From Darkness To Light: Matreya

Birmingham-born singer-songwriter Matreya, formerly known as Mason Noise, is in a new chapter. One where the spotlight shines less on the captivating performer and more on the man who’s fought his way through mental darkness and found healing on the other side. As his powerful second single ‘I Saw The Light’ drops this week, we speak about peace, identity, and the journey that inspired both his new music and his soulful video series #FromDarknessToLight.

“I Saw The Light’ is about my inner battle with depression and anxiety. For a long time, I was carrying pain I didn’t know how to process. I looked fine on the outside, but inside I was drowning.” he shared openly. “The turning point for me was discovering Reiki. It helped me connect to something deeper - something still and healing - that I hadn’t felt in years. That was the moment I started to shift.”

The powerful song, built on a haunting pulse of tribal drums and shimmering synths, is as raw emotionally as it is musically rich. It opens with the lyric “Broken and bruised / In darkness and ruins...” and culminates in a quiet yet powerful declaration: “I saw the light / Something inside me had to die.” It’s both surrender and renewal.

Matreya reflected on the symbolism of the bold lyric, ‘Something inside me had to die.’“It’s not just a song - it’s a reflection of that breakthrough. It’s about facing your darkness head-on and finding the strength to let go.’

After originally rising to the public eye on The X Factor, Matreya has since suffered a long period of depression after personal tragedy struck. Yet his choice to opt for alternative therapies unexpectedly changed his life for the better, allowing him to gradually emerge and return to music. ‘I realised healing doesn’t always come in the ways we’re taught to expect’ he explained, ‘For me, it was through energy work, meditation, breath - things that reconnect you to your spirit.

This entire experience - alongside fuelling the passionate, soul-baring ‘I Saw The Light,’ led Matreya to create #FromDarknessToLight, a heartfelt video series where he sits down with some of the world’s most influential spiritual leaders and healers - from yoga pioneer Ana Forrest to Chief Monk of Great Britain Venerable Dogoda Seelawimala - and hosts a range of conversations delving into Buddhism, ancient healing, holistic medicine, and more. Highlighting the importance of community in the process, Matreya aims to shed light on how these ancient practices can guide us through mental health struggles.

‘That’s why I created #FromDarknessToLight—a short-form interview series with world-renowned healers, spiritual teachers and artists who share their wisdom on emotional healing’ he expressed, addressing the importance of raising awareness for alternative healing, with his own journey proving that even from the darkest of places, positive change is possible. ‘ I wanted to shine a light on the power of alternative therapies, and let people know that if you're struggling, there are other ways to heal.

‘I’m not a doctor—but I found my way back. And if this track or this series helps even one person do the same, it’s worth it.’

Shedding old identities and embracing the raw truth of his journey, ‘I Saw The Light’ is both an admirable confession and a beacon for anyone who’s ever felt lost and alone in their identity. Matreya reminds us that healing is not linear - it’s layered, messy, and deeply human.

I Saw The Light Is Out On Friday, July 11th. Listen Here.

Follow Matreya To Keep Up To Date With #FromDarknessToLight