Spice Up Your Life – Mel C interviewed
We caught up with Mel C ahead of Christmas to chat about the Spice Girls, her new solo album Version of Me and her plans for 2017
At the end of November, we spoke to Mel C when she had a bit of a cold, but was an absolute trooper, stating: "I'm not going to moan about it, I'm going to soldier on." And soldier on she did – in fact she was on great form and was a bloody pleasure to talk to. We could've talked to her forever, but sadly we only had 20 minutes, so here's what we talked about... if you can see through the gushing!
The Skinny: I was 14 when Spice came out, which was quite a big deal for me at the time – I can't even begin to imagine what it was like for you at the time?
Mel C: "It was such an exciting time for us because we’d been together for a couple of years – we all really shared a vision and we were so ambitious. And I think that went a long way to helping us achieve a lot of the success that we had. We were so single-minded, and I think because there was five of us, we just felt incredibly powerful. We just had this energy that we shared and we almost wouldn’t take no for an answer.
"We were so determined to succeed. So everything that happened, as amazing as it was, we weren’t that surprised. We were a little like, ‘Yeah, told ya so!’ (laughs) We were so cocky! But I think we were just so in tune with each other about what we wanted to do and how we were gonna make it happen.
"Do you know much about Conor McGregor?"
No...?
"Well he’s this amazing (mixed martial arts) world champion and he believes in creative visualisations – he’ll basically say how a fight’s gonna go and that’s what happens. It’s that single-minded belief in something. It was an amazing time, and the build-up to it, like most things in life, was the most exciting part and then when it all happened, it just got so chaotic. We were kind of in survival mode."
For an onlooker you were an overnight success; you seemed to just appear as if from nowhere.
"Yeah, it was crazy. We got together in '94, so I was 20, and when Wannabe hit I was 22. Geri was the oldest and then me, Melanie B and Emma were a couple of years younger. So yeah, we were babies, even though obviously at the time we thought we were really grown-up (laughs) and we knew it all!"
We can't believe it's the 20th anniversary of Spice – how do you think girl power has affected people over the past 20 years?
"Well, this 20-year mark seems to be a really interesting time to be a Spice Girl – I’m exposed to so many women that were Spice Girls fans growing up. It almost feels like a bit of a renaissance. All of these girls are now women and we just meet so many people that talk about being a fan and how it affected them in a really positive way. It’s just so lovely to hear.
"And obviously credit to these girls – and guys – that you meet 'cos they’ve gone on and achieved whatever they set out to, whether it was career-wise, or personally, and they talk about the Spice Girls being part of that inspiration. It’s just amazing."
What was it like actually being in a band with the rest of the Spice Girls?
"It was an incredible support because obviously we were going through something really unique. And although we’re all still really close to our families, as we were at the time, they couldn’t quite understand what it was like or even the people around us, working with us. I think unless you’re in it and it’s happening to you, it’s really hard to get your head round it.
"We always had each other for support, but it was tough was because it was so important to us all; we were really hard on ourselves and each other, so no one could step out of line. We policed ourselves really with our behaviour, so there was a lot of pressure – obviously externally, but mostly within the band. We put a lot of pressure on ourselves to perform well and to not make too many mistakes."
We saw a recent video that surfaced on the set of a commercial where a producer told you to make things more sexy – is that something you experienced a lot of?
"Not really, it’s funny isn’t it? We were shooting a Polaroid commercial, and it’s so funny because obviously there’s so much talk now of how provocative young artists are, and back in the 90s we were criticised, and that makes me laugh. Personally I was always in a tracksuit (laughing), so I was alright, but when you look back at Say You’ll Be There – some of the girls were in PVC catsuits, thigh-high red PVC boots, (and) we tied a guy up. It is quite sexual, but we were really naive about it.
"Even in this Polaroid commercial, we were in uniforms (laughs hysterically) – it is a little bit of a male fantasy. But we didn’t think about it – we were playing characters in a school in the commercial, but you know, bigger picture, we’re 20somethings in school uniform, so obviously there were a lot of sexual undertones that we were oblivious to."
