Shane Filan's recent trip to China was different from previous visits.

It was the first solo trip to China for the Irish singer-songwriter, who was one of the lead singers in the Irish band Westlife.

"It's a lot quieter, as there are less people. It's just myself and my tour manager traveling," he says after arriving in Beijing to promote his debut solo album You and Me and launch his eponymous China tour in September.

Fans were lining up outside a Beijing shopping mall, despite a storm, as he arrived.

When Filan noticed that they were singing new songs from his debut album, he joined them and made the space a small live-house venue.

"It's very different on my own, as it's just me onstage and I decide what happens. It's not as structured. So I can just do what I like and have fun with the crowd," he says.

He will perform in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu, among other cities, playing not only his solo hits from the album but also old Westlife hits.

The solo comeback and transition were not that difficult for Filan.

"I have never wanted to give up singing and performing," he says.

Filan wrote every song for the album, which was a new experience. One of the songs, Everything to Me, Filan's first single, is lyrically personal to him. He dedicates the tune to his family, especially his wife Gillian, his childhood sweetheart.

The inspiration came from his wife and kids, which is a little different from Westlife songs.

"I was under no pressure to write the songs. And I found it very easy, and I enjoyed it very much. The songs are up-tempo folk, pop and ballads. The change was not intentional since this is just the type of music I listen to," Filan says.

The 35-year-old, who was a big fan of Michael Jackson since childhood, spent 15 years in Westlife. After Westlife held a farewell tour in the summer of 2012, he continued his music career by releasing his album in November 2013.

He also performed on the finale of X-Factor in the United Kingdom in 2013 since his manager, Louis Walsh, was a judge on the show.

"It was very inspiring to see contestants in the show as they were right at the start of their careers. I shared a similar feeling," he says.

He toured the UK and made two promotional trips to Asia, which were full of surprises.

"I didn't know what to expect because it felt like all the things, from MV shooting to hitting the road, were the first time for me, which was exciting," he says.

"People are still asking about a Westlife reunion, but there is no plan. We haven't seen each other for a while. But Westlife ended on a high, and we are all still friends."

IF YOU GO

Beijing Workers' Gymnasium

Gongti Beilu (North Road), Chaoyang district, Beijing.

7:30 pm, Sept 23.

400-610-3721.

chennan@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 07/06/2014 page9)