Melanie C has revealed that her latest solo album, Sweat, draws heavily from her time with the Spice Girls, describing the group's early days as "magical" and insisting the new record feels more Spice than anything she has done before as a solo artist.
A Nod to the Spice Girls Legacy
The 52-year-old singer, born Melanie Chisholm, rose to fame as one-fifth of the iconic girl group that transformed pop music with their debut single Wannabe, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. The track rocketed to the top of the UK singles chart upon release, setting the stage for a string of hits including 2 Become 1, Who Do You Think You Are, and Spice Up Your Life. The group, also comprising Melanie Brown MBE, Emma Bunton, Geri Halliwell, and Victoria Beckham, achieved two UK number one albums and nine chart-topping singles before disbanding in 2000. They have reunited several times since, most recently in 2019 without Lady Beckham.
Reflecting on the enduring influence of those early years, Melanie C explained: "I learned the craft of writing songs with the Spice Girls and the brilliant collaborators that we worked with, and something that definitely carries through from my Spice Girl days is there was always an optimism and positivity with the music we made."
A Return to Dance Music Roots
Since the late 2010s, Melanie C has rekindled her passion for dance music, carving out a reputation as a DJ and gracing legendary venues such as Pacha and Cafe Mambo in Ibiza, as well as London's beloved queer club night, Sink The Pink. Her solo releases have increasingly shifted towards the dance floor, culminating in the high-octane pulse of Sweat, set for release on May 1. She insists the album carries more than a touch of Spice.
"I think on this album, probably more than any of my solo records, I've had a bit more fun, I've not taken myself too seriously, like with the track Sweat, it's really tongue in cheek, and that feels to me a lot more Spice than things I've done on my own before," she said.
Memories and Milestones
The singer noted that the upcoming anniversary has made her reflective. "That time was magical, I have obviously so many memories, but I think as well, when you've got an anniversary coming, you become so reflective, don't you?" she said, recalling writing and recording Wannabe at the Strongroom studio in London and mastering vocals on 2 Become 1.
Melanie C also shared that walking into rehearsals before playing Glastonbury Festival with Orbital brought all the memories flooding back. DJ'ing, she explained, brings her "so much joy" and allows her to have the world at her fingertips, spinning any song she likes. "I just really started to see everything from a different perspective as a DJ," she said. "You listen to music in a different way, you see how it affects people in a different way, and I thought, what I really want to achieve is trying to bring what I play as a DJ closer to what I am as an artist."
Looking Ahead: Anniversary and Tour
Beyond her new album, Chisholm is keen to mark Wannabe's 30th anniversary alongside her former bandmates, though she remains uncertain about the exact format. She described a rumoured Netflix documentary as "one of those curious news reports you see," while confirming similar ideas had been floated. The group has experienced "ups and downs," but turning 50 has prompted them to "start to really appreciate everybody."
"We're in discussions, and we do want to mark the anniversary and, of course, we want to celebrate our incredible legacy, but it's just finding the thing we all agree on that is the right thing to do, but I always remain very optimistic. We're in such a good place as people and as friends, and I think that's the most positive base we can be on," she said.
Melanie C's new album, Sweat, arrives on vinyl, CD, and streaming platforms on 1 May, with the singer embarking on a world tour from September, featuring shows in London, Glasgow, and Dublin.
