Warning: This article contains spoilers from the November 20 episode of The Masked Singer.

Ice King came in like a wrecking ball The Masked Singer‘s Miley Cyrus Night, but it was not a party for him in the US.

Drake Bell unmasked as Ice King on the November 20 episode after taking on Royal Knight, Sherlock Hound and Strawberry Shortcake.

“I’m very competitive, but you can’t be so hard on yourself for this because it takes you out of your element,” Bell, 38, tells PEOPLE. “You’re singing songs you’ve never sung before, you’re in this costume, I’m not a dancer, so you can’t really beat yourself.”

The former child actor, who released his latest album Non-stop flight took part in the Mexican edition of last month The Masked Singer as Bebé Alien and he hoped to continue with the American version. “Unfortunately, I ended up at exactly the same point,” he says.

Speaking to PEOPLE, Bell reflects on the surprising comfort of the Ice King costume, following the abuse he endured during his Nickelodeon days and the unexpected moment that resulted from his elimination on Miley Cyrus Night.

What made you want to move on The Masked Singer‘s American version after participating in the show in Mexico?

DRAKE BEL: I loved doing it The Masked Singer Mexico, so when the American version reached out, I was like, “Oh yeah, absolutely. I would like to do this again and try to go one step further.”

Did it The Masked Singer Did Mexico mean you were used to performing in costume this time?

It did give me an edge to be prepared to sing in costume. My costume was great in Mexico, but the American costume, even though it seems so cumbersome and difficult to move, when I put the mask on I thought, ‘Oh my god, it’s so light and I can move. ‘ The costume designers are absolute geniuses on this version, so I think it looks a little harder to move around in the costumes than it actually is.

Who in your life knew you were doing the show?

My team, management and all that. Maybe my mom and dad, but the fun thing about telling my mom and dad is they get so excited, and then all of a sudden you go to their Facebook and you’re like, “Mom!” So I don’t actually think I told my mom and dad for that reason.

But my dad is a huge fan of the show even before I was The Masked Singer in Mexico. My dad isn’t the kind of person you would think would be a fan of a singing competition show, especially one as fun and different as The Masked Singerbut I got these text messages from him out of the blue: “I had no idea, but Wayne Brady was the…” and I was like, “Oh, on the The Masked Singer?” Because he just named the character as if I were watching the show with him. I imagine my big, tough dad was at home watching this funny singing competition. But he’s, I think, every season from the beginning views. He’s a big fan.

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What do you like about performing anonymously?

You are not self-conscious. If I didn’t have the mask on and I’m singing the songs I learned last night and the choreography I learned yesterday, I would say, “Am I doing this right? I don’t know.” But when you put on the mask, you lose yourself in the character. You can go, “I’m just going to go out and have fun.” It is truly a liberating experience.

Were there any songs you would have liked to sing if you had continued with the competition?

I I would have liked to do more things in my wheelhouse. Elvis, for example, would have been a great thing to do. It would have been really cool if The Ice King played a song by The King.

There was a clue in the November 20 episode where you talked about a story you shared with the press that changed your career. What was that?

There was a documentary that came out earlier this year, and it was the first time I shared some really personal and traumatic experiences, as well as some unfortunate events that I had experienced in my past as a young actor. But it’s an amazing experience to be able to work through those things and come out the other side and still be able to get up and perform – I’m on tour now.

I think many viewers will find that inspiring.

It’s a roller coaster. I don’t want anyone to say, “Oh, it’s so easy. Just get back up and dust yourself off and everything will be fine.” It will always remain in your past. It is something that will stay with you for the rest of your life. You just need to keep the right people around you, stay focused, and do everything you can to get the resources you really need to get through these tough times.

Miley Cyrus was also a child star who transitioned into a music career as an adult. Did you find it ironic to go out after singing one of her songs?

It was really great. I get kicked off on Miley Cyrus night, the next morning I was having lunch at my hotel and I sat next to a guy and we started talking. He says, “Oh, I work at Sunset Sound across the street. You should come over.” It’s an iconic studio. Janis Joplin, Led Zeppelin, The Doors, Prince, everyone recorded there.

When I got there, he says, ‘Miley sang here because she wanted to sing Janis Joplin. She fell in love with the studio and ended up recording her entire album here. She wrote ‘Flowers’ here.’

I ended up recording two of my songs from my new album and writing one. It was so surreal because if I hadn’t kicked off, I wouldn’t have had this serendipitous experience of recording in the same room as John Lennon, Harry Nilsson and Brian Wilson. I thought, “Wow, this is really crazy.” The universe and God work in mysterious ways.

Music is your focus now, but what are you most recognized for these days?

Drake & Jos. It’s such an iconic show. It has taken on a life of its own. I’m recognized more now than when we were on the air or when the show was popular, and by young people who weren’t even alive when the show aired.

I did a concert not long ago in Florida, and there was a little boy sitting in the front row singing all the lyrics to all my songs. I said, ‘Take him backstage. I have to meet this boy.’ He and his family came backstage and he took off his hat and stirred his hair. He said, “Look, I have my hair like you on the show,” and then he started quoting the show and stuff. I’m like, “You weren’t even alive when we finished the show. When we got canceled, you weren’t even there.” His mother says, “No. He watches that show every day and knows all your songs.” It’s a whole new generation.

Where can fans find you next The Masked Singer?

I just released an album called Non-stop flightand it’s a huge album. It’s 25 songs, 36 songs. It took me four years to complete it. I’ve just been writing and writing – this roller coaster ride I’ve been on has inspired so many songs. Now I’m on tour and doing great. We have amazing, sold out shows and it’s the biggest production I’ve ever done on tour. It’s great. I’m having a great time.

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The Masked Singer airs Wednesdays at 8pm ET on Fox.