Mastin doesn't regret stolen innocence
Growing up in the public eye is no easy feat - just ask Reece Mastin.
The rocker rose to fame at 16 when he won The X Factor in 2011 and has since made the transition into adulthood in the glare of the spotlight, with No. 1 singles, tattoos, social-media controversy and a serious relationship with actress Rhiannon Fish just some of the milestones he has experienced along the way.
Now with his 20th birthday approaching later this year, Mastin looks back at his time on the Seven reality giant as a major learning curve that he likens to a loss of innocence - but he would not change it for the world.
"I guess I got a better understanding of life and learnt certain things about how I want my life to be, how to get what I want and what not to do," the singer told AAA Weekend.
"I clicked on to that earlier because I had to. That's the thing about kids - their innocence gets stolen so quickly and I think mine got stolen a little earlier. But I am cool with that if it means I get to do what I love."
After releasing two back-to-back albums and touring the country several times over, Mastin took an 18-month time-out to slow down and re-evaluate where he wanted his career to head. Now he is ready to get back out on the road armed with an arsenal of new music as part of his Wolf in the Woods tour, which plays at Mt Lawley's Astor Theatre on September 12 and the Lakes Theatre, Mandurah, on September 13.
The British-born muso said he couldn't think of a better place to kick off the national tour than in Perth, where a growing group of dedicated fans had left a lasting memory on Mastin.
"I come to Perth and I know who Perth people are," he said. "It's like catching up with friends, it's pretty sweet."
And with the latest season of The X Factor launching tomorrow night, Mastin has some advice for the fresh batch of contestants chasing fame and fortune on the show.
"Just make sure you sing what you want to sing and put your foot down," he said.
"I had the luck of (mentor Guy Sebastian) letting me do that and he really took my opinion into account.
"If they stay true to themselves, they can go all the way."
