Hailing from Fresno, California, Brandon Delsid has been lauded as a surging talent; Performing in countless musical theatre productions, Delsid plays the piano, sings and was most notably featured as Raj in the Off-Broadway premiere production of ‘The Big Bang Theory Musical’ at the Anne L. Bernstein Theatre.
As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, Brandon is fervently dedicated to advocating for gender fluidity and queer rights, striving to establish safe spaces for LGBTQIA+ individuals worldwide.
We recently caught up with Brandon to discuss his latest role as Jennifer Lopez’s best friend in the visual reinterpretation of her life, as well as his commitment to sustainability and challenging gender norms through his fashion choices.
Read the interview below…
Hey Brandon! How have you been?
I’ve been pretty magical, thanks for asking! The last month has been surreal celebrating the film coming out. A “pinch me” moment for sure. It was something I’ve been dreaming about since I was 9 years old, as crazy as that sounds. I am trying to take it all in and really enjoy it in quiet ways aside from the big ways we have. I do feel a vacation coming on soon though – I’m dreaming of Greece! Living my Mamma Mia dream. Haha.
You’re based in LA, do you find the scene to be inspirational for your work in the performing arts?
I grew up in Fresno, CA, so LA and Disneyland were always our summer vacay spots. I love LA. There’s always inspiration around us, I think, if we look for it. Sparks of creativity left and right. As an artist you have to keep that fire alive. That’s your job. I think some of the best advice I’ve ever been given was to cultivate your personal life in a way where it’s just as interesting as your career. Fill it with adventure and fabulous people. LA is such a great backdrop and an example of a culturally diverse town that’s full of stories and people from all over the world chasing their dreams. What could be more inspiring?
“This is Me… Now” has just dropped and you play a significant role as J-Lo’s best friend. Can you run us through what life was like on set?
I felt like Alice in Wonderland. We shot all of it here in LA. After finding out we were cast, we started shooting 5 days later! That turnaround was thrilling but nerve wracking. A few short days later, we were on a sound stage all glammed up and ready for our first scene with J-Lo. The set was electrifying. Our director, Dave Meyers, created something so marvellous, it’s redefined the modern musical. And that’s coming from a musical theatre buff myself! I love being on set, the environment is so fast paced but there’s an energy of wanting everyone to thrive. Everyone’s working to get the best product. We knew we were making something special and timeless with “This is Me…Now”
What has life been like following the release? Do you see a change?
It’s been a really special moment in my life, both for myself and my family. I think the best way I could say it is I feel a change in myself; a little more ready for what’s next. You don’t walk away from such an iconic project without taking something with you. A little bit of the magic of the people around you stays with you. I’ve always been a big dreamer and manifester. I think I dreamed this opportunity up when I was a small boy in Fresno playing make believe in the sandbox. I can’t wait to continue to work hard and dream up new stairways to climb. I feel forever changed, and I am grateful to Jennifer for the whole thing.
What was it like working with J-Lo?
She is everything. A true icon. I can remember watching her in Selena growing up and thinking how awesome it was to see another Latinx performer shining at that magnitude. It meant something. We would do our scenes as written and then she’d let us all improvise and bounce stuff back and forth. That was fun to get to do. I was so happy to see how kind and generous she was to us all behind the scenes. Aside from handpicking us for the roles, she also really made sure we were all included along the way. She brought us into this world of hers and it’s been amazing to get to know her and celebrate it all.
You’re a passionate advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community, could you share some of the initiatives you’ve been a part of?
Being a member of the LGBTQIA community is a superpower. It’s something I’m so proud of. I just got to attend and support the Elton John AIDS Foundation’s Oscars Party, which was so inspiring to see the power our community has when we come together. I try to support every event I can with GLAAD and the LA LGBT centre. I think trying to build a safer and more inclusive community wherever you’re at is a great place to start. We need community. We need each other. Aside from that I’m trying to find roles and scripts that elevate queer joy. Stories that show we can do it all. We’re not stereotypes, we are a part of every single story. Visibility in the media for us is everything. It shapes the culture.
You’re also a big advocate for sustainability and supporting the environment, could you share your involvement in the fight against global warming?
I am a huge advocate for taking care of our planet and bringing awareness to global warming. I mean, when you sit and think and realize we have one planet. How are we taking care of her? It affects everything. I love volunteering with local organizations. TreePeople is a great local one we have here in LA. I think it can be overwhelming to know how to help. As I said before, start in your hometown. That’s how you make a difference. And more than that, VOTE. Vote for politicians that support global warming initiatives and LGBTQIA rights. Vote, vote, vote!
How do you express your passion for fashion and personal style? Are there any brands, influences our inspirations?
I try to break gender norms with my fashion. Who made those rules anyways? I LOVE glam. Maybe that’s one reason I’ve always loved J-Lo. I’ve always been drawn to glamorous women. I also love the real housewives. Haha, I think I was raised by a group of such fabulous women who empowered me. I loved seeing them just existing. I always felt boxed in – like I couldn’t be that glamorous! That I couldn’t wear sparkles and makeup and fashion. People would tell me I couldn’t. But that only made me want to explore it more. The more sequins the better. Why not me? I play with that a lot in my red-carpet fashion and day to day life. Breaking down those societal and gender norms. I think society wants to put us in boxes to try to label us. You’ve got one life. Paint with every single colour you have. Make it a sparkly picture.
