Casey McQuillen

Casey McQuillen has crafted nothing but an upwards trajectory this past year - from touring with pop legend Anastacia, recently releasing her melancholic pop gem ‘Wedding Gem’ to an upcoming UK & Europe headline tour in September. Yet at the core of her music - reflected through origin story anthems like ‘Skinny’ - is a passionate anti-bullying advocate who has toured across schools with the ‘You Matter; tour’, a concert series recognised by UN Foundation promoting honest conversations on self-esteem and mental health.

Having campaigned fearlessly alongside a selection of empowering hits, McQuillen has now been revealed as an official advocate for global youth charity, Ditch The Label. The rising star opens up on how her aims effortlessly aligne with the charity, the importance of building confidence, body image,and her endless determination to empower young people across the UK and beyond. 

You’ve have recently been announced as an official advocate for global youth charity, Ditch The Label. What made you decide to support and promote this charity?

I am so excited to be partnering with Ditch the Label! Their mission connects so deeply with who I am as a person and as an artist. They’re one of the leading global youth charities tackling bullying, mental health, and identity — all topics that have shaped my life and my music. What I love most is how positive and action-driven they are. It’s not just about talking, it’s about creating real change. I knew right away that this was a team I wanted to stand alongside, and I feel really honored to help amplify their amazing work.

How do the charity's goals align with your courageous anti-bullying campaigning?

Honestly, it feels like the perfect fit! My whole career started with my passion for anti-bullying work. I know what it feels like to struggle with self-esteem and to feel different, so being able to use my music to spread kindness and confidence has always been super important to me. Ditch the Label has that same mission - to empower young people, break down barriers, and remind everyone that who they are is enough. We’re both all about courage, positivity, and celebrating individuality, so teaming up just felt natural.

Can you tell us more about your school concert series, "The You Matter Tour," which was recognized by the UN Foundation and featured on The Kelly Clarkson Show? What inspired you to start this initiative?

Yes! The You Matter Tour is honestly one of the things I’m most proud of. It’s this school concert series where I get to mix my songs with real conversations about self-esteem, bullying, and mental health. I share my own story, invite students to open up, and then = through the power of music - remind them that they’re not alone and that their voices truly matter.

It’s been such a wild journey - getting recognized by the United Nations Foundation and even being featured on The Kelly Clarkson Show (which, let’s be real, was a total dream come true!). But the real magic happens in those gymnasiums and auditoriums when a student comes up after and says, “I feel seen” or “I don’t feel so alone anymore.” That’s why I started it - because when I was growing up, I would have loved to hear that. Music gave me my courage, and now I get to pass that courage on. It’s the best feeling ever.

What did the concert include, and how do you believe it has encouraged an anti-bullying message across these schools?

The concerts are this awesome mix of live music, storytelling, and real talk. I’ll perform my original songs, but I also share my own experiences with self-esteem and bullying -  the struggles and the victories. I think the combo of music and honesty creates this safe, uplifting space where students can see themselves in the stories.

What’s been amazing is watching how it opens up conversations in schools. Teachers tell me students who normally stay quiet suddenly feel brave enough to share. That ripple effect - where young people feel less alone and more confident in who they are - is exactly the anti-bullying message I want to spread. It’s not just “don’t be a bully,” it’s: you matter, you’re worthy, and kindness changes everything.

With the added impact of social media and constant societal pressures, do you think bullying is becoming a more significant issue to tackle than ever before?

Absolutely. Social media is such a double-edged sword. On one hand, it connects us in amazing ways, but on the other hand, it can make the pressure to be “perfect” nonstop. When I was in school, if something happened during the day, you could go home and escape it. Now, with social media, it can follow you 24/7. That’s tough.

But here’s the hopeful part: we also have the chance to flip that script. We can use these platforms to spread positivity, to lift each other up, and to show that kindness can be just as viral as negativity. I think that’s why conversations about bullying are more important than ever -  because young people deserve tools and support to navigate this new world with confidence and compassion.

How do you intend to collaborate with Ditch The Label to tackle ongoing issues, and how has their work inspired you?

