Mel C – Euphoriazine

Melanie C Cover Story Interview

It’s slightly like giving birth, but you forget how painful it is,” Melanie C says with a laugh.

On a Friday afternoon in Dublin, the iconic singer is preparing for a late-night talk show appearance, with just one week to go before the release of her ninth studio album, Sweat. The schedule ahead is intense, but familiar. Even so, the build-up still feels gruelling — a cycle she knows all too well.

All things considered, it’s not something she’s going to complain about.

“But the thing is, it’s so exciting, and I’m really looking forward to getting out there,” she adds. “We’ve already dropped four songs – “Sweat,” “What Could Possibly Go Wrong?” “Undefeated Champion,” and “Attitude” – and they’ve all been received so brilliantly, so I can’t wait for the whole record to be out. This is the moment, and of course you want to give the project as much as you can — you want it to be as successful as possible and reach as many people as you can.”

Looking from the outside, it’s clear that Melanie has little to prove at this point. As a member of the Spice Girls, she was part of one of pop’s most defining success stories — a rise that was rapid, strategic, and culturally explosive. A history-making pop culture phenomenon, the group embarked on world tours, boasted more than 100 million records sold, achieved back-to-back chart-topping hits, starred in a blockbuster movie, and became the face of just about every piece of memorabilia you could get your hands on.

When Melanie went solo, her debut album, 1999’s Northern Star, marked a sonic shift, laying the groundwork for a long-lasting career. It remains the biggest-selling solo album by a Spice Girl, while Melanie also holds the distinction of being the only female artist to achieve chart-topping hits across multiple configurations — as part of a quintet, quartet, duo, and as a solo act. She also became the first female artist to secure UK number one singles across five consecutive years, from 1996 to 2000. As Melanie approaches 30 years in the music business, her career continues to evolve. In recent years, she’s been sharing her industry insight as a coach on The Voice Australia, released her memoir Who I Am: My Story, and found a passion in DJing, all while recording and releasing new material.

It’s taken some time, but Melanie agrees. “I think I kind of came to that conclusion [that I’ve got nothing to prove] a while ago,” she admits. “You know, it’s quite difficult to transition from being a Spice Girl to becoming a solo artist, because my only experience of this world was at the absolute top of the pile — selling millions of records. And then, of course, as a solo artist, it’s very, very different. And now the industry’s changed, and so much of it is about streaming. You just get to a point where it’s like, I just have to make the music that I love. And every now and again, it really does translate.”

On her new album Sweat, out May 1, Melanie reconnects with her roots. Before the Spice Girls, a teenage Melanie was deeply immersed in the early ’90s rave scene. A trip to Costa Brava with three college friends proved to be a turning point, introducing her to sounds she had never encountered before. Captivated by the experience, her passion for the genre only grew once she returned to England, with the music continuing to shape her tastes. However, that chapter was cut short when she was selected to join the Spice Girls, sending her life in an entirely new direction. Fast forward, and Melanie is revisiting her past with what she considers a love letter to her formative days.

From top to bottom, Sweat is bursting with energy and has a real sense of euphoria. On the cheeky album title track, which features an iconic sample of Diana Ross’s “Work That Body,” Melanie demands immediate attention and sets the pace with a disco-pop anthem that is an ode to her Sporty Spice persona: “Keep your eyes on me / Speed it up, slowly / Get your heart pumping / I’ll make you, I’ll make you sweat.” She keeps the momentum going with banger “Drum Machine,” where she gushes about her current partner – Chris Dingwall – following a tough breakup. “I just wanted to write a beautiful love song about someone who makes you feel amazing physically in every way,” she says of the track.

Sweat was two years and a half in the making, and as Melanie puts it, is a “really lovely arc” of the emotions she’s felt during that period. “I’d ended a long-term relationship, and that was in the real kind of untangling and bitterness, so there was quite a lot of anger to express, which shows up on the album in places. But then it also crossed into the time when I met somebody new — I fell in love, and then this whole new relationship began,” she says. “​​I wanted this to be really joyous and up — something motivating for people, whether it’s in life, in the gym, or in the club. But I definitely still wanted some darkness in there.”

Melanie credits the melancholy “One Track Mind” as one of the more moving tracks, which was inspired about being apart from her boyfriend. “We had just been in LA together — it was our first trip away — and then he went back to Australia while I was still in LA starting writing sessions. We’d had such an amazing time together, and then he was gone,” she explains. Meanwhile, on “Emotional Memory,” she details the cycle of falling in and out of love: “It’s about this journey — having a horrible experience, breaking up with somebody, meeting somebody new and being like, ‘Fuck, here we go again.’ You know, have I learned nothing? But it’s like, fuck it — it’s love. I’m gonna do it again. Yeah, and again and again, because what’s life about?”

