So you’ve had a couple of years off and went to live in LA…

Yes. I went there to get away really, and to remember who I was. To find myself. Because from the age of 16, I had grown up in Blue. I was a little nipper and the band and the fame were quite hefty things to take on. I realise that now, but back then I just didn’t care. I was just having fun and I said and did some really stupid things.

Did you make your new album while you were there?

Some of the time I was working on it. The album took four years and I’m very proud of it. In my eyes, it’s my first album because it’s the first one I’ve written. It’s a journey. When I listened to it all together, I realised the general theme was wanting to get going again and I think that’s how I was at the time. There was a lot of anticipation and frustration and that’s what I get from the album. A sense of being quite lost.

Was it important to you to write the whole album?

Yes. For me, it was about the opportunity to write. I don’t mind if mine burns down in flames, or if nothing comes of it, as long as I can go: “I owned it and I did it my way.” It was the way I wanted to do it, and if people don’t feel it, at least you’ve listened to it and I’ve told you what I’m thinking. The new single, Secret Love, is different from what people will have heard from you before! I know! And in the video I’m dancing. It’s not my strongest point. I’m not Justin Timberlake! I’m happy with the song. I don’t think it’s the best song on the album by a long shot. I don’t think it was what people were expecting. I’m keeping people on their toes and that’s what I want. I don’t want people to think: “Oh, I thought he’d do that, because it’s boring.” The album has some amazing ballads on it where I’m really using my voice. I don’t think Secret Love shows off my voice as well. I’m hitting some high notes, but there are more powerful songs on the album.

Are you happy to be back, doing interviews and talking to people?

Yes I am. And the best thing is I love talking to the fans. I’m trying to get my Twitter account up to reach more people. Every day I’m getting more people saying: “Hi, I like your single.” I’m getting comments from everywhere, from Italy and America which is really cool. You’ve also done some acting! Yes, I did a film called The Heavy and I did the Italian voice-over for Eddie in Ice Age 2 and 3. I was a little possum. I didn’t understand what I was saying. I didn’t actually learn Italian, I was given all the sounds and I strung them together to make sentences in Italian. It was good fun, I’d definitely like to do more of it. It’s very busy in Lee Ryan world.

You’re also talking about a Blue reunion!

Yes, we’ve been talking about it and now we have some meetings coming up, so we’re going to sit down and discuss it. I’m definitely looking forward to it. I love those boys. I can’t wait for us to come out with a new album. We’ve got a new song which is amazing – it’s a smash.

What do you think about boy bands that are around now?

I love JLS and they’re the kind of band out there at the moment, they are younger than us, but we have a lot more depth. I think that’s what’s really cool about Blue, we can kind of take it there and sound all old school with our tunes and put our harmonies together and each one of us adds to that flavour.

When Blue started you were quite young, what advice would you give to kids who want to be in a band or be a pop star?

I think it’s brilliant for kids these days. You can reach so many people through Facebook and Twitter and different websites. I think that if you’re in a band, or you’re a solo artist and you’re trying to make it big, it’s far more accessible to build yourself from grassroots level. It is far more accessible than it ever was when I was starting out. You needed record labels back then, bands really relied upon them – now you can do all the work before they sign you. Kids aren’t really watching TV any more, it’s more about the internet!

Lee’s new single, Secret Love, is out 9 May.