Mexican Regional music rising star Calle 24 to perform at Fresno’s Rainbow Ballroom
Mexican Regional music scene rising star Diego Millán, known as Calle 24 , is performing at Rainbow Ballroom in Fresno at 8 p.m. Friday as part of the Street Mob Tour 2024.
Vida en el Valle chatted with Millán this week about his upcoming performance at Fresno's longest running music venue, which has been operating downtown on Broadway Street for 100 years.
"Very excited and happy," said Millán in Spanish during a zoom interview. "People who have come to see me know that we give ourselves to the public. I and my entire group like to go out and give it our all on stage."
For people who haven't had the chance to see him perform in person, Millán said there are plenty of surprises in store for them in Fresno.
"We're not just the artist on stage, we're the friend who's going to sing to you and have some good drinks with you," said the 21-year-old Mexican singer from Chihuahua, Mexico. "This is more than anything a private party, a party between friends and that's what I want you to feel."
A solo career
Originally formed as a four-piece band, Calle 24 blended traditional Mexican sounds with urban influences, and while the project evolved into a solo act, Millán retained the name Calle 24 while maintaining strong friendships with his former bandmates.
Millán's musical career took off in 2021 with the release of his debut single, "Propio Mundo."
Having a solo career, Millán said, is more responsibility, but when "you get together with people who have the same vision, a very good product can come out."
Calle 24 has collaborated with Chino Pacas and Fuerza Regida on hits like "Que Onda," "Qué Está Pasando," and "Apaga el cel."
With a new album coming out soon, Millán said Fresno will get the scoop on some new Calle 24 songs.
"We're coming with very different sounds, with different songs. We're coming to impose some music and some trends, so we're ready for that," Millán said.
The Street Mob Tour will also feature Chino Pacas and Clave Especial . In addition to the headliners, special performances will feature Juanpa Salazar, TIAGZ, Jonathan Caro, Linea Personal and Armenta. DJ Livia is hosting the event.
"There will be many surprises from me, from Chino, from Clave, from the rest of the Street Mob family, so you can't miss it at all," Millán said.
New regional Mexican music sound
Millán is part of a new generation of artists like Fuerza Regida who are putting their own touch to regional Mexican music.
He is known for his innovative approach to merging regional Mexican sounds with contemporary urban styles, which is shaping the future of the genre.
"Personally, I make songs that I like and at the end of the day people end up liking them, mixing sounds between guitars, between different instruments, and that is what I like the most, which is versatility," said Millán. "Nobody criticizes you anymore, nobody is afraid to do anything or sing whatever, what you feel or anything. Here this new music doesn't prevent you from doing anything, so that is what I like."
Millán has already established himself as an in-demand songwriter. He has credits on hits like Fuerza Regida's "Sabor Fresa" and "Igualito a Mi Apá," which features Peso Pluma.
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Millán wrote his first song when he was 11 years old. From then on, he never let go of the pen.
"I've written songs for a lot of people, for the favorite artists of the kids now," Millán said. "And I put the same love into everything, into writing, into singing. Writing my own songs, that's really cool."
Street Mob Tour had stops in Houston, Las Vegas, San Diego, Los Angeles before arriving in Fresno. The tour will play its last show Saturday in San Jose. The Fresno show is almost sold out, Millán said.
