A Boy's Own Story

Just days before the release of the first single from his debut solo album Stephen chats about nail-biting nerves, life with Eloy and the truth about his friendship with fellow Boyzone singer Mikey ?

worldpop: Pardon the clich�, but does the release of New Beginning feel like a new beginning for you?

Stephen: Yeah, it does for various reasons. I've been with Boyzone for seven years, the story about me coming out was published last year and it's now the start of my new career as a solo artist. Plus of course it's a new beginning for the millennium.

worldpop: Are you more nervous about releasing a solo single than a Boyzone single?

Stephen: I'm usually nervous when we release a Boyzone single, so I'm completely nervous with this. I've said to everyone, 'Don't ring me, I'll have no nails left by the time you call. Don't tell me the midweeks, don't tell me anything, just give me the chart position on Sunday.'

worldpop: And if it's a good chart position?

Stephen: I'll go out and get drunk for a week and have a ball. But if it's not, I'll know I've worked my hardest.

worldpop: Tell us about your debut album.

Stephen: The album's also called New Beginning and it's released three weeks after the single, which I'm glad about because I won't have to wait too long. It's not what's expected of me either.

worldpop: What do you think people are expecting?

Stephen: An album of ballads and covers. There are no cover versions on the album although there are a few mid-tempo ballads plus some up tempo tracks and a little bit of R &B. I love pop music, I love anything in the charts but I wanted to do something that was in your face.

ASK AN INTERVIEW QUESTION. . .

Julie of Swansea:

Are there any duets on your album?

Stephen: No, no duets. To start with I did ask Emma Bunton to do one with me but she was too busy. So it's all me. I'm selfish, hahaha!

worldpop: It must be so rewarding to release something that's purely yours?

Stephen: It is. I loved singing with Boyzone but Ronan would sing low and I would sing high, so this album kind of gives me the chance to show off my vocals.

worldpop: You've obviously been incredibly busy, have you had enough time to see Eloy?

Stephen: Yes. He's been heading into meetings and recording his own album, but he's been very good flying all over the place with me. We're splitting our time between Ireland and Amsterdam and the amount of planes we've been on is ridiculous!

worldpop: Are you still getting a good reaction from everyone about coming out?

Stephen: Yeah, I couldn't ask for a better reaction and I'm a completely changed person now. I'm really chilled and I can chat about anything cos I'm not waiting for 'that' question about my love life to pop up any more. It's a big stress relief actually.

worldpop: Was it a difficult thing for you to do?

Stephen: Yes. It's hard enough coming out to your family, but it was so difficult for me to come out to the world. The story was even in the New York Post and I didn't know which way it was going to go. Luckily everyone was very supportive. I received thousands of letters including some from kids who were gay themselves and were thinking of committing suicide until I gave them so much hope.

worldpop: What's next for you on the work front?

Stephen: I'll be promoting the album, going to Europe, going to Asia, and hopefully if everything goes well I'd love to do a tour. Please God!

worldpop: How will you fit in the next Boyzone tour Ronan talked about?

Stephen: We've all got to sit down soon and have a chat about it and work out the dates. I hope we can do it. It would be great! Why throw away something that's been successful for the past seven years?

worldpop: What's the story with you and Mikey releasing your solo singles on the same day?

Stephen: I was given my release date ages ago and the first time I heard about the date for Mikey's single was when I read it in the paper. I wouldn't hold a grudge against him and we've had chats on the phone about it. Anyway, we're going for a different audience. I want to get to everybody, but Mikey's single is soft rock. It's a beautiful song that he wrote for his daughter and I wish him the best of luck. We're not in competition and we're not doing a Geri and Emma. I'm just doing my own thing.

worldpop: So you're happier than ever now?

Stephen: Definitely. I've got a great life and I'm enjoying it. People are lovely to me and the support has been fantastic. Eloy is fantastic, our two doggies are lovely, and we've just got a new doggy called Woody who is a Cocker Spaniel. It's been a lot of work and a difficult year, but I'm really happy.