6, boots SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO
You also recently released your single ‘Heaven’. What is the story or emotion that you wanted to showcase with this song?
I wanted to express the feeling of euphoria – what in my mind feels like heaven, which is the act of lovemaking and being in love. It’s a counter-narrative to everything that I’ve been taught about same-sex relationships when I was growing up through all of the dogma that comes with being brought up Christian. But for me, love has been such a euphoric experience and something that helps me become more of my higher self. If we think of God as love and if God is the pathway to heaven, then love is the pathway to heaven. And so I think love is actually the key to bringing heaven on Earth.
…
Interview by Martin Onufrowicz
Photography by Shane McCauley
Fashion by Carolina Orrico
Grooming by Annette Chaisson
Barber Parris Wagner
