“It was sort of like a dream like state,“ say Omar Lye-Fook, “I’m over the moon man, still taking it all in.“

Last month, the 44-year-old soul singer received an MBE for his ongoing contribution to the cultural life of the UK, presented to him by Prince Charles.

“He’s quite the chatty one. He said to me: ‘Are you still making music?’ I said: ‘Yeh, I’ve got a new album coming out’. He said: ’ Do drop off a copy when it’s finished’.

“A nod from the royals. It’s nice to think that he’ll be bopping to it on his iPod!“

That ’ongoing contribution’ has been going on for more than two decades, during which there’s been a lack of mainstream appreciation for his work. Six albums later, and a seventh due this year,  the Londoner is finally getting the recognition he deserves.

Despite being considered the father of the British neo-soul genre, Omar’s limited chart success left him off the radar of many music fans. Over the past few years he’s experienced something of a revival, playing gigs round the world to fans who’ve discovered him through the internet.

“I’ve been to places I’ve never been before, finding out I’ve got fans here, I’ve got fans there,“ says Omar. “I saw someone had posted all my albums online, he had stuff even I didn’t have!

“How should I feel about that? Then I saw the comments – there’s hundreds of people saying thank you. The power of the music to spread like that is a bigger thing. There seems to be a demand out there, I don’t know if there’s a resurgence or what’s going on.“

When I speak to him, Omar is food shopping (for this evening's meal of stewed chicken, rice and dumplings) and gets stopped to pose for pictures and speak to fans. It’s fair to say these days he’s feeling like The Man, which appropriately is the name of his new album, due for release this summer.

“It’s a good start to the year that I’ve just had,“ he admits. “It’s a blessing, I’m very positive right now, as you can imagine. Absolutely.“

Perhaps best-known for his 1991 hit There’s Nothing Like This, Omar has paid tribute to his debut with a new version.

“It’s my bread and butter, it’s the one that people start with and know. It took me a while to figure out how I wanted to do it,“ says Omar. “When I wrote it I was 21, it was a first draft, this is an older man, a more mature man, a more experienced man, performing it again.“

And what is this more experienced man’s view on his lack of mainstream success?

“If I’d been looking for chart success and being on TV all the time I’d be pretty disappointed by now,“ he says. “But I’m telling you, I’m exactly where I want to be.

“In the past, where I’ve tried to do what was expected of me, I’ve been disappointed with the results. I just decided that I’m going to make the music I want to make and feel good about singing it.

“I know there are people out there who want to hear the same thing. They feed me by appreciating my music. As long as they keep doing that I’ll keep on. It’s that that’s got me through the years.“

Omar is at Millfield Theatre on February 23 at 8pm. Details: 020 8807 6680, www.omarmusic.co.uk