How Matt Corby overcame 19 years of fear and found magic in tragedy

Matt Corby's soulful new album shows he's come a long way since Australian Idol and breakout 2011 single Brother. (Supplied: Maclay Heriot)

Nineteen years after stepping away from TV live performances, Matt Corby surprised everyone, including himself, when he agreed to play ABC's New Year's Eve celebrations.

The singer-songwriter had avoided such situations ever since competing as a 16-year-old on Australian Idol.

"I swore to myself I would never put myself in that position again," Corby wrote in a social post after the fact. "I couldn't really handle the negativity and ridicule."

"I like the ABC," he chuckles. "When I got the call about it, everyone was just expecting a 'No' from me.

In addition to his own soulful original material, Corby shone covering INXS's Never Tear Us Apart and Olivia Dean's Man I Need — both Hottest 100 toppers in the past year.

"It felt great on the night and afterwards I was really proud of myself," Corby reflects.

"You get to make peace with your younger self. It's freed me up mentally to be able to do it again, potentially. Or not be so afraid of putting myself out there."

As a multi-ARIA-winning, platinum-selling artist with a reputation for enchanting shows, you'd think Corby would be comfortable as an established, respected solo artist.

However, getting his start in a realty TV contest is something he's described as a "big f***ing mistake."

After coming runner-up to 2007 Australian Idol winner Natalie Gauci, Corby knocked back a major label contract, his displeasure with performing for validation prompting a retreat from the spotlight.

"I was like, I'm just going to stay quiet and go about my business."

Overcoming his "past trauma" arrives with the release of Tragic Magic, Corby's new album and fourth consecutive top 10 appearance in the ARIA Album Charts.

It's another showcase for his show-stopping voice, but also exhibits his considerable skills as a producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.

"Singing for me is steeped in emotion because I've always been a singer since I was young, and that's what I'm known for," he notes.

"For me, arranging and getting to just be a player without the pressure of lyrics, melody and the performative nature of being a vocalist? It's really appealing."

Corby toyed initially with releasing an instrumental record, compiled from material made while working with other artists. His expansive credits include Budjerah, Tash Sultana, The Dregss, Kita Alexander and more.

"If I'm waiting on a session to start, I'm always in the studio early and think, 'I'm just going to make a l