To go forwards, Ross Wilson needed to come back home.

The Scottish singer-songwriter, who performs under the name Blue Rose Code, returned to Scotland to work on his new album The Water of Leith after years living in London.

The record, due out October 27, sees Ross confront his past struggles with drink and drugs and unhappiness in life, and look ahead to what’s next.

“I really feel I needed to come home to write this record,” he explains.

“It was right at the end of touring the last record when I looked at my life and thought that I was lucky to have a life where I could do this (music) but there were things missing from it. I wanted a partner, to be a dad and to have more stability in my life. I looked at how my life choices were impacting that, so decided to move home.”

His fourth record, The Water of Leith is as varied as you’d expect from Blue Rose Code, mixing together pop, jazz, folk and soul into one package, and he’ll be playing material from it at a sold out Saint Luke’s tonight.

Over the years his heartfelt tunes have won many admirers, including Ian Rankin (who has written the sleeve notes for the new record) and Ewan McGregor (who contributed to Ross’s third album, And Lo! The Bird Is On The Wing).

However away from music the singer’s life was difficult, and The Water of Leith is the first record he has managed to make while staying sober throughout the process.

“I grew up in fairly undesirable circumstances, and I’ve spent a lot of my life raging against that,” he explains.

“I was looking ahead and feeling the world owed me a living, and getting lost in drink and drugs. I grew up looking at all the wrong influences. I loved John Martyn, who was a beautiful man and a beautiful musician, but I certainly don’t want my life to end up like his did.

“A lot of people who were eccentric and self-destructing geniuses, they were my heroes, and in the end what happens you have a life of hell and the people around you don’t enjoy it much either. This is the first record I’ve written in sobriety and it’s the best, most cohesive work I’ve done.”

Now in a relationship and set to become a dad before the end of the year, Ross is in a content state, with both life and his music. For his newest album he called upon a string of guests, including Gaelic songstress Kathleen McInnes, Scottish singer Julie Fowlis and a host of folk and jazz musicians. Appearing from further afield is Beth Nielsen Chapman, the American folk great who features on opening track Over The Fields (For John).

“It seems to be a theme running through my music that people want to lend a hand,” he laughs.

“We did Mark Radcliffe’s folk show at Celtic Connections and I saw Beth perform there. At the same time my dear friend John Wetton (formerly of King Crimson and Roxy Music) was dying of cancer and I’d written him this song.

“Through being on that show with Beth, we got in touch, and I explained the song to her and she agreed to sing on it. What a privilege that was.”

Perhaps that attitude owes a debt to Glasgow. Although an Edinburgh native, it was regular gigs in Glasgow that helped build his confidence up.

“It was Glasgow that took hold of me and really gave me the self confidence I needed as a musician,” he says.

“Glasgow people are quick to tell you if they don’t like you, but if they do then they will really champion you. That gave me the confidence to really take my music around the place, at home and abroad.”

Blue Rose Code, Saint Luke’s, tonight, sold out, 7pm