The fashion portrait series "Role Play" highlights Dyllón Burnside in the many beautiful ways he exists. He's as an actor, an entertainer, a singer, and a writer .Through “Role Play,” we blur the lines of masculinity, femininity, and sexuality indicative of his range as a multi-faceted talent at the intersections of fashion and entertainment. " IRK caught up with him as "POSE" was set to its worldwide premier.
Jacket: Our Legacy @ourlegacy, Pant: Daily Paper @dailypaper, Brown leather harness: Ann Demeulemeester @demeulemeester_official
IRK: Tell us a little bit about Dyllón -when did you get your big break? How were you introduced to the acting world?
Dyllón: I’ve been performing since I was 12 years old and have had many career defining moments. I toured with Rihanna in a boy band. I have performed as a lead on Broadway but POSE is the project that really put me firmly in the middle of the international stage and has made me a part of the larger public discourse.
IRK: What was it like working on such a groundbreaking series, like POSE?
Dyllón: Working on POSE has been a labor of love and advocacy. It’s allowed me to do the work I love while also inspiring and speaking to the lived experiences of marginalized people around the world.
Jacket: Our Legacy @ourlegacy, Pant: Daily Paper @dailypaper, Brown leather harness: Ann Demeulemeester @demeulemeester_official
IRK: POSE has become an icon within the LGBTQ+ community, what has inspired you and how do you want to inspire others?
Dyllón: I want to inspire people with my characters, with my music, with the stories I tell, with my words to get more in touch with their own humanity and the humanity of others. It’s so easy to get out of touch with what it means to truly be human. Being human is beautifully complicated, messy, awesome, magical. The world often requires us to cut ourselves off from that beauty— to fit into whatever role it needs us to play at a given moment: parent, child, friend, employee, employer, but we are human first. I want my work to tap into the truth of that.
IRK: What projects do you have up next?
Dyllón: I am so excited to be releasing new music this summer! I have some really awesome acting projects coming to your screen soon. I’m having conversations about making a return to Broadway when it returns. I’m writing a screenplay. So many awesome projects in the works that I can’t wait to share with you.
Button up shirt: J.W. Anderson @jw_anderson
IRK: What advice can you give to aspiring actors and artists? (Even more specifically to those Black/brown + queer)
Dyllón: I get asked for advice by aspiring actors a lot and the best advice I can ever give is to work on yourself, work on your craft, and trust that work because at the end of the day that’s all that matters. The fame and money and attention is all fleeting. But your career is built through consistently working on yourself and growing in your craft. Lean on that as your compass because chasing the external things is like chasing the wind.
Actor: Dyllón Burnside: @dyllonburnside
Publicist: @wolfkasteler
EP + Groomer: Brittany Whitfield using all NARS Cosmetics @brittywhitfield @theonly.agency @narsissist
Art Direction + Fashion: Chris Laboy @le_laboy
Shot on Film by Tutes using @Kodak @tutes
Hair by Timothy Harvey @timothy312isaiah
Set Design / Set Styling: Aaron Moses Robin @someonesproblem
Set: @wtfdumbostudio
Button up shirt: J.W. Anderson @jw_anderson
Pant: Acne studios @acnestudios, Black Leather harness: Ann Demeulemeester @demeulemeester_official, Hat: Renegade Headwear
Blazer: Uniqlo @uniqlousa, Pant: Acne studios @acnestudios, Black Leather harness: Ann Demeulemeester @demeulemeester_official, Hat: Renegade Headwear
Blazer: Uniqlo @uniqlousa, Pant: Acne studios @acnestudios, Black Leather harness: Ann Demeulemeester @demeulemeester_official, Hat: Renegade Headwear
Button up shirt: J.W. Anderson @jw_anderson