On “Till It Breaks,” Melanie is left questioning her limits, asking, “How much can a heart take till it breaks?” In contrast, the groovy single “Undefeated Champion” celebrates resilience and the power of picking yourself back up, as she sings, “I still believe in everything I do / After the bullshit I’ve been through.” “I really wanted to acknowledge that in a song,” Melanie declares. “We all have those moments where we get knocked down and we’re like, ‘Fucking hell, can I get myself back up again?’ But we do, because there’s no alternative.”

Fully stepping into her power on songs like “Attitude” and “Free To Love,” “Flick Of The Wrist” closes the record on a confident note, with Melanie reassuring listeners through the standout line, “Now I’m that bitch.” “I’ve never had the confidence to do that, you know — to really own things. I haven’t always been like that, but there have been parts of my personality I’ve been apologetic about,” she says. “If someone wants to call me a bitch, I want to fucking own it. I’m that bitch, you know? It feels so strong, that thing of going, look, I can be sassy. I’m not going to be ashamed of any of these things anymore.”

Elaborating on her newly discovered self-assurance, Melanie adds: “What I love about this record, and the first time I’ve really done it, is the Spice Girls influence I’ve brought into it — in a tongue-in-cheek way. I think sometimes, as a solo artist, I’ve been quite serious. You know, you can become so introspective. And I realised that when I’m on stage, I’m actually so much more confident, more comedic, more sassy. And I thought, if I want to be that person on stage, I have to create those songs in the studio. So it was a bit of a lightbulb moment. I started thinking about leaning into being sporty, the fitness side, and obviously the club aspects from how much I’ve been influenced by DJ culture. It was just really fun to play lyrically with those worlds — whether it was sport, or music, or just that whole pop culture space.”

As she navigates a pop career in her 50s, Sweat arrives alongside a wave of female artists redefining longevity on their own terms. From Jessie Ware and Lily Allen to Beyoncé, Robyn, and Kylie Minogue, a growing number of women are continuing to evolve well beyond the industry’s once-prescribed limits. There was a time when turning 40 marked a quiet sidelining, as female artists were pushed out by an ageist system that left little room for reinvention. Some, including Anastacia, Paloma Faith, and Nicole Scherzinger, even felt pressure early in their careers to obscure their age. Melanie, however, has long resisted that narrative — and, as she sees it, the tide is finally beginning to turn.

“I think that social media’s helped with that as well,” she insists. “I think the way young people see music now is so different — they’re less ageist. They’re just drawn to whatever they’re drawn to, regardless of what the artist looks like or how old they are. Being a Spice Girl, if I’m given an obstacle, I’ll make sure I get over it. It was the same when we were told girl bands don’t sell — and we were like, ‘Fuck you, we’re going to prove you wrong.’ Then, of course, there was a huge period where getting older as a woman in the industry felt petrifying. You start thinking, ‘What’s there for me?’ But I was like, no — I’m going to take this headfirst. And I think we’ve all changed. Even generations are closer now.”

Melanie has also witnessed the change first-hand by socialising with her 17-year-old daughter, Scarlett. “We listen to the same music, we were at Coachella together two weeks ago, we go and see the same artists. I probably wouldn’t have done that with my mum. The age gaps are kind of closing in. We’re all just enjoying it, and I think we refuse to fully grow up,” she explains, adding: “There’s something really great about that. I talk a lot about my early raving days in my late teens while promoting this record, and my generation are back in the clubs — we don’t want to give it up. We do want to go to bed a bit earlier, but we still want our raving in. At heart, none of us really feel old. We always want that youthful feeling.”

This isn’t the only time Melanie has questioned her place in the industry, however. Following a major label deal with Virgin Records, Melanie went independent and launched her own label, Red Girl Records, in 2004, inspired by her upbringing in Liverpool. “I was a little bit burnt by my experience with a major label. So many artists are. I was quite determined to do it my own way and have my own independence and be the master of my own destiny,” she says about the decision. While Melanie has never focused on what the distant future holds for her, she feared her passion was no longer going to be sustainable. “There was one point where I was like, ‘Fuck, can I afford to continue doing this?’ There was a time when it was expensive — I was making music and getting no return,” she admits. Things have since improved. “There’s been a big turnaround over the last, what, 10 years or so. The last 10 years have been a really big lift in everything for me,” Melanie adds. Eager to make things work, her determination led her to find whatever it took at the time to continue working in music. “I’ve done other things to supplement it, you know, because it is my passion and my first love. I’ve done a little bit of telly, a bit of radio, and obviously musical theatre was something I wanted to do — a bit of a personal challenge. But it’s always been music; music is the first love.”

