From Kid Flash To Creative Icon: Harnessing Clarity & What's Next For Keiynan Lonsdale

As one of Australia's most successful international exports, creative cauldron Keiynan Lonsdale is that rare combination many spend lifetimes aspiring to: an in-demand actor, gifted musician and prolific dancer, Lonsdale is truly the epitome of the fabled 'triple threat'.

Born in Sydney, Lonsdale's childhood was a whirlwind of balancing family dynamics with an irresistible pull towards life in Los Angeles as a performer. Fast-forward to 2021, and Lonsdale's filmography oozes with Hollywood pedigree, including a breakout role as Wally West, aka Kid Flash, on The CW's series The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow and Supergirl, playing the love interest to the titular character in the 2018 rom com Love, Simon alongside Nick Robinson, Josh Duhamel and Jennifer Garner, a turn in The Divergent Series and in the impending flick My Fake Boyfriend, with a lead role alongside Dylan Sprouse and Sarah Hyland.

Beyond his obvious acting prowess, Lonsdale initially began his creative journey in the dance world, with his skills landing him on the Aussie teen series Dance Academy and carrying over into other aspects of his creative journey. And, seen with gusto earlier this year, it's this early passion that Lonsdale has reconnected with, showcasing his sensational moves in his latest musical release Rhythm & Music, where he also proudly continues his charismatic role spearheading representation. 

Identifying as queer while rejecting traditional sexuality labels, it was on Lonsdale's debut full-length Rainbow Boy released last year that his true power as a borderless artist came to kaleidoscopic fruition, capturing magic in amongst pop, R&B and rap stylings and intimate, personal reflections, with the release ultimately scooping up significant attention (including a nomination for the 2021 GLAAD Media Awards for Outstanding Breakthrough Music Artist). 

While 2020 and 2021 may have been slow-going for many, Lonsdale persevered and kept creating - but he hasn't always been able to stop and smell the roses, and he explained on today's episode of The Green Room podcast.

"Last year I was able to go home to Australia for, like, seven months," Lonsdale told The Green Room host Tiana Speter. "And even though I was working a lot and shooting the music videos, we shot Rhythm & Music there... it was the first time I had been able to be home for that long in such a long time. 

"That was really my chance to finally be with family, be with friends, navigating some of the border restrictions... and really take it in, and take in the fact that I even got to work with some family and friends!

"It allowed me to reflect on [Rainbow Boy], reflect on the past eight years living abroad... and right now, I just wrapped up My Fake Boyfriend two days ago, so I haven't really processed that. And then I'll go to LA and just keep going back on music. 

"So it's a bit non-stop," Lonsdale summised. "And I can feel in myself... I just need a second to check in again, because everything's happening at once."

While Lonsdale's busy schedule has meant less moments to reflect and take in his staggering career trajectory, he does still have some key ways to.

"Sometimes I don't get that 'moment'... but I try to do my best, whether that's in a practice of meditation or working out or journalling... I try to make sure that I do that so I can give myself a bit of clarity, and be really, really grateful - otherwise I forget to take it in and enjoy it. There's no point to that."

Having just wrapped filming on My Fake Boyfriend, the world is Lonsdale's proverbial oyster as he continues to go from strength to strength; but what does this creative soul want to unleash creatively in the short-term future, particularly in the musical realms?

"As much as I can," Lonsdale enthused. "Now that I'm finished the movie, which was 14-hour days and then you go home and you have to rehearse for the next day... we were still able to coordinate with the team in Australia and America, and on-ground in Canada with a couple of people to navigate 'how do we keep things up, how do we plan out the rest of the year?'.

"I've been recording a bunch of new music that will release on a couple of different projects... and planning out more videos. I shot four videos in Australia last year, so Rhythm & Music's just the first one that's coming out.

"And then it's about: building up more of a fully-fledged live performance. I've gotten to perform a few times this year, but the goal and dream is to perform the album from top to tail. So that's what will really be the focus, I'll pretty much just be training for that in a musical sense and a dance sense and everything else that's involved!"

--------------

You can watch the full episode with Keiynan Lonsdale and host Tiana Speter below or here, or alternatively, you can also listen to full The Green Room podcast episodes below, as well as on Spotify, Apple Podcasts - or wherever you usually get your podcasts from.

--------------

Need more music, film, TV and comedy in your life? Check out all previous episodes of The Green Room here - and did you know you can also watch episodes of The Green Room too? Head here to check out some of the recent videos, and if you're still hunting for content to feed your ears, be sure to check out some of the other exciting Handshake Agency podcasts below!

• That Sucks! - fortnightly musings about the worst of your favourite things
• The Take With Willie Mason - join ex-Australian and NSW rugby league Willie Mason talking all things sports
• Rewind With Steve Bell - looking back on the classic albums that shaped the careers of Australian and international acts