Texas' Sharleen Spiteri speaks ahead of Birmingham show

And it’s worked. Her band, Texas, has sold a cool 40 million records and scored the soundtrack to the lives of a generation of fans. For a while, it seemed they’d lost their mojo. There were no new records between 2005 and 2013, while Sharleen pursued her solo career. But they returned triumphantly in 2013 with The Conversation and earlier this year showed found new creative impetus with the release of their ninth studio album, Jump On Board.

The enthusiastic reaction to it has delighted the Texas singer. “It’s unbelievable. It’s f***ing great. It’s getting a brilliant reaction and I feel very happy. You know that thing where you’re just, ‘yeah’.”

Jump On Board is an assuredly positive record. Texas was looking to create something to which fans could wave their hands in the air. And they found it. They started working on it not long after The Conversation and continued when they touring with Texas 25, to make their 25th anniversary.

Sharleen wasn’t sure whether they should mark their silver anniversary or not. They’re a contemporary band, rather than one that deals in nostalgia, and she wasn’t sure whether it would be right. But she’s glad she took the plunge.

“I loved it. We did kind of toy whether or not to do it. Then we thought, you know what, it would be mad not to mark getting to that 25th anniversary because not many bands do. It was a great tour to go on, lots of fun.

“You get to a certain point in your life when you’re accepting who you are and what you do. You go through your youth imagining that you’re a rebel. When you’re older, you don’t give a flying f*** about anything. But then you get to that point. There’s a lot of freedom that comes with that. And a lot of freedom with selling so many records. A lot of people might not be wanting to talk about it, but it’s given us all a very nice life. I’m really thankful of that. I continue to work my b****cks off to make the best records I can. So when people look back, they can see we made some great records.

“I think as musicians, you’re a bit like peacocks, you always want to up the ante when you’re among each other and show off a bit. That’s part of being creative.”

The band’s new album was launched with Let’s Work It Out, a single featuring the former France and Arsenal footballer Thierry Henry. Sharleen had gotten into a conversation with Thierry in his kitchen, as you do, and suggested he feature. The pundit was into the idea and agreed to do it. “He was asking about the song. Then came the moment ‘do you want to be in the video’. He liked it so much that it just seemed natural. He could have said no.”

Texas are back on the road and will headline Birmingham’s Symphony Hall on Sunday. They’ve been playing gigs throughout September, including a triumphant show at London’s Royal Albert Hall, and are looking forward to their Birmingham return. The set will feature a smattering of tracks from the new album – as well as plenty of hits.

“I’d much rather have the problem of what to play than what not to play. But it’s a lovely feeling, honestly, we can change it up a wee bit. It’s always lovely to do the big hits, but it’s also really good that we have new songs that we can throw in as well. Some of the fans come to a few of the different shows. It’s nice to show different songs in as well. Sometimes people shout something out and we do it and you really try to remember it. The fans take over.”

Sharleen has been a singular talent through her years in Texas. Carving a unique niche, she’s been a style icon as well as a proud rock’n’roller. Unashamedly fashion-conscious, she’s proud to have been a setter of trends, rather than a follower of fashion.

“From the beginning of rock’n’roll it was always about the look, the fashion, everything went hand in hand. It all went together. Everything visually, how it affected you, how the songs became your songs, that was part of it.

“I grew up with stuff on the radio and the records that my parents were playing. Mum was listening to Nancy Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald and Mahalia Jackson and dad was listening to The Beatles. I had that vast amount of music. My youth was The Pretenders and The Bunnymen and The Clash and so on. I’ve never been snobbish about music, I don’t think anyone has a right to be. If something touches you, if that’s what you like.”

Outspoken and opinionated, Sharleen recently generated headlines after talking out about X Factor. She was painted as being elitist – but such criticisms of her missed the point.

“There’s a lot of people bang on about X Factor, but nobody writes it the way I said it. I don’t have a problem with the X Factor and the kids. There’s some crap on there but there’s some good stuff on there. It is a way into the music industry these days. If that’s your way in, then f-ing good for you. The problem for me is the carnage that is left behind and caused by ‘you’ve not made a record you, you’ve done f*** all, now we’re putting you on prime time TV’. We’re sending you to world premieres. Y’know, the kids aren’t ready for it. Then when it’s all over, it’s ‘see you, now f*** off’. That’s my problem with the programmes.”

Sharleen herself has never encountered such problems. And she’s no soft touch when it comes to parenthood. Her 14-year-old daughter, a vinyl junkie music fan, is on the sharp end of it if she steps out of line.

“At the end of the day, I just want to be a mom. I want to guide her. I’m not there to be her mate, I’m there to bust her balls. She can stay out late if she’s not at school. I look at my daughter and she’s really proud of me. In the same breath, she’s telling me off for dancing and she vetoes it.”

And then she laughs at the absurdity of it all. Birmingham is calling.

It’s time to Jump On Board.