Exclusive Interview: KiKi Layne and Thomas Doherty Talk ‘Dandelion,’ Their Artist Journeys, and More

KiKi Layne and Thomas Doherty are the stars of the must-see indie drama, Dandelion.

Dandelion (KiKi Layne), a struggling Cincinnati singer-songwriter in a downward spiral, takes a last-ditch-effort gig at a motorcycle rally in South Dakota where she meets Casey (Thomas Doherty), a guitarist who walked away from his dream long ago. As Dandelion joins Casey’s nomadic group of struggling musicians, the kindred spirits make music together and strike up a whirlwind romance. The experience moves Dandelion from a narrow view of success to a deeper appreciation of her artistic journey, and the discovery of a voice that is authentically her own.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Kiki and Thomas about Dandelion, their artist journeys, and more.

PC: KiKi, the arts are such a collaborative medium. When you were cast in this role, you had a lot of honest and open conversations with writer-director Nicole [Riegel] about bringing the spirit, soul, and culture of Dandelion to life in ways that she would express herself. How did those conversations influence the character and this film? How did that trust allow you to take agency over her journey?
KiKi: The biggest thing, even before we started filming, was talking to Nicole about these songs. They’re Dandelion’s songs. Growing up as a songwriter myself, it’s such a personal thing. These things really come out of you and your experiences. The conversations were centered around the music and the importance that it reflected that Dandelion is now a young Black woman.

The Dessners are amazing, but they’re two older White men. There was a disconnect between what they might pour into music versus what Dandelion and this body might pour out. So I was really grateful that very early on, we could have those conversations and that Nicole and the Dessners made space for me to pour more of myself into the music. From there, everything else took off with the character.

PC: Beautifully said. Thomas, there is a point in the film where your character tells Dandelion about an impactful moment in his career where the audience knew his lyrics and sang them back to him. What’s been the artistic equivalent for you in your own journey?
Thomas: I was on a ferry once in Seattle. There was a little girl across from me wearing a t-shirt with my face on it. That was probably the closest I’ve come to that. It was a very surreal experience. She didn’t recognize me, and I was like, do I go up to her, or is that weird? That’s probably the closest thing I can think of.

PC: Great answer.
KiKi: That’s pretty cool.

PC: Yeah. KiKi, throughout the film, we see Dandelion redefine what success looks like for her and embrace her artistry and her voice. You brought so much depth to that journey. As an artist, how did you create the space for yourself to explore all of those different nuances? Did any of her journey parallel your own?
KiKi: Definitely, there were parallels to my own journey. I think that’s one of the things audiences resonate with. So many of us carry dreams and want to see ourselves achieve certain things in the world. But sometimes, the world offers very limited views of what success looks like, especially in the arts. If you’re not selling a million gazillion records or don’t have hundreds of millions of followers, it can make you feel like what you’re contributing is less than. That feels very, very real to me. I actively wrestle with those things daily, trying to create the type of art I want to create while working in an industry that doesn’t always nurture artists in their most authentic form. I used as much of that as I could, which is why it felt so real to me.

PC: Your performance is so raw and grounded. Thomas, you’ve said that this is one of the most creatively fulfilling projects you’ve worked on. You’ve done it all throughout your career. What did you learn about your craft embodying this character? What is it about independent filmmaking that excites you as a creative and storyteller?
Thomas: Everybody wants to “make it.” They want to be the next big thing and arrive. But I’ve always been like, no, I need to learn. I need to experience different genres of films and work in the studios. I was building up this array of experiences that would help me in my craft as an actor. Doing an independent film, there’s a purity to it. I love theater. I love the stage. I went to college for musical theater. It feels very pure and honest.

Independent films just have that. You don’t have these big studios or numerous producers. It feels very pure. With Dandelion, the scale at which we did it and the team we had made it feel incredibly collaborative. Everyone made space for each other to develop their own characters. It was a very special experience. It felt very pure.

PC: Credit to both of you as well. Your voices are incredible. I hope they release the soundtrack for this film. This film also does such a brilliant job reflecting the other side of the artistic journey that we don’t often see in cinema. Your two characters have so many open conversations about spaces where they go to silence that noise and remember the importance of just playing. For each of you, where do you go to escape creatively?
KiKi: I don’t know if I have a space.

Thomas: It has to be outside in nature where it’s quiet.

KiKi: I don’t know if I have one. Maybe if I’m locked in a room by myself. [laughs] I think that’s what I do. I just lock myself in the room and write a song. A lot of what Nicole and I did was in that weird motel lobby. I don’t know—with the right pressure, I can create anywhere. [laughs]

Thomas: Being an actor in Hollywood is quite political. You take so many things into account. It’s not just your acting ability; it’s also about who you know and who you get along with. I feel like going outside into the woods puts things into perspective and is a good ego ruiner. When there’s no ego, creativity can come out without any roadblocks. You’re not trying to rationalize different things.

PC: Beautifully said. KiKi, there’s a moment at the end of the film when Dandelion is seemingly at her breaking point, and it’s her mom who reminds her how profound it is to find a passion in life. Who were the women in your own life who have held space for you in a similar way?
KiKi: Definitely my mom. From the very beginning, when I said that I wanted to pursue the arts, I was like seven. She was so supportive from the start. She came home with an audition packet for our local performing arts school in Cincinnati and encouraged me to audition. When I wanted to spend thousands of dollars to study acting in college, she was on board. My mom has definitely had those types of conversations with me when I’m at my wits’ end and just about ready to give up. It’s usually my mom who can speak a positive word, pray for me, lift my spirits, and remind me that this is what I’m here to do. God always makes a way.

PC: Shout out to the moms. Thomas, I also love that in the film it’s not your character who inspires Dandelion, but rather it’s Dandelion who reminds Casey to dream again. Who have been the people in your own life who have held that space for you in a similar way? Also, have you finally seen Selena?
Thomas: Who’s Selena?

KiKi: No, you didn’t. That’s a joke. Bye, Thomas.

Thomas: Gomez?

KiKi: The movie. Remember in Austin, Texas, I think it was a Screen Rant interview, I said that Selena is my favorite music film? You hadn’t seen it.

Thomas: Oh yeah. [laughs] I still haven’t seen it. [laughs] I’ll add it to the list. It’s been my family and friends. I’m from Scotland, and I’m there right now. I don’t know if you can hear my parents. They’re just letting me do my thing. They’ve always been encouraging and held that space. I’m a very fortunate guy.

Make sure to follow KiKi (Instagram) and Thomas (Instagram). Dandelion is in select theaters now.