'I Thought I Lost My Mind' — Ivan Ooze Opens Up About Psychosis, Fame & Fighting His Demons

Music Career and Early Success
📌 Ivan News is a pioneer of the Aussie music scene, starting his journey by rapping in a group called Honeycomb Hideout.
🎬 His career breakthrough came from a viral Facebook video where he was in a car rapping with a keyboard, which led to him meeting his manager.
🎤 After the viral success, he released an EP and secured support slots touring with major acts like Ice Cube and Cypress Hill.

Mental Health and Overcoming Adversity
🧠 Ivan experienced a severe psychotic episode around age 17-18 after smoking weed laced with PCP, leading to depression, paranoia, and depersonalization lasting nearly three years.
✍️ He overcame his mental health struggles by rewiring his brain through writing music (venting/journaling), stopping drug use for two years, multivitamins, and working out.
🤝 Open communication and therapy were crucial; he emphasizes that discussing these issues, including suicidal thoughts, is normal and necessary for healing and helping others.

Industry Dynamics and Culture
🚧 Ivan faced significant backlash and death threats initially for his unique style, which disrupted the then-prevalent "suburban barbecue rap" sound in Australia.
🚫 The industry is affected by "Tall Poppy Syndrome" (jealousy/pulling down high achievers) and artists refusing to share bills or associate with others deemed "not cool enough," which the speaker finds lame and limiting.
🎤 The artist considers supporting/opening slots a challenging but vital art form in itself, crucial for learning to win over skeptical audiences and demonstrating true performance skill.

Ruckus Life Community and Loss
🛹 Ruckus Life began as a friend group filming "stupid shit" (like Jackass) for memories, inspired by skateboarding videos, focusing on party and drinking culture.
💔 The Ruckus Life community dissolved after things escalated to include harder drugs, and critically, the loss of his close friend and videographer, Jack, to suicide.
😥 The death of his best friend left a lifelong, contagious impact on the group, causing immense pain and self-blame, highlighting the severe aftermath of suicide on surviving friends and family.

Key Points & Insights
➡️ Ivan overcame significant mental health issues by focusing on a "full reset," cutting out hard partying and drugs for two years, proving that stubbornness and self-care can lead to control over one's mental state.
➡️ Aspiring artists should view opening/supporting slots not as a hurdle, but as a crucial proving ground to master the art of winning over an audience amidst potential resistance.
➡️ The importance of vulnerability and conversation is paramount; speaking about mental health struggles, loss, and past trauma helps de-stigmatize these issues for younger generations who may lack role models discussing vulnerability.

📸 Video summarized with SummaryTube.com on Jan 23, 2026, 08:51 UTC