Known for being crowned the winner of X Factor 2010 and gleaning the votes of millions for his self-penned songs almost every single week during the live shows, charismatic crooner Matt Cardle has been off the radar for a while but is now embarking on his sixth tour.

The 33-year-old from West London, who has an incredible vocal range, will be kick-starting his tour at Shoreditch Town Hall next week. Jyoti Rambhai caught up with him to find out more.

Can you tell me more about your latest tour – Intimate & Live?

It’s going to be my sixth tour now. I haven’t actually done one for a couple of years, since 2014, so I am quite excited about getting back out there and playing live again. It’s been a while. It’s going to be a real mixture this time… we have three albums to choose from and obviously there will be a lot of material in there from the upcoming fourth album. It’s very, very different from anything I have done before, sound-wise, so I’m looking forward to seeing the fans' reaction.

There will be some covers in there. Lots of new music, lots of old music. I prefer to do my own material but it’s nice to mix it up a bit.

What have you been up to lately?

Just writing the album. It’s taken a lot longer this time than I have done previously to write, finish and produce. So it’s just been a really busy time.

How has winning the X Factor changed your life?

I'd always been a singer and a songwriter, the show gave me platform to go and have a career in the music industry. I have my fourth album coming out now and it’s has been an amazing journey.

Do you still keep in touch with the judges on X Factor?

Me and Dani, we still keep in touch and she’s very supportive. She’s an absolute angel.

Were there any aspects of fame that you found difficult to cope with after winning?

Yes it’s invasive, it’s intrusive, you’re in the public eye and your life isn’t quite your own, so it seems. It’s not for everyone, not everyone can deal with it well. I have had trouble in the past with it… a lot of people have.

Have you been able to take control of your music and do it the way you want to?

Yes. That’s exactly the goal I went in with… as soon I can, I wanted to retain and maintain control of my music.

What lessons have you learnt along the way?

All sorts… it has been six years since I won the show. Six years is a lot of life to live and definitely learnt. I have learnt a lot about myself and the music industry.

There’s been so much – headlining tours, the gigs, travelling around the world. I was over in Bali playing a gig at the Miss World finals, a year and half ago. It’s been great.

Tell me more about your writing process?

It all comes from experience about my life, my situations and so the albums are very personal and this one even more so. I had more time to begin and think about what the album is about and really try to translate my experiences and feelings into songs.

It’s in many ways really, when it comes to starting to write. Sometimes it is something that you want to write about specifically or an event you want to write about and other times it is just throwing out a vibe and starting to sing and write and see what comes out.

Do you have a favourite song you have written from your latest album?

I haven’t quite finished writing it yet so I don’t know.

Do you have a favourite track from your albums?

There’s a track called Lately on my second album and I really enjoy playing that live. It will quite possibly be one of the songs that I perform on tour.

You recently had your West End debut in Memphis. Can you tell me about your role in that?

It was the first time I had ever been on stage in the West End. It was the first time I had acted. It was the first time for all of that and it was really exciting. I was also working alongside Beverley Knight, she's absolutely incredible and I was very lucky to get to work with her.

What was it like being on stage – did you find acting came naturally or was it a challenge?

There were challenges along the way – I didn’t feel completely out of my depth. I didn’t realise it was something I could do or wanted to do. It turns out it was absolutely amazing.

What was the process behind you getting the lead role as Huey Calhoun in Memphis The Musical?

Lots of rehearsing basically, sending tapes off to the American producers to see if this is what they wanted and it was a really long process. It was amazing. It was on my bucket list of things to do I guess.

Before the X Factor you used to be a painter and decorator – do you still like to do a bit of DIY?

Yes I did a bit of painting and decorating. But not really so much anymore, I was always really singer/songwriter rather than a painter and decorator. That was something they had to say on the X Factor as they weren’t allowed to say Matt Cardle, singer/songwriter.

It was really something that kept me going, gave me a bit of income while I pursued my music career.

Can you tell me more about yourself – where did you grow up?

I grew up near Colchester, Essex, in the countryside. I grew up skateboarding, playing in a band and always writing music. We used to go on the road a lot – with the band that is… it was great. And that’s kind of where I went from, I never really studied music.

As a kid, who inspired you to become a musician?

People like Michael Jackson, Eddie Vedder, Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush – lots of incredible artists.

My parents used to play a lot of stuff too – Sting, Elton John, the Beatles etc. I think somewhere down the line that influenced me… it has to in some ways I guess. They were always amazingly supportive.

My music teachers were quite influential – they were pretty influential people to be around and made me want to go on and have a music career.

Do you come from a musical family?

Not really. My dad used to sing in the choir apart from that it was just me.

I live in West London, I moved here after the show and have been living in London for the past five years now.

How often do you see your family – on the show you seemed pretty close?

As often as I can really. I try and get as much as I can.

What are you looking forward to do the most about this tour?

I haven’t been on the road for two years, so it will be great to get back out there… I have been missing it a bit. On the last tour, Mel C came along on a few of the dates and it was great, so I just want to get back out there.

The best part about being on tour is the energy you get from the crowd. The energy on stage, from my band…. It’s all just amazing.

What do you have in the pipeline after the tour?

I have my new album coming out, which doesn’t have a name yet, and I have some acting opportunities that have come up through being in Memphis. I don’t know if it will be in the West End though.

Shoreditch Town Hall, Old Street, EC1V 9LT, June 7, 8pm. Details: 020 7739 6176, shoreditchtownhall.com