Award-winning Australian rapper 360 performs ‘Out of the Blue’ at Mayberry Darwin on August 3

An award-winning Australian rapper who spent most of the past five years battling addiction and mental health struggles has spoken out ahead of his show in Darwin. Find out what he had to say.

Australian rapper 360 – born Matt Colwell – solemnly admits that his last five years of music came from a “dark place”. Picture: Mark Calleja

Australian rapper 360 – born Matt Colwell – solemnly admits his past five years of music came from a “dark place”.

He first went into rehab in the early days of 2020, the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, amid struggles with his mental health and addiction.

“I was really overweight, really unhealthy and really depressed,” said the ARIA Award-winning artist.

“I was trying to get some light back in my life.”

360 began writing his forthcoming album ‘Out of the Blue’ about three years later, marking his first new record since 2017.

“I started to see the light again,” he said.

“And I started to become more hopeful and optimistic about life again.”

360 said he started to become more optimistic about life again. Picture: Supplied

Although his faith came late in his healing journey, he also credits his newly-developed relationship with God for helping him get through the tough times.

“When I was working with my life coach, I was very anti-religion; I was anti anything to do with Christianity and Jesus (Christ),” he said.

“I despised it.”

But as time passed, he began speaking with other Christians — including his best friend, Australian musician PEZ.

As he watched PEZ — born Perry Chapman — change his perspective on Christianity, Colwell began to do the same.

“It was changing him for the better in ways that I couldn’t really believe,” he said.

“It made me think that maybe religion isn’t what I thought it was … I dropped my wall a little bit and started going to church, reading the gospels and went headfirst into it; now it’s everything to me.”

360 said he hoped people would feel inspired after the show. Pic Mark Calleja

Despite most of the songs being written before he found his faith, 360 said the album was still channelled from a “hopeful place” and reflected on the experiences he went through during those tough five years.

“PEZ and I did a song called ‘Broken’ where PEZ talks about how he found Christ, and then I did a song called ‘Holding On’, which talks about it on there,” he said.

“But even in the other songs you can hear me mentioning God and prayer, because I was really wrestling with it throughout this period.”

On August 3, 360 will perform at Mayberry Darwin as part of his ‘Out of the Blue’ National Tour with special guest PEZ.

He said he hoped Territorians could leave his show feeling “inspired” and “motivated”.

“There’s always a way out, and if I can turn my life around I hope I can inspire them to do the same,” he said.

Find tickets here: https://www.mayberrydarwin.com/events/360