After three years and dozens of songs, Shayne Ward is back with his new album, 'Obsession'. Harry Guerin meets a man who calls fame "the job" and takes it all in his stride.
I always knew that I was going to come back.
It just took a lot longer than I expected. The thing was we never put a time limit on it - there wasn't a deadline. That took a lot of the pressure off. It was just a case of finding the right material. I think the hardest thing was being away from the fans for so long, because you wonder, 'This could lose my fan base'. I think that was the only worry I had. I knew I was going to work with great producers and find the songs, but it just took a lot longer than expected.
I literally can't count how many songs I did for this album.
Probably 80, maybe more. Of course I was in the label and with management saying, 'I want to get this single out'. When you walk out of the studio you think, 'That's a great song. I want to get it out now'. That's how you feel, but you have to make sure you make the bulk of the album before you actually release anything. I've got a lot of songs in the back catalogue now that I've written and I can use them in the future, whether it's for myself or somebody else. That's the exciting new road I want to start taking.
I wrote a song on the album called 'Waiting in the Wings'.
It's the next step for me, because the fans are hearing something that I've created. That's quite exciting. They want to see my transition from singing on 'The X Factor' to an artist, and that's what's happening.
I see things so much differently now because I know the music industry.
I've grown up in the industry. I've seen how the music industry has actually changed during that recording process over two-and-a-half years. When people say, 'What was it like when you first started?' Half of it was a blur and the other half was just amazing. Between recording the new album and time off with the family I've been able to put anything I learned into practice coming back now.
I think I'm more confident because I'm actually being myself now.
I want people to know my personality. Every interview I go to it's like, 'Let's have a conversation'. That's how I prefer it.
I want to do an 'MTV Unplugged'-style tour around Ireland and the UK.
Just to remind people, 'You know what? Remember me? I can sing'. I am one of the true singers and, personality-wise, I want to let them know my personality because they don't really know me, to be honest. That's important to me.
I don't dodge any questions about 'The X Factor'.
You have to be honest about it: it's a show that I came from and now I'm the public with that show.
If I had the time, I would love to be a judge on the show.
I know that I have the right to judge someone going on a talent show when I've come from one. That's why it works so well for Cheryl [Cole, 'X Factor' judge]. People could say, 'Hang on a minute, how could she judge?' But actually, she has enough right to be there because she's come from one herself. I'd love to be on it.
The pressure on the contestants now is unbelievable.
It's a different kind of pressure because of how big the show has become. The press are so into it and I think there are a lot of young kids - younger contestants - as well. The staging, the entertainment value, the voice, the choreography, the pyrotechnics, the lights, the video... they've got a lot more to contend with.
I'm better at handling the press now.
Having stories in the papers, you get a little bit worried. But because I'm from such a strongly-knit family, all we care about is each other. They've had five years of dealing with the papers as well. At times I felt sorry for that because if it wasn't for me being in the limelight, you wouldn't have your past in them. I was apologising to my family and they were like, 'Don't be silly Shayne. We're very proud of you. Everyone's past is going to be written about'. I've taught them very well. If somebody comes up and heckles me or whatever, they walk away. All they think about is, 'That's my brother, that's my son, that's my uncle. We want the best for him and we're not going to jeopardise that'. And I appreciate that; it's really nice.
I'm still learning my craft.
I think this album is the closest thing to me as an artist. I'm willing to take risks. People are going to like it and people are not going to like it, but that's what the music industry is. Not everyone's going to like what you do, but as long as I like what I do and I make the people around me happy.
'Obsession' is out now on Syco.
