All hail the platinum blonde that made pop ace and Akon cool. I sat down with the Californian Grammy winner, who claims this is her last solo album… by Maddy Maspero

Last time you realized you’re an OG in this music game?
[Laughs] Yeah, it’s been a lot of years! I started in No Doubt when I was 17 and we were together for nine years before Tragic Kingdom came out. I’ve had this really long, slow career and I’ve experienced so many different sides to it. At the same time, it’s kind of like, “Oh man, I’m not at the beginning anymore.” But I’ve had such an incredible ride. It’s unbelievable.

Last time you thought about how fab your first solo album was?
You know, Love.Angel.Music.Baby was more like a record I wanted to make in my life. It was a dance record, a one-off. I wasn’t considering a solo career.

Last time someone asked you about your new album, The Sweet Escape?
Er, you, just now! After LAMB, I couldn’t creatively see myself going back, but I had a couple of songs in my computer. I went into the studio with Pharrell and wrote Orange County Girl, Wind it Up and Breakin’ Up. Before I knew it, I basically had a record. I actually ended up writing a lot of it after I had Kingston, which was weird because I thought I was done but I wasn’t. I kind of wanted to make one more. I’m greedy, I guess! I really enjoyed being able to indulge in my chessy, theatrical, fun, cartoony side. As soon as I finished recording it, I felt completed in that world and ready to go do a No Doubt record.

Last time you considered collaborating with your husband, Gavin Rossdale of Bush?
Well, I’ve actually sung a lot of background vocals for him, but it’s kinda like the generic, “Can you sing some background?” I’m in the house and I’m like, “OK”. I don’t know, I always thought it was sort of cheesy to work with your lover! Plus I kinda did that already with Tony so we’ve always kept it separate when it comes to creating things. Except for him (points at baby Kingston). I guess that was really creating something [laughs].

Last time you worked with a UK artist?
Well, Lady Sovereign is on my worldwide tour, and I personally requested her because I really liked her record. There’s not a lot of people right now that I would want to take on tour that mean anything,I just think she’s interesting.

Last time you worked with “hook-for-hire” Akon?
When I went into to work with Akon, I didn’t even know who he was. It was like my label forcing me to go to work with him and I said, “I really don’t wanna work with anyone new right now” so I cancelled it. They were like, “Cancel everything else, but don’t cancel this”. So I went in with him and he’s amazing. There was this instant friendship. We wrote Sweet Escape in, like, five minutes.

So is this really your last solo album?
As far as I know. I can’t predict the future. It’s all about the music and “What am I feeling musically?” I was feeling this ’80s dance record really hard… I just really wanted to do it. In my life, and where I’m at, I don’t want to waste any time. I want to keep doing this as long as I can, as you would if you were me. I feel very lucky and I don’t have any moments to spare. People are like, “Why don’t you take time off?” But why would I?

She’s got a wardrobe of to-die-for clothes and gets to spend all day making music with Pharrell. We tracked Gwen down and demanded to know why she’s so cool.

Hey Gwen! How are you?
“I’m good, thanks for asking!”

You’ve been so busy. We love the Wind It Up video.
“Thanks. It’s so cool looking. I remember when I was a little girl and I saw The Sound of Music. It was such an inspiration to me. My folks wouldn’t let me watch Grease when it came out… but I did see that and it changed my life. I was able to indulge my theatrical side!”

We haven’t stopped playing your new album either…
“Well, when I started thinking about this project, I was like, ‘I want to work with Keane, Akon and Pharrell.’ It wasn’t as hard as my first album. I thought that was going to be a really fun, easy project I could do and put out in a couple of months. But it turned into this super-hard, life-challenging, long, drawn-out thing. On the first day, I went to the studio and cried!

Aww! You’ve been performing Wind It Up on tour, so everyone has had a sneak preview of it. How come it’s a single now?
“There were lots of songs that sisn’t make the first album, because Pharrell and I just had so many tracks. I was going to put out two albums at the same time, but it didn’t work out. So, when it came to the second album, Pharrell and I went into the studio again to record some of them, and wrote some new ones too.”

We here you recorded this CD in no time?
“It’s the quickest album I’ve ever done in my life! It’s the most modern album you’ll hear out there, because I literally did it so recently!”

How’s it different to the last album?
“Loads of Love Angel Music Baby tracks had attitude. The Sweet Escape is definitely more of an emotional album.”

You’re a total style icon and we love your look. Tell us everything.
“Well it’s easier doing media interviews on my own [without No Doubt] because if I want to talk about lipstick or fashion or girlie stuff, I can!”

Go on, then, tell us!
“Fashion is in my blood. My grandma made all my mum’s clothes and my great-gran always sewed. Then all through high school and in the band, I made my own clothes. I used to make corset-style drop-waists with a cheerleader skirt. I wore my boxer shorts, fishnets and Dr Marten boots underneath!”

Sounds a bit mad!
“It was cool to have my own style. I didn’t plan it. When I got started, I was like, ‘How can I compete with the boys, but not sweat?’ At the same time, I’m a girlie girl. I enjoy making myself up and all that stuff.”

How did your fashion label L.A.M.B start?
“My stylist Andrea and I were making so many outfits that we thought, ‘Why don’t we do a clothing line together?’ It’s every girl’s dream. We were going to do something really small and just selling our stuff at a few boutiques, and then I met this guy who said he wanted to do a clothing line with me and pay for it all. The best part was that he said I could do whatever I wanted creatively. I was like, ‘Are you kidding me? OK!’ ”

Do you get loads of time to work on the outfits?
“No at the moment! But I do spend a lot of my spare time designing. I’m passionate about L.A.M.B It’s actually beyond a dream come true for me, Because I’ve always made clothes.”

Sounds like you’ve been working really hard?
“No kidding! Come January, I’m going to hibernate, eat pizza and sleep!”

Gwen’s latest single, Wind It Up, and album, The Sweet Escape are out now!