John Oates Says He's 'Trying to Lead My Best Life' amid Daryl Hall Lawsuit (Exclusive)

The Hall & Oates musician competed as Anteater on 'The Masked Singer' season 10 and tells PEOPLE he felt "really tired" by the end of his run

John Oates went from “Maneater” to Anteater, performing as the long-nosed mammal on season 10 of The Masked Singer.

The Hall & Oates musician, 75, got eliminated during Wednesday’s Group C finals — and he tells PEOPLE he felt “a little bit relieved” by being unmasked.

“I was really exhausted,” Oates says. “I had done the Newport Folk Festival in Newport, Rhode Island and jumped on a red-eye and got to L.A. in the middle of the night. I had to get up super early in the morning and go straight to the soundstage and do The Masked Singer, so by the end of the night, I was really tired.”

Related: John Oates Shares Social Media Post About 'Connection with Loved Ones' amid Daryl Hall Lawsuit

Today, Oates lives in Nashville, plans to release a new album next year and enjoys performing solo at his An Evening of Songs and Stories shows.

“It's a really intimate storyteller's show, and I do it all over the world,” he says. “It's fun because there's no production, there's no bells and whistles, no artifice at all. I walk on stage with an acoustic guitar, I tell the stories about the songs, and play small venues, which I love. It's a great way to connect with the real fans who love music.”

The dad of son Tanner, 27, also finds himself entangled in a legal battle with his former bandmate Daryl Hall, who filed a lawsuit and was granted a restraining order against him in an attempt to stop Oates’ alleged plans to sell his share of a joint business venture to a third party. Hall believes the sale would be a violation of a business agreement previously reached by the duo.

But Oates remains positive.

“I am just trying to lead my best life,” Oates says. “I want to do good things. I want to give back; it's important to me. I want to enjoy whatever's left in my creative future.”

Oates shares which former Masked Singer contestant inspired him to go on the show, why he loves not living in Los Angeles and what he thinks about his legacy as an ‘80s pop star.

PEOPLE: What made you go on The Masked Singer?

JOHN OATES: Because I wanted to wear a giant, uncomfortable, hot, anteater suit and show off my fabulous vocal styles for the world. No, I'm just kidding. They asked me, and I was a little hesitant at first. I didn't know if I wanted to do it. But I had started watching The Masked Singer when Hayley [Orrantia] from The Goldbergs asked me to be one of her clues, because I had done a guest spot on The Goldbergs. I thought, "Wow, this is crazy." Then I thought, "It'll be kind of interesting to have no one know who I am, and have no preconceived notion about me as a '80s pop guy, or part of Hall & Oates.” That was what really intrigued me about it.

What do you think people's preconceived notions about you are?

When you have as much success as I've had over the years, you can't help but be associated with the era, especially the '80s thing. And of course, the Hall & Oates hits are so ubiquitous. They'll live forever, and so you can't help that association. But I've done seven solo albums. I've been working as a solo artist for almost 20 years. I have a whole life in Nashville with roots music and Americana music that I really love.

What’s been your secret to longevity in the music industry?

Well, not living in Hollywood helps. We lived in Colorado for over 20 years. Then we're moving to Nashville, and we love it here now. It's a great city full of musicians and creative people, and I just feed off the energy. I like to get out into the mountains in Colorado when we go back there. And I like staying fit.

Did that help while performing as Anteater?

It was fun at first. But then it got harder and harder because I had to do choreography, and I couldn't see. I had to count my steps where I was walking so I didn't walk off the stage. I had gigantic boots on and then they put my foot in and tied my foot inside the boot. All I could do was flap my arms. I'd never done anything like it, and I probably never will again.

Did your purposely pick songs people wouldn’t expect to hear from you?

It took me out of my comfort zone, and I like that. I really like being pushed and being stretched, especially musically. I'm very eclectic in terms of my tastes, so I love good music. I love good songs. And that Backstreet Boys song, it's a great song, so it was fun for me to take on a challenge like that.

How does performing solo compare to doing so with a group?

The Hall & Oates group was a big show playing big arenas and stadiums, a huge production with a lot of moving parts. That's why I've stripped it down to do An Evening of Songs and Stories, because it's the exact opposite of that. It's the antidote to that for me, creatively. It's as organic and as authentic and real as possible.

What did you think of the guesses the judges made for you early on? They were circling you with Paul Simon, John Mellencamp, Billy Joel.

I liked who I was being compared to: Mellencamp, Billy Joel, Bryan Adams. I liked being compared to Willie Nelson, although I have no idea why, because he's amazing. No one sounds like Willie Nelson. But that was cool. It was flattering to be compared that way.

Related: 20 of the Wildest Rules You Didn't Know Contestants Have to Follow on 'The Masked Singer'

Did anyone reach out to you suspecting you were on The Masked Singer?

There's someone on the internet who actually took my voice and did a voice analysis who's been outing me. No one else knows, but this guy took it a little too seriously. My wife and my team, PR and socials; and then of course my lawyers, who did the contracts, they knew. My wife and I were very proud of ourselves; we actually were able to keep a secret!

Do you have any guesses for the remaining contestants?

I don't. I was stumped.

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The Masked Singer airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Fox.

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