Former Westlife star Shane Filan is hoping to bounce back from bankruptcy as he embarks on a new solo deal.

The 33-year-old Irish singer was declared bankrupt last summer (12), just days before Westlife's farewell show at Dublin's Croke Park, after his property company went into receivership.

But Filan's fortunes are looking up, thanks to a new deal with London Records.

He is currently recording tracks for a debut album in Nashville, Tennessee and tells the Irish Independent newspaper, "One of the things that pleases me the most about this record is that I've been given the opportunity to write my own songs. I'm so excited for people to hear them."