KT Tunstall returned with a new album last year – and she’s already working on the next one.

The Scottish songstress had been concentrating on soundtracking Hollywood films until she brought out KIN, and now she has teamed up with former Franz Ferdinand guitarist Nick McCarthy.

“It is really a renaissance for me, almost like starting another new chapter,” she explains, ahead of playing the Kelvingrove Bandstand this Friday.

“It’s pretty rocky. Nick’s focusing more on producing these days and it has been a total revelation working with him – we met though friends and it’s been a really great writing partnership. It’s a very 70s set-up, just laying down some live tracking with me, Nick on bass and a drummer.

“I want to push my electric guitar playing on this one and really play some riffs.”

That’s news that might surprise some of her fans, because after the 2013 release of Invisible Empire//Crescent Moon she cut a low-key figure, living in Los Angeles and writing songs for films like Million Dollar Arm, Winter’s Tale and Bad Moms.

However getting off the touring and album treadmill helped her fall in love with music again, resulting in KIN last year, a record of muscular pop inspired by the classic California sound of Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty and Joni Mitchell.

“KIN is a really positive album and it’s definitely a phoenix from the flames,” she says.

“It was a very difficult time before that, when I was making the previous record. It really took taking a complete break, not knowing when I was making another record and being free from the pressure of doing that, to want to come back to writing music in a carefree place.”

As a writer KT believes she has come to terms with being more personal in her writing. Invisible Empire//Crescent Moon was heavily influenced by both her divorce (from Luke Bullen, the drummer in her band) and the passing of her father. KIN is far more upbeat, but showing a more vulnerable side to herself seems to have been an important step forwards for the 42-year-old.

“Getting shattered and writing the fourth album made me realise that vulnerability has to be up there in importance for your creativity,” she says.

“That was a key realisation. The vulnerability has increased. You have to be open, to be in a place where you are putting yourself out there or else you aren’t putting anything out that’s of any worth.”

In 2008 KT’s early hit Suddenly I See was being used to soundtrack Hilary Clinton’s unsuccessful campaign to be the Democratic nominee for President. Back then no-one would have guessed the political changes that would take place in less than a decade, with KT watching it unfold from LA.

“It’s been a rollercoaster and living in America the past year has been pretty chaotic,” she says.

“What’s important is that there’s been a rise in activism, it’s got children talking about politics in school, it’s got five year olds asking questions about things and that’s what we need.

“We’ve had old people swaying the vote for young people’s futures for too long and that’s not fair.”

Something else unfair KT believes is unfair is the lack of women getting time on music festivals. She’s a supporter of Girls Rock Glasgow, the roock n’ roll summer school aimed at youngsters, and hopes grassroots ideas like that can lead to real change.

“I met them in Glasgow a few years ago and there was a group called the Elastic Bands who had formed there,” she says.

“They were approaching music as musicians, not as girls, and that really gave me a lot of hope. I’ll still go to festivals and there’ll only be two girls on and that’s it – even TRNSMT, which looked amazing, was like that.

“I want to encourage confidence and excitement in girls about playing music. I think there’s a Wonder Woman effect too, where there has got to be role models. They have to see other women are doing it to inspire them, and I do think things are changing. It’s just taking time.”

A Glasgow gigging veteran who fondly recalls shows at the Barrowland and King Tut’s in the past, KT has high hopes for Friday.

“A number of people have told me that it’s a spectacular gig to play,” she enthuses.

“I’ll never forget the gigs in the Barrowland though. They were magical, and it’s a spiritual place to play, it really is.”

KT Tunstall, Kelvingrove Bandstand, Friday, £30, 7pm

JONATHAN GEDDES