Born in Dublin, Ronan Keating found fame in the hugely popular boy-band Boyzone.

The group was formed and managed by Louis Walsh, who was seeking to make an ‘Irish Take That.’

The group sold more than 25 million records between 1993 and 2000, when they disbanded.

Keating embarked on a solo career thereafter, and his tenth studio album Time of My Life was released this year.

He married Australian TV producer Storm Uechtritz in 2015, and currently splits his time between London and Australia, where he is a coach on TV programme The Voice.

He speaks to EDWIN GILSON about recording with his wife, being comfortable in his own skin and the whirlwind early years of Boyzone.

Thinking back to your previous gigs in Brighton, both with Boyzone and solo, do you have good memories?

Ah man, the last time I played there was brilliant. It’s a great place for me. The venue is actually one of the smaller venues on the tour – when you’re doing an arena tour, places like that (Brighton Centre) are actually quite intimate. There is always a cool bunch of people there.

I live in Bondi when I’m in Sydney, and Brighton has that same draw to me. Brighton is the kind of place that when I slow-down a bit, work-wise, I can imagine myself moving there.

There’s certainly a trend for that. Speaking of gig venues, I was going to ask if you ever miss playing the truly intimate places – but I suppose you never really played those in the first place given Boyzone’s fame?

Well, especially with this album I’ve been trying to make it more intimate. It’s largely acoustic. I have done some shows in smaller venues, which I enjoyed, and at the larger venues I’m trying to create a section of the show that becomes more intimate.

Even though you’re in a bigger room, it feels like you are in a smaller room. I love that. You can see the whites of people’s eyes. The adrenaline buzz and energy that creates is phenomenal. I crave that.

You’ve said this album is a coming-of-age record. Does the lyrical content span back through your life, or is it more about the present moment?

It’s present moment. We all think we know who we are at 16, or 26, but it takes many years to realise who you are. It has certainly taken me a long time, but I feel comfortable in my own skin now. This album has definitely been influenced by that.

How do you truly know when you are comfortable in your own skin?

I suppose I’ve been here for 39 years, and I know what I’ve done and where I’ve been. It’s just about paying attention to yourself, I guess. I know that sounds a bit...well, I might be completely different in 10 years, but right now I feel that this is the best version of me that I’ve ever known.

You said you made the album just for yourself and nobody else; who do you mean by the ‘else’? Expectant record labels?

I came from a manufactured pop world and in that situation you’re always aware that you are on a conveyor belt. For me, it was about stepping out of that and taking the reins. Labels have lots of bands, but I’ve only got one version of me, and I’ve got to be the best I can be. I only get one chance at this.

Your wife performed guest vocals on the album – was it strange at all to share a studio with her?

It was really great. She was nervous, but excited. She’s an incredible singer, so to get her to sing on this album and share that moment is very special. We have that for life. Storm’s done lots of singing back in Australia, including at a big sports event. What was it? (Shouts off the phone) ‘Baby what did you sing at?’ NRL. A rugby league final, in front of 60,000 people. She had a confidence in her voice but she hasn’t done anything commercial like this album before.

Storm being on the album was an organic thing, it wasn’t planned. I just wanted to make that clear. She was in the kitchen with me, writing the songs. It just kind of transpired like that.

Your children are at school in Dublin – do you get to see and spend time with them often?

Yeah, constantly. We’re always on the road. We were in Australia for the last few weeks and they were with us all the time. It’s very important to me that I see them every second week – it’s a priority that Storm and I make happen. That’s everything, you know?

Would you encourage them to go into music?

Oh yeah, definitely. It’s a wonderful career to have. The problem with society is that kids want to be famous rather than good at something, so I urge them to go and have a craft and a passion rather than just want the fame.

You said recently that you felt you missed out on some of the fun with Boyzone because you took on too much responsibility. Did being ‘an old head on young shoulders’ really diminish the enjoyment of this whirlwind time?

Six years went by in a heartbeat, too fast. I wish I had enjoyed them more, but I was so busy trying to be the best popstar. I never really got to enjoy it. I’m very grateful for what I’ve had and seen, though, for sure.

Next year is the 25th anniversary of Boyzone’s formation – do you plan to mark it in any way?

I hope we do something, for sure. I think it will a tour – everyone is so busy that I’m not sure we’d have the time for an album’s recording and promotion.

Stephen Gately (former Boyzone member who died in 2009) must be in your hearts and minds a lot, especially when the band gets back together as you did in 2007 and 2013?

All the time. I often talk and think of Ste and how his life would be now if he was still with us. He’s missed by all of us, all the time.

  • Ronan Keating will perform at the Brighton Centre, Kings Road on Sunday, October 2 6.30pm. Tickets from £39. Call 0844 847 1515.