Keiynan Lonsdale is rising out of the ashes of his previous selves like a phoenix in his latest music video for his song "Rainbow Dragon," reincarnated over and over again at his most colorful.
Lonsdale has openly explored his sexuality and gender expression with his fans and in the video, Lonsdale feels free to be whoever he wants to be. "If I can slay, you can slay too, bitch," he croons.
We caught up with the Love, Simon star for a quick chat about "Rainbow Dragon" (we have officially declared it a self-love anthem), leaving The Flash, and his upcoming album.
PRIDE: "Rainbow Dragon." The looks! The wigs! The choreography! Incredible video. What was the song and video’s inception process like for you?
Keiynan Lonsdale: Thank you! The song was born out of the need to rise in my confidence, address some insecurities, and release a kind of rage that I'd been suppressing. The video was born of the struggle to separate myself from all the characters and personalities that were so boldly and freely coming into form with me over the past year or so. It's all like therapy, I needed to share what was in my head and be as honest as possible so that it could live in a better home, and I could have my own peace again.
Would you consider "Rainbow Dragon" a self-love anthem?
Yeah, I would for sure. I believe self-love is a combination of both celebrating who you are, and reflecting on who you are excited to become. I enjoy some fierce-self compassion, it's badass to acknowledge the growth that's been made, especially towards self-acceptance, but there are so many layers of that for all of us, it doesn't stop.
You sing "TV’s cool but a bore, left it in a dash." Why? Do you think that your image on The Flash was you holding back?
I just knew I had a whole lot of unpacking to do due to old belief systems. I knew I was ready to create my own characters and queer stories through music, and that the journey was not going to be easy nor super clear. It was going to require me to get a little lost in the world, a little lost & uncomfortable in my own imagination, and that it was going to take a lot of time and energy to understand who, what, and why I needed to create. The Flash has been very supportive to me in that choice, I'm super thankful for that.
"I realized I could eat some ass if I wanted to." I don’t have a question here, I just screamed at the lyric.
Hahaha, well that's always a good reaction.
Can you tease anything about the upcoming album?
Just that there's no holding back. It's a whole world in there, and I can't wait to share all the colours with you.
Watch the video for "Rainbow Dragon" below!
