LAST year Rat Boy released his debut album – now he’s working on the next record with one of his heroes.

The Essex singer, real name Jordan Cardy, has been in Los Angeles with Tim Armstrong, frontman of punk greats Rancid.

“It’s a little bit heavier at the moment, a little bit more intense sounding,” says Jordan of his new music.

“The stuff with Tim will come out later this year and he has showed me so much. I’m really excited by it all. I went over to LA and we spent a week together, and we got so much written. We realised we needed to do more stuff as it had gone so well, so we did another two weeks and were making stuff every day.

“It was sick. We’re both into punk and hip hop and I grew up listening to the Transplants (Armstrong’s other project), which is the sort of music I want to make.”

He might show some of that music off at the Barrowland next Wednesday. The show, part of his biggest ever headline tour, caps off a period that saw Jordan release SCUM, his long-awaited debut album.

It has been years since he first emerged musically, mixing up punk and indie rock with hip hop and being tipped for the top in the likes of the NME. The album, partly recorded in his bedroom, lived up to the hype, with guests including Damon Albarn and Graham Coxon of Blur.

“Everyone I worked with on the record was always giving me advice,” he says.

“They kept telling me to experiment and try new stuff. I didn’t want to sit still doing the same thing, so I’d try sample based music, or with different singers and drum machines, and everyone kept saying to try different things.”

It isn’t just former members of Blur that Jordan has impressed. In December he found himself playing some of the biggest arenas in the country, as he supported Liam Gallagher on the former Oasis man’s massive sold out tour.

And the 21-year-old reckons it was a successful stint – as he didn’t get chased offstage.

“I didn’t get bottled or anything so that was a success,” says the fast-talking singer.

“The crowds were listening and the shows were really packed out, which was scary. We learned a lot on that tour because the venues were so big that you couldn’t mess up, so we played as tight as we can.

“It was about getting that balance between still being punk and being a bit more professional, although I hate that word. We’re not ever going to be too professional though… I think Liam watched us one night and seemed to enjoy it – I can’t say for sure! He was really nice to us though.”

As well as his work with Tim Armstrong, Jordan’s hopeful of releasing other tracks as one offs too, rather than having to wait for a full album to be released.

“I’m working on some smaller stuff and I’ll maybe bring some things out every couple of months,” he explains.

“It can take such a long time to get an album out, and I want to do something that’ll keep people excited about what I’m doing. I write quite quickly, so if I sit on something for a year then by the time of release I’m wanting to do something different.”

A hyperactive live presence, Jordan is involved in everything surrounding Rat Boy, from artwork to merchandise to music videos. He feels he’s always been looking for creative outlets.

“I was always jotting stuff down (when younger). I just wanted to paint or make stuff but I was awful at school at everything though. Even in music, I got such a low grade at music theory. It’s all about making stuff.”

Rat Boy, Barrowland, Wednesday January 31, £16, 7pm