Quitting drugs helped James Arthur "gain some perspective" in his music.
The former ‘X Factor’ winner went on a destructive downward spiral after finding fame on the reality TV show and a dependence on marijuana and prescription pills led to James hitting rock bottom.
He explained to The Sun: "My lowest moment was when I was going to bed, I’d take 15 pre-rolled joints and smoke one after the other, popping anti-depressants. My head was an absolute mess."
However, he is now clean and believes that the music he has written for his new album, ‘Back From The Edge’, is some of his best work.
James said: "Quitting drugs has helped me gain some perspective. I don’t recognise that artist in my first album.
"A couple of songs are great, but I was writing for other people then.
"I was trying to write a hit, trying to be the best ‘X Factor’ winner ever – they weren’t honest songs as you didn’t hear any of my character.
"This one, there’s loads of me in it.
There is a bit of self-indulgence as I had to tell my story. People will relate to it and the message is hope, love and respect – to like yourself."
James has come a long way from the depths of despair after ‘X Factor’ and he admitted he considered suicide in the past.
He said: "I genuinely was at the end of my tether. I’d never been a guy who suffers from suicidal tendencies but I had taken all I could take from life.
"I thought that was my chance and I’d ruined it. You never see an ‘X Factor’ winner make a comeback. It doesn’t happen."
James Arthur: ‘Quitting drugs helped my music’
