‘‘The audience reaction is always exhilarating when they hear those first few chords of that guitar.

‘‘And it draws you in and it’s a beautiful song. I understand why people like it and I can say that because I didn’t write it.’’

He followed his 2000 debut album Ronan with Destination in 2002, Turn It On in 2003, compilation album 10 Years Of Hits in 2004, Bring You Home in 2006, Songs For My Mother in 2009, Stay in 2009 and Duet in 2010.

But he’s always maintained a strong association with his former group.

Boyzone reunited for BBC annual fund-raiser Children in Need in 2007 and toured in 2008 before releasing two new songs. In 2009, the band took their Better tour throughout Ireland, UK and Germany.

Keating said the friends would always be a part of each other’s lives.

‘‘They’re my brothers, I grew up with them, our time together has been magic,’’ he said.

‘‘We’ve had tough times but I feel when I’m with them we just slip back into that world again and it’s magic, it’s magic for us and it’s great to be part of that brotherhood almost.’’

Keating said the unexpected death of group member Stephen Gately in October 2009 remained hard to accept.

The group had been planning to release its fourth studio album in mid 2010, but brought the date forward to March and called the album Brother in honour of Gately.

Boyzone released two songs from the album as singles and took their Brother tour through the UK and Ireland during 2011.

‘‘For me the last tour was strange, I can’t say I enjoyed it,’’ Keating admitted.

‘‘It was tough, it was really tough.

‘‘I still miss him a lot.

‘‘Next year is 20 years of Boyzone so we’ll definitely do something together, an anniversary project, but it’s tough to do anything without him, it’ll never be the same again, so we either create something totally different and new or we say that’s that and we move on.’’

Keating said the group was considering a world tour that would include Australia.

He has fond memories of his time in Boyzone, saying one of his career highlights was the group performing No Matter What with Pavarotti.

‘‘That was just magnificent, I’ll never forget that moment,’’ he said.

He’s also performed as a soloist with Elton John at Madison Square Garden and recorded with LeAnn Rimes, Lulu and Yusuf Islam.

His most recent album, the 2011 release When Ronan Met Burt, came about after legendary composer Burt Bacharach asked Universal if one of their younger artists would reinterpret his songs for an album.

Universal suggested Keating, Bacharach listened to and liked the Irishman’s work and called to ask if he would do it.

‘‘To work with a legend like Burt has just been a dream,’’ he said.

‘‘We’re all fans of Burt even if we don’t know it, his stuff is on the radio still today.

‘‘Over the last 50 years he’s been the most successful songwriter in the world.’’

Bacharach composed and produced the album, which was recorded at Capitol Studios with just 90 minutes allowed for each song.

After recording Keating returned to his duties as a judge on The X-Factor.

He has simple advice for anyone seeking to become a singer.

‘‘For me it’s don’t believe the hype, keep your feet on the ground, work very, very hard, be respectful to people.’’

It also applies to his son Jack, 12, a guitar-playing singer and songwriter, and his daughter Marie, 10, who has just secured a lead role in a film.

‘‘It’s scary, but we’re good parents, I believe, and we look after our kids and we’re there for them, so I think we’re going to be all right.’’

Keating’s focus this year will be preparing to release his ninth studio album, the first in five years of original songs instead of covers.

‘‘It’s been a nervous adventure but also I’ve loved it, I kind of had writer’s block over the last five years and haven’t been able to make a new studio album,’’ he said.

‘‘I feel great now about it, I’m back with Gregg Alexander who did Life Is A Rollercoaster.

‘‘It has that feel and it’s also a pop album, but then every little now and then there’s a little bit more of a traditional folky kind of feel to some of the songs.

‘‘But I’m very excited, this is exactly where I need to be and it’s the right sound, I hope.’’

Keating will also appear in his first major acting role in Goddess, a musical feature film also starring Magda Szubanski and set for release in May.

He has been pursuing an acting career for some time and even auditioned for roles in Moulin Rouge and King Arthur.

‘‘I guess I just wasn’t good enough, but also people were afraid to take the risk,’’ he said.

‘‘It’s a scary thing for a production company, for a movie to take someone like me on, they’re going to get a certain amount of grief.

‘‘So it’s always hard, but I believe that I’m ready now to do it and I feel like I did a good job in Goddess and I hope people like it.’’

Often photographed lapping up the sunshine with his young family on his frequent trips to Australia, Keating said relocation was a possibility.

‘‘I would definitely move out here,’’ he said.

‘‘I love Australia and New Zealand, I love this part of the world – the people, they make me feel at home.’’