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How long have you been working on this album?
"From start to finish, pretty much a year. It's been five days a week in the studio all that time, to be honest."
When you began working on it, what sort of album did you set out to make?
"I just wanted to be as honest as possible, I suppose. I didn't want to set myself any limitations in terms of what sort of music I could make, and I just tried to go with the flow. The album's eclectic as a whole - it does go off on tangents a bit - but hopefully it's got a strong identity. It was recorded pretty much as live at Kensal Town studios, which gives it that identity, I think."
What were your influences while making the album?
"Absolutely everything. I have really diverse tastes, which can be problematic sometimes, but it's good because it means I'm always listening to as much music as possible. I love listening to music, whatever genre it is."
Do you think people will be surprised when they hear it?
"Who knows? I didn't go for any shock tactics. I just tried to make an album I'm proud of, and I've done that. If people like it, that's wicked."
Do huge record sales matter to you?
"I think that's sort of answered by the way I made the album. If I'd just been interested in record sales, I would have taken one of the deals I was offered after Soapstar Superstar, made a quick covers album and probably had some success for five minutes. I decided that wasn't for me because I've always wanted to be involved in music and that would have been selling out. I've taken the route that's a lot more hard work. The results aren't as quick, but hopefully in the long term it will give me a shot at longevity in the music business."
You get a bit emotional on 'Coming Down', the single. What's it about exactly?
"Predominantly it's about a breakup, or an argument within a relationship."
What do you mean by 'coming down like chocolate stars in the sun'?
"It's just imagery, isn't it? It's one of those lyrics that just comes in your head and you can't get it out. That's exactly what happened to be when I was writing the song, so I thought, 'Well, if I can't get it out my head, it's obviously meant to be there'. It's basically an image of the all the stars melting, you know."
You've covered Semisonic's 'Secret Smile' for the album. What made you want to record that song?
"I just thought it was a really interesting choice of cover, and the way we've done it is totally different to the original. There were a few songs in the pot that I was thinking of doing, but this was the one that stood out. It was recorded as live, except for the orchestra movement over the top, which obviously went on after."
When the song first came out, there was a bit of controversy about what a 'secret smile' might be. What do you think it is?
"I think you'd have to ask the writer, but it's kind of open to your own interpretation, I think."
What do you think about when you're singing it?
"I'm just enjoying singing the song - I'm not reading too much into it!"
Nice swerve! Moving swiftly on... where would you like to be in five years' time?
"To be honest, if I'm having half as much fun as I am now, and I'm still making music, I'll be absolutely over the moon. If number ones and the rest come, that'll be amazing, but I'm one of the people who's lucky enough to be doing what they always wanted to do. I can't ask for much more than that really."
Do you have any plans to return to acting?
"Not immediately. At the moment I'm focusing on music, but I've got quite a long time ahead of me, so I'd be stupid to start burning any bridges now. I'm not going to start saying 'I will never do this', you know."
Would you ever return to Coronation Street?
"Yeah, again, I've only got fond memories of my time there, so who knows? I'd never see it as a step back. People tend to ask 'Would you ever go back?' as if it's some kind of failing, but I don't see being involved in one of the most successful shows of all time as a failing."
Neon is out now on CD and download.
