Many fans first fell in love with Dyll\u00f3n Burnside as Ricky Evangelista on the groundbreaking LGBTQ+ drama Pose<\/em>. Through the series, Dyll\u00f3n became known for portraying one of television\u2019s most memorable queer love stories while bringing heart, vulnerability, and charisma to every scene.<\/p>\n But long before Pose<\/em>, Burnside was already building a career in music.<\/p>\n Now, after decades in the entertainment industry, the actor, singer, and performer is stepping into a new chapter with the release of Genesis,<\/em> the latest single from his upcoming debut album of the same name.<\/p>\n And if Burnside has anything to say about it, this project is more than just an album. It\u2019s a reclamation of his own voice.<\/p>\n RELATED: Dyll\u00f3n Burnside\u2019s Celestial New Video Comes As He Makes A Splash On Broadway<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n For some audiences, Burnside\u2019s musical ambitions may seem like a surprising pivot. In reality, music was his first love. As a child, Burnside performed as part of the hip-hop and R&B group 3D<\/em> alongside two of his cousins. The trio found early success and even toured with major artists including Stevie Wonder and Rihanna, according to an interview that he did with TODAY<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n Dyll\u00f3n also received formal training as a vocal major, giving him a strong musical foundation that has remained with him throughout his acting career.<\/p>\n That history makes Genesis<\/em> feel less like a new direction and more like a long-awaited return.<\/p>\n Speaking with People<\/em><\/a>, Dyll\u00f3n described the album as a turning point in his creative life.<\/p>\n For years, he built a successful career helping bring other people\u2019s stories to life through acting. While he loved that work, he increasingly felt called to tell stories of his own.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve spent the better part of a decade learning how to tell other people\u2019s stories,\u201d Burnside told the publication. \u201cI\u2019d be in a rehearsal room or on set and think: I have everything it takes to be the one holding this narrative.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n That realization ultimately became the foundation of Genesis<\/em>.<\/p>\n \u201cGenesis is me finally acting on that call. Owning my voice, my stories, the fruit of my own creative power.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The title feels especially fitting for a project that Burnside describes as \u201cthe first chapter I\u2019ve written entirely on my own terms.\u201d<\/p>\n RELATED: Dyll\u00f3n Burnside Proves Gay Sex Is Holy In His Single, \u201cHeaven\u201d<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n One of the album\u2019s most fascinating songs is its first single, Garden.<\/em><\/p>\n Rather than retelling a familiar biblical story, Dyll\u00f3n approaches the Garden of Eden from an unexpected perspective. The song is written from Eve\u2019s point of view, inviting Adam into a moment of intimacy and connection. For Burnside, revisiting that story carried special significance.<\/p>\n As a queer artist, he wanted to challenge interpretations of religious narratives that have historically been used to marginalize LGBTQ+ people.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was important for me, as I think about all the religious and sometimes social critique of queerness, to go back to the origin story,\u201d he explained<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Instead of focusing on shame or exclusion, Burnside saw an opportunity to imagine a different version of the story, one rooted in connection, humanity, and possibility.<\/p>\n The accompanying music video for Genesis<\/em> expands on those themes through striking imagery and symbolism. Burnside explained that he wanted the visuals to explore the tension between darkness and light, temptation and surrender, while also highlighting what he describes as the sacred nature of sensuality.<\/p>\n The video features beautiful Black bodies intertwined with nature, creating living representations of themes like connection, growth, and belonging. From the tree of life to carefully choreographed movement, every visual element serves a purpose. The result is both artistic and deeply personal.<\/p>\n Perhaps fittingly, Burnside intentionally scheduled the release of \u201cGenesis\u201d during Pride Month.<\/p>\n For an artist whose work often explores identity, liberation, spirituality, and self-acceptance, the timing feels meaningful.<\/p>\n After years of helping tell other people\u2019s stories, Dyll\u00f3n Burnside is finally telling his own.<\/p>\n And if Genesis<\/em> is any indication, it sounds like the beginning of an exciting new era.<\/p>\nBefore Pose<\/em>, There Was Music<\/h2>\n
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<\/a><\/p>\nA Story Told on His Own Terms<\/h2>\n
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Reimagining the Garden<\/h2>\n
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A Visual Celebration of Queer Beauty<\/h2>\n
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<\/a>A Pride Month Arrival<\/h2>\n