T

he end of a successful music career can be gut-wrenching for any artist. But for ex-boybander Shane Filan, it meant starting over.

When Westlife split in 2012 after 14 years as Ireland'€™s hottest commodity (the group sold more than 50 million units and had an astonishing 14 number one singles), the 34-year-old admits he was left adrift.

Filan did nothing for the first six months he was out of a job. The singer also had to face the humiliation of his financial problems splashed across the news (he filed for bankruptcy after investments in Ireland real estate went south).

Luckily, Filan was husband to a devoted wife, Gillian, and father to three healthy children. With help from his family, Filan found the courage to pick himself up and went back to what he does best: music.

His debut single, '€œEverything to Me'€, is one of the four tracks available on his new EP (extended play) of the same title. The crooner stopped by Jakarta during his Asia tour in October to promote the release of his EP and upcoming album.

After a short press conference at Hard Rock Cafe, we sat down with Filan to talk about life on the road, his musical inspirations and his former bandmates.

Question: How does it feel to be on the road on your own?

Answer: It'€™s very, very weird [laughs]. Of course I do miss the boys, they'€™re my friends; we had a lot of fun going out and drinking while on the road together. It'€™s the little things that take a lot of getting used to, like going on stage and finding just one microphone stand, realizing there'€™s nobody there but me. But I have a new team and family I take on the road now. I love to sing and make people smile with my music, so being on my own is just something I have to get used to.

What artists have been your musical inspirations for this solo album?

'€œLooking at music in general, I think other solo artists have inspired me to not be like them. I didn'€™t want to be the next Michael Buble, Justin Timberlake, Bruno Mars, or any of those other successful male soloists I just wanted to be different, that made me focus on what music I love and what kind of music isn'€™t out there yet. I don'€™t know a lot of male singers doing pop country, but there are plenty of female singers doing it. Growing up, I loved Shania Twain and the way she did country in a pop kind of way, so I want to try and be like, maybe a male version of Shania. But I don'€™t know, I have to find myself first and see where this goes.

Have you been in touch with any Westlife members since working on your solo album?

We'€™re still very close even though we don'€™t see each other that much because we'€™re all doing different projects, trying to find our own paths. I just had a chat with Mark [Feehily] the other day and he said he loves the sound of my solo stuff. He particularly liked '€œEverything to Me'€ and '€œOnce'€. But the boys haven'€™t heard the full album yet. Of course I'€™m going to give them all a copy because I really want to hear their feedback.

So you guys are all on good terms?

It all ended very friendly. They all support me and have helped tweet about my new album, and I do the same for them. We have a lot of respect for each other. I think that'€™s probably why we lasted so long, because we genuinely like each other. Deep down none of us really wanted the band to end but it had to happen, it was just time. The boys and I have talked about it and, looking back, we all agree it was 100 percent the right decision. It was best to leave while we were still on top.'€

This is your sixth visit to Indonesia. Which visit has been the most memorable for you?

Probably the first time Westlife came here. Coming to a country so far away and getting the reception we got was unbelievable; we didn'€™t know we were so popular here.

It was also one of the first countries we visited, so to have thousands of people out to our showcase was incredible. It made us feel like huge popstars, especially since the band had only been together for six months then.

This trip is also a special one because it'€™s my first solo trip. I was surprised to see lots of fans waiting at the airport when I arrived. It was great to get a nice welcome back because you hope people don'€™t forget about you. So far it'€™s been really good.