"I haven’t really noticed the music scene, to be honest. I’m aware of all the people like Little Boots and La Roux, and while it’s interesting what these bands are doing now with electro, it’s somewhere I’ve already been.

"It’s funny because I can hear how the Eighties has influenced some of the new artists and probably some of them weren’t even born then! I don’t need to revisit it – I’ve already got the T-shirt, the mug and the triple album!"

Instead of electro beats, Almond spends his time listening to the subtle sounds of Fleet Foxes and Bat For Lashes, but he does admit: "I like experimental music, too, perhaps I’ll put my voice to an underground electro record just to keep a foot in that direction."

Almond is pleased to leave today’s charts to the new batch of pop stars and continue on his own route, away from pop music.

"I don’t envy bands coming along now – it’s a lot harder. Bands come along and have a very short shelf life. They have one great amazing album and burn very brightly for a short amount of time, and then they disappear and their place has been taken by the newer version of them.

"I’m glad I came out of pop music when I did, because it has enabled me as an artist to have a longer career. When I set out, if you had a couple of flop singles or your album didn’t do so well, you were still encouraged by your record company to do another one.

"Now you also have to compete with all the reality shows, which at times can end up taking over half the charts. I’m glad I left all of that behind. It’s not part of my life any more," Almond states.

But, if you’re thinking of going to one of Almond’s gigs and fear it will be filled solely with new material, there’s no need to worry.

"I always want to please the audience at live shows. So I’ll do a couple of obscure ones which I like and, of course, the classics for the audience. It’s like the wedding thing – I’ll do something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue." Considering the hard slog Almond has had in both music and life, many might wonder why he hasn’t decided to retire.

"Sometimes I relish a battle because it’s something to beat. I always look at life as a series of battles that you have to fight and try to come out on top of. It’s important for me to be positive about life!

"I’ve really enjoyed the way my career has gone – the ups and downs have all been a part of it."

MARC ALMOND starts his UK tour at the end of October. For further information, visit www.marcalmond.co.uk