The release of Vintage Modern last year, marked a new start for Australian rapper 360, who has made headlines with his battles against drug addiction and mental health.
Diagnosed with bipolar last year and ever vocal about fighting past demons, it is a relief when he confirms he is ‘good’ and excited to be preparing for his upcoming regional tour of WA.
“I can’t wait – Bunbury is so funny and amazing, it’s been a long time – regional tours are always so different to city tours,” he said.
“The vibe is just so much more wild and I think its because the people appreciate that you come out to them.
“It’s always a lot of fun when we tour, it’s quite hilarious – there is a lot of laughing.
"When the album came out, it felt like I had completely started over again, to do this tour and to know how the album is selling, it’s a blessing – I’m very lucky that I’ve been given another chance."
For the now 32-year-old his ‘second chance’ came after having to cancel a tour to enter rehab for his addiction to prescription drugs, describing the last four years as a long road.
“I tried to re-do the tour I had cancelled and give everyone the chance to come back and have fun but it was really unsuccessful and disheartening,” he said.
“It really hit me and made me think I have had the dream life of making music, I honestly thought I had ruined it and that I was done.
“At the same time it lit a fire in me to go ‘OK I’ve got to get through this and build myself back up from the ground up again’.
“I don’t take anything for granted anymore, whereas I think I did before, I was very care-free whereas now I’m completely different on so many different levels.”
Describing himself as a homebody who loves to binge-watch TV shows and play video games, 360 said he loved the new album, which he believed was more evolved than previous work, blending modern production elements with vintage lyricism.
“I deliberately tried to take myself out of my comfort zone and write songs from other people’s perspectives, do more story telling and a bit more social commentary rather than just talking about stuff that I’ve gone through,” he said.
Tracks like Tiny Angels, which details a couple experiencing stillbirth, highlights the new direction he’s taking.
“I don’t really stand for anything except just being a good person – trust your gut and your instinct and don’t listen to your ego, don’t be strayed by superficial things,” he said.
360 plays The Prince of Wales Hotel on September 22.
For more information visit 360music.com.au/shows/
