Mickey Taylor returns to music after five years with raw honesty about heartbreak, family reconciliation, and finding hope through creativity. The pop-dance artist opens up about his relationship breakdown, reconnecting with his mother after she came out as lesbian, and why the queer community's ability to transform trauma into art is our superpower.

This conversation explores the therapeutic power of songwriting, the changing landscape of queer social connection, and Mickey's passionate call for better care of young people. From West End stages to chart success and back to vulnerability, Mickey's journey reminds us that sometimes we need to fall apart completely before we can rebuild ourselves stronger.

Timestamped Key Takeaways

• [02:19] Musical Theatre Burnout to Pop Success: Mickey explains his transition from musical theatre to pop music, seeking creative ownership after years of singing show tunes
• [04:32] Optimism Through Darkness: Discussion of Mickey's signature sound combining uplifting melodies with honest explorations of difficult subjects
• [06:21] Covid Career Break: How the pandemic created space for reflection and the decision to step back from music temporarily
• [07:02] Relationship Breakdown Recovery: Mickey's raw account of losing both career momentum and long-term relationship simultaneously
• [08:12] Music as Therapy: The return to songwriting as personal healing, treating songs like diary entries during difficult times
• [12:21] Mother-Son Reconciliation: The transformative moment when Mickey's mother came out as lesbian and they rebuilt their relationship
• [17:08] Trauma into Comedy: Mickey's philosophy that tragedy plus time equals comedy, and how the queer community excels at transforming pain into art
• [18:57] Queer Community Social Shift: Observation about millennials moving away from dating apps towards in-person connection
• [23:55] Political Views and Travel: Mickey's perspective on how closed-minded views often correlate with limited travel and excessive wealth
• [30:33] Children and Education: Passionate two-minute platform about giving young people proper care, love and real-world skills

Guest Bio

Mickey Taylor is a pop and dance artist with eight years in the music industry and four albums to his name, three of which reached the top 20 dance charts. After a five-year hiatus, he's returned with his most creative and visual project yet, drawing on his diverse background in TV, stage, and animation. Based in Manchester, Mickey combines honest vulnerability with infectious optimism, creating music that transforms personal struggles into universal connection points.

Find Mickey online: Instagram | YouTube

Links

Read deep dives into our queer lives at the blog HERE.

Check out the official podcast playlist on Spotify.

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See producer and presenter Dan Hall's other work HERE (subtitled version HERE).

Listen to other episodes at the homepage.