Top News

An X Factor contestant who once stormed the stage and clashed with Simon Cowell now looks totally different after abandoning fame, changing his name and turning to a life of meditation and spiritual healing. Mason Noise - real name Mason Binnell - was just 21 when he burst onto the ITV show in 2015. Mentored by Nick Grimshaw, the Birmingham rapper became one of the most talked-about contestants of the series thanks to his fiery showdown with Simon during the infamous Six Chair Challenge.

After performing a medley of tracks by The Weeknd, Blackstreet and Justin Timberlake with a singing partner, Mason pushed back over the length of his audition. When he refused to apologise, he dropped his mic and was ordered off stage, sparking one of the show's most explosive moments.

Despite the bust-up, Mason still made it to the live finals, finishing seventh overall and even joined the X Factor tour. But 10 years on, the former hopeful has dramatically reinvented himself.

Now known as Matreya, he has traded TV and chart ambitions for what he calls life as a "Reiki healer and inner explorer". His social media pages show an almost unrecognisable figure: a bushy beard, body paint, a bandana and a spiritual lifestyle grounded in Buddhist principles.

He says he has been working to "dilute" his ego to become "a better, more thoughtful person", and has spoken of using CBD Armour cannabis oil to help manage anxiety and aid relaxation. That new outlook has accompanied an unexpected return to the stage.

This week, Matreya kicked off his debut UK tour with a London gig before heading back to his Birmingham roots. Posting a proud announcement on Instagram, he told fans: "My first UK tour as Matreya! Whether you're new to the journey or have been with me since The X Factor - I'd love to see you there.

"This tour is about creating the kind of community I've always dreamed of: one where music becomes a shared act of remembering who we truly are."

He continued: "The celebrity is dead. The fan is no more. We are equals in the circle - each of us playing our part. Let's re-enter our bodies, clear our minds, and remember that music was never meant to just entertain - it was meant to transform. Come be a part of the awakening - this isn't just a show, but a collective rebirth."

The tour concludes on 3 December in Leeds. Alongside performing, Matreya has been releasing new music, including I Saw The Light, Eagle, and his latest track Be Love.

His spiritual path followed a frightening health ordeal. A few years ago, Mason was left fearing for his life after contracting sepsis from a hand bite sustained in a post-pub fight.

Rushed to the hospital after the wound became infected, he underwent two operations when his hand ballooned in size. The scare triggered what he later described as a mental health crisis, prompting him to reassess everything.

Reflecting on that turning point, he wrote: "I have chosen to live a better life. I want to participate in creating a better future, and to do that, I have realised I must disentangle myself from old patterns.

"I have to quieten the mind through the connection with my heart, and commit to becoming more than I ever previously imagined."