After bringing UK Garage to the charts with the So Solid Crew, Romeo's solo career seems to be leading firmly in the direction of chart success. Ahead of his live appearance at Atlantis tomorrow night, and in the midst of a hectic schedule, he took the time to talk to 24:7's Nicola Mostyn.

After that first number one with So Solid Crew, you seem to have had a quick rise to fame with your solo career. Is this the way it feels to you?

Basically the way I see it, I've been in this since I was 17, and started right, right at the bottom. I've seen it gradually grow with So Solid Crew. Now to have this success as a solo artist, it is kind of overwhelming, the support that is actually out there. People can relate to me 'cos they know where I'm coming from and what I'm trying to accomplish.

It seems to have gone quite perfectly for you...

Not perfectly, I've had my ups and downs, throughout this whole process. There are a lot of downs and also a lot of ups and I just thank my blessings that people are giving me the chance to make music.

You've got a new single out, It's All Gravy, a duet with Christina Milian. What does that mean?

Basically the song is about life in general. All Gravy means eventually it will be all good, talking about life experiences. I'm hoping it does well, fingers crossed.

You are a busy man, promoting your single, doing the Smash Hits tour, playing in clubs.

Yes I'm doing a bit of both, the underground stuff as well as everything else. I just think if people want to hear my music then I'm going to give something back to them and if someone travels from Manchester to London to hear me, I'll make sure that I give it everything.

You are in the Smash Hits tour with a lot of pop stars but I imagine you come from a slightly different direction. Who were your influences when you started out?

You know, I wouldn't say I had any one influence in terms of my music. Mainly I would say it was my family and the people around me, the people I was making music with, who influenced me the most.

And in the future, are there any people you'd especially like to work with?

Well, I'd like to do something with Mis Teeq, or Ms Dynamite, that would be cool.

Romeo performs at Atlantis on Saturday night