I’m so energized about what we can do together! I plan to weave Ditch the Label’s resources and messaging into my concerts, school visits, and social media so that students not only hear my story but also know where they can turn for ongoing support. I think it’s so powerful when young people leave a concert not just feeling inspired, but also with concrete tools and communities they can lean on.

What inspires me most about Ditch the Label is how forward-thinking and inclusive they are. They don’t just talk about bullying - they tackle the root causes: identity, mental health, confidence, inequality. That bigger-picture view motivates me to keep broadening my own message beyond just “anti-bullying” and toward celebrating individuality and building resilience. Together, I believe we can make a massive impact.

You’ve been outspoken about body positivity and mental health for years. How has your advocacy shaped your identity as an artist?

My advocacy isn’t just a side project -  it’s really at the heart of who I am as an artist. Music has always been how I process the tough stuff: self-esteem struggles, body image, mental health. When I started being honest about those experiences in my songs and on stage, I realized that authenticity is my superpower.

It shaped my identity because it gave me a mission bigger than myself: to use my voice to make people feel seen and less alone. And honestly, it makes being an artist so much more rewarding - because it’s not just about making music, it’s about making a difference.

Many of your songs address your experiences with body image and confidence, such as the empowering single "Skinny." What has been the response from fans who hear themselves in that story?

The response to “Skinny” has been incredibly moving. So many fans have reached out to tell me that hearing the song felt like someone finally saying out loud what they’d been carrying inside. I think what makes the song empowering is its honesty - it doesn’t sugarcoat how difficult it can be to live under constant pressure about body image.

For me, writing “Skinny” was a way of reclaiming my own story, and in doing so, I found that a lot of people connected with it on a very personal level. That kind of vulnerability can feel scary at first, but it’s also where the deepest connection happens. Knowing that my honesty is helping others feel seen and less alone is one of the most empowering parts of being an artist.

Tell us about your new single, "Wedding Date." What inspired you to write such a relatable depiction of a 'what-if' romance?

“Wedding Date” comes from the ache of a situationship - that frustrating in-between where you feel so much for someone but can’t quite call it love, can’t quite call it yours. Weddings heighten all of those feelings, because you’re surrounded by people celebrating their perfect endings while you’re stuck in something uncertain and fragile.

I wanted the song to capture that bittersweet pain -  the longing, the almosts, the heartbreak of knowing someone matters to you but not having a future with them. It’s raw and emotional because those “what-if” romances can leave such a deep mark. I think a lot of people will hear themselves in that story, and hopefully feel a little less alone in the hurt.

You've had an incredibly busy year - from sold-out European tours with pop icons like Anastacia and Loreen to now setting out on your headline tour this November. If you could tell all of this to your younger self, what do you think she would be most proud of or excited about?

Oh my gosh, my younger self would be freaking out! I grew up singing along to artists like Anastacia and Loreen, so to be sharing stages with them across Europe - and now preparing for my very own headline tour - feels totally surreal. I think younger me would be proud that I never gave up, even when things felt impossible or scary.

But more than the milestones, I think she’d be excited about the fact that I’m doing it all while staying true to myself. That the girl who once doubted if she belonged is now traveling the world singing songs that came straight from her heart - and people are singing them back. That’s the dream she always held onto.

 If your debut album "Skinny" was the beginning of your story, what chapter do you think you’re in now as an artist?

“Skinny” was definitely my origin story -  me stepping into my voice and telling the truth about my struggles with body image and confidence. It was raw, vulnerable, and so important to who I am as an artist.

Right now, I feel like I’m in the chapter of becoming. I’ve built this foundation of honesty, and now I’m expanding the story -  exploring love, heartbreak, resilience, and joy with the same openness. It’s like I’ve moved from introducing who I am, to really living out all the messy, beautiful layers of being human. And the best part is, I feel like I’m just getting started.

About Ditch The Label 

Ditch the Label is a global youth mental health charity supporting young people aged 12–25 to navigate the most complex and personal challenges they face, from mental health and identity, to bullying, relationships and social media. They offer safe, supportive digital spaces where young people can be themselves, find connection, and access expert-led support.

If you’re a young person struggling with your mental health, visit Ditch the Label’s support services at https://forums.ditchthelabel.org/.

Listen To 'Wedding Date'