It’s easy to be cynical about yet another queer artist dropping yet another anthem about self-acceptance. The market is saturated with hollow platitudes set to electro-pop beats that all blend together in a haze of manufactured inspiration. But Sunderland’s Mickey Callisto might be the exception we’ve been waiting for.
Fresh off a standing ovation at his Britain’s Got Talent audition and riding the momentum from supporting indie darling CMAT across Europe, Callisto has released “Take It Easy,” a single that signals the arrival of an artist who actually has something to say. The track serves as the first taste of his upcoming Man on a Mission EP, and thankfully, it delivers substance where so many of his contemporaries offer only style.
“Take It Easy is about creating a space where listeners can escape, feel confident, and embrace the moment,” Callisto explains. What could sound like generic artist-speak instead feels genuine coming from him, perhaps because his journey from a council estate to musical recognition gives his message of resilience actual weight.
Callisto’s rising profile is well-earned. His performance resume already includes festival appearances at Green Man, The Great Escape, Latitude, and the Eurovision Festival. He’s shared stages with an impressive roster of artists, including CMAT (who affectionately calls him “my brother from another mother”), Rebecca Black, Dadi Freyr, and Lynks. That’s not even mentioning the support he’s garnered from BBC Introducing, BBC Radio 1, Radio Wales, Amazing Radio, Spark FM, Gaydio, and RadioX.
As a self-made artist and member of the LGBT+ community, Callisto represents the kind of voice that deserves amplification. His signing to Ripe Records, a new Liverpool-based independent label founded just last year, suggests he’s found a home that values artistic integrity over commercial shortcuts.
For those intrigued by this emerging talent, Callisto will be performing live in London at Divine in Stoke Newington on May 20th. Based on the strength of “Take It Easy” and his rapidly growing reputation, it might be one of the last chances to catch him in a venue that intimate.