At the time of our call, Melanie and her fellow Spice Girls – Emma Bunton, Geri Halliwell, Mel B, and Victoria Beckham – are celebrating a key milestone: 30 years since filming the music video for their breakthrough smash “Wannabe.” Even though she’s someone who doesn’t like to think too far ahead, Melanie isn’t one to shy away from embracing nostalgia. “I don’t know whether it’s my age, but I’ve become very nostalgic. When I think about those moments, or when we’re reminded of anniversaries and things, it still feels really fresh in my mind. I don’t remember everything, of course, but I remember so many things really vividly. And I love it — it makes me feel very close to it,” she says.

Decades later, the group remains in the headlines. Whether it’s their personal lives, being referenced by a new generation of stars, or rumours surrounding another reunion, interest in the Spice Girls and their legacy has never felt stronger. Melanie is fully aware. “I totally feel that,” she says. “The way generations continue to discover the Spice Girls is incredible. I think it’s the thing we’re all most proud of – the way the music, the ethos, everything has stood the test of time.”

With the Spice Girls’ debut album Spice approaching its 30th anniversary, speculation continues to grow about how the group might mark the occasion. Melanie previously shut down claims that they will hit the road in 2026 for more shows. However, it’s something she has been vocal about wanting to do again. “I think when we did the stadiums [in 2019], we were really hoping that would lead to more shows because the response was so overwhelming and incredible. It feels almost like a duty. There are so many people all over the world who would enjoy it, and for us it’s such a pleasure. It’s incredible to be up there giving that joy to people,” she says.

A Las Vegas residency at the Sphere has been mentioned regularly, although there’s no confirmed truth to it. “An offer for The Sphere hasn’t arrived in my email inbox, but I think all of us feel it would be an amazing place to do it. We just feel like that whole Spice World concept would be incredible. We could have so much fun with the creative,” Melanie admits. There’s also that yearly Glastonbury rumour that’s been circling around for a while. “That would be special,” she insists. However, Melanie is only willing to do it on one condition. “It would have to be on a Friday because I wanna enjoy the festival. I’d have to lock myself away if it were a Sunday gig,” she jokes. “But yeah, I’m definitely in for all of it, whether it’s a tour, a residency, or a one-off show.”

Being that there are no concerts on the cards this year, Melanie is asked what the current situation is with the other members. “Well, I mean, we have a lot to talk about,” she says. “I’m sure you can imagine how many opportunities come up for the Spice Girls, and there are some we really, really want to explore. It’s just a case of everybody being on the same page at the same time,” she adds. “But we are talking more now, probably in more communication than ever, so I think it’s time. We all feel inspired by how everyone else is feeling, and we want to get things moving as well.”

In the meantime, while the group figures things out, Melanie will be hitting the road alone for her biggest world tour since her debut solo album. “I’m currently working on the creative side, and I’ve got big ideas,” she teases. “I probably need a bit of a reality check at some point. But I definitely want to bring this record to life properly. I also feel like I want to incorporate as much as I can because it’s a world tour, and it’s the first one I’ve done in over 20 years, which is insane. I want everyone to feel satisfied, so it’s going to be interesting. I’m going to try to weave in as many songs and hooks as possible. It’s going to be a challenge getting it right, but in a good way. I’m determined to really do this album justice and give the fans things they haven’t seen before.” Melanie is suggested to perform a dance rendition of 2003’s “Yeh, Yeh, Yeh,” an idea in which she doesn’t disapprove of. “I’ll make a note of that,” she says.

As our 30-minute video comes to an end, Melanie hopes Sweat will leave listeners feeling two things: positive and motivated. “Whether it’s your gym playlist, whether you’re listening before going out, or I’m playing it on the decks, I just want people to really enjoy it,” she says. “And with the shows, I want people to leave exhausted but exhilarated, and really sweaty.” Before the call comes to an official close, however, she points out my vintage Prince T-shirt and how it reminds her of someone special. “He’s been on my mind a lot recently; he keeps coming up,” she says. “Have you seen the footage of him when Mel B interviewed him?” she asks. “There’s a clip of him pushing her on a swing. It’s one of the best things I’ve ever seen in my life. He absolutely adored Melanie. He was obsessed with her. It was so sweet.”

She laughs at the memory, still amused by it years later. It’s a small exchange, but one that speaks to something at the heart of her world — the joy of music, and the people it connects.

—-Source: www.euphoriazine.com