Prepare to have your ears kissed, your heart stirred and your mind blown. Non-Stop is the deluxe dance-pop solo album from Erasure’s Andy Bell. Classy and camp, soulful and sumptuous, Non-Stop sees Andy explore his more clubby, nocturnal, disco-glam side.

As Andy gets set to release the lead off single ‘Call on Me’ on 31 May, we spoke to him about what lessons he's learned as an openly gay artist, working with Perry Farrell on the new album, if he still gets propositioned on nights out, and what's in the pipeline for him and Vince Clarke!

After being in the music industry for so many years, what advice would you give to yourself just starting out?
Don't take yourself or it too seriously, even if you think you are as good a singer as Elvis or an entertainer as Madonna. There is no accounting for taste and the music business is very fickle - it changes faster than you can blink an eye, so a huge pinch of salt is very handy and a pot-bellied pig under the arm for the gypsy life style 'cause you're always away from home.

How do you feel about the term gay icon?
Over used and a bit tatty!

The new single's called 'Call on Me'. Who would you call on in need?
Do you know something? I would call on Vince, or my friends Dean and Les, or my soul-mate Paul, or my dad.

So what about the album?­ It¹s called Non-Stop, so what would you like to do non-stop and why?!
Look at men's willies and play with them 'cause I've been obsessed ever since school and you can never get enough - not that I have, mind!

It¹s your second solo album. What is it about working alone that you like so much?
I just like the freedom to be whoever I want to be. No disrespect, I love working with Vince too, but it's different in a partnership.

You¹ve purposely changed your vocal register and style for the album. Why was this?
The voice just lowers with maturity and we purposely put effects on the vocals for a clubbier disco vibe - there's nothing like a Dalek in heat!

"I just like the freedom to be whoever I want to be. No disrespect, I love working with Vince too, but it's different in a partnership."

Are there any other new musical changes we should be listening out for?
A bit of an artsy punkish side coming out.

How did Perry Farrell get involved with the track 'Honey If You Love Him'?
It's his song that he wrote for a fashion designer friend of his. He came to see my part of the True Colors tour in LA but arrived late and missed me, so was too shy to come and say hi. I thought, 'Well, he reached out to me so I'll go reach out to him'. I flew back to LA and we went in the studio for a couple of days, which was great fun.

Have you learnt anything from him?
I just love the dignity, grace and knowingness of the established artists like Debbie Harry, Perry, Kate Pierson and Miss Madonna, of course. He taught me to sing each song with conviction.

When and where was the last gay bar/club you went to?
I went to Tonka at the Eagle to DJ which was a great crack. I also hung out at the Boiler Room in the East Village in NYC for a while, which was great fun. I felt like part of the family but I had to detox afterwards.

So do you still get any untoward propositions?
I don't seem to these days - have to go to Argentina, mmm.

What comes first for you -­ sex or love?
Sex, then love, then loadsa love, then loads more sex.

Are there any plans to work with Vince Clarke again?
Yes, we are working on a new Erasure album as we speak which should be out in 2011 with a tour - yippee.

When was the last time you saw him ­- is he well?
He's very well. I saw him about a month ago in the recording truck at the back of EMI/Mute. He loves being a dad and husband, but loves it when he gets let off to come and play with me.

"Being openly gay, you will never, ever be part of the straight mainstream 'rock' press...if you are a closet for years, you seem to earn a bit more respect! That's just the macho culture we're brought up in, but thankfully times are a changing."

What lessons have you learned as an openly gay artist?
The gay audience are mostly very faithful and loyal if they like your music. The young ones are slightly less respectful, but that's just an age issue. I think people are more respectful in America now than they are here.

Also, being openly gay, you will never, ever be part of the straight mainstream 'rock' press. That's what I don't understand - if you are a closet for years, you seem to earn a bit more respect! That's just the macho culture we're brought up in, but thankfully times are a changing. It's a slow trudge, but you can have great fun all around the world.

What causes are important to you?
I think any cause that supports the minority or underdogs, people that genuinely have a hard time, struggle with mainstream society and are ostracised in some way.

Where's the strangest place you¹ve ever heard your music played?
Probably in a lift in Miami somewhere or a night sauna, who knows!

Anything to add?
Yes, I put a lot of bloody effort and sweat into making this record. Not really - it's really, really good and if you like disco glam punk, you're gonna love it. Thanks for the questions.

Read Our 2009 Interview With Andy Bell »
Click to read Andy talk about the remastered release of Erasure's The Innocents, gay scene cliches and the name of his first boyfriend.

Read Our Total Pop! Interview With Andy Bell »
Click to read our chat with the total pop diva as he looks back on the first 40 hits.

Read Our Electric Blue Interview With Andy Bell »
Click to read more about Andy Bell's 2005 solo effort, Electric Blue.

Read Our Review Of Electric Blue »
Click to read what we thought of Andy Bell’s first solo album.

Read Our Interview With Erasure »
Click to read what Andy Bell and Vince Clarke had to say about Light at the End of the World.