The Spice Girls are back, but you’re not part of the line-up. Why?
"We did reunite in 2007 and we did the Olympic closing ceremony in 2012 and it was incredible to be back together as a five-piece. We celebrated our achievements and we put on an incredible show – it was amazing to be back on stage with the girls. Seeing the fans out there, doing all the old songs... it was amazing. And there was part of me that fancied getting back up and doing it again, but as it got closer to committing to doing it, I just felt a little bit uneasy and I’d always been a little uncertain about doing it without Victoria.
"Basically just 'cos it felt like everything we’d done – 2007, 2012 – had been so amazing, and it just felt like a bit of a step backwards really. I had to follow my heart and my instinct. Personally it’s not right for me at this time, (but) I love the Spice Girls. I’m so proud and completely embrace being a Spice Girl, and I’m not saying I’ll never get back on stage with the girls again.
"It’s unfortunate. It’s the 20th anniversary; people have made a big deal about that, but for me it doesn’t really feel like it’d be doing the band justice to get up as a four-piece at this point."
Have you heard the Spice Girls' new music? What do you think of it?
"I haven’t spoken to the girls since the track leaked and I really feel for them cause obviously it’s a demo, so it’s not a finished song. I think it’s got a really catchy chorus and it’s really lovely to hear those voices, they’re so familiar – obviously to me – and lots of Spice Girls fans. I just know I’d be quite frustrated if the demo had gone out because obviously you want your songs to go out when they’re finished and perfect."
Enough about the Spice Girls – you've had the most successful solo career of all the Spice Girls and you’ve released seven solo albums since 1999, with your latest being Version of Me released earlier this year – what was the inspiration behind this record?
"I think I’ve taken the longest to make this one, and it’s been really nice to not put any pressure on myself. It was the first time I was able to make a record completely independently, and I didn’t have anyone else influence me. I think as well, because just being a little bit older now, I just thought, ‘You know what? I don’t wanna people please anymore. I wanna make a record that I would want to buy.' It may be a mistake, but I’m not going to pander to what’s working on radio and what my demographic would expect.
"I just thought, I’ve got nothing to lose, I’m just gonna go for it. I’m gonna do what I want and see what happens. And it really was the best thing I could’ve done because I’ve made this album – it’s the most electronic album of my career, something I always wanted to do, but never had the opportunity. I went into the studio, I was working with co-writers I’ve worked with in the past, but also introducing some new writers, some new producers, working with some younger guys. And I just wanted to approach everything differently; the structure of the songs, the subject matter that I was tackling, and my rule was there were no rules, which so often in pop music there are rules, even down to how long your bloody song is – it’s crazy.
"It was just so nice to have this freedom and I think all of my collaborators really enjoyed it too, because as a songwriter when you’re working for lots of artists that are signed to major labels, quite often there are constraints – there are briefs that have to be stuck to; it’s a business. So we just had a ball and went and had fun, and I think it is one of the strongest albums of my solo career and I’m just really proud and so relieved that once it’s got out there it’s been received really well – we’ve great reviews, things are looking good internationally as well, so I’m enjoying this moment in time."
You released it on your own label – Red Girl Records – and you've been releasing via that label since 2005. What's the reason for this?
"I’d been signed to Virgin Records with the (Spice) girls and then as a solo artist for my first two albums – and my second solo album didn’t do as well as anybody expected, and obviously when you find yourself in that situation at a label you’re on dodgy ground. So I was released from that contract and I had options. There was a chance I could sign with another major, I could go to an independent, or I’d been so fortunate with the Spice Girls that financially I was able to self-finance; to set up my own label.
"After years of being with a major label, it seemed like the most exciting thing to do and since then I have self-financed – but I do partner up with different labels in different territories and I was working with Warner Music in Germany for a few years. It’s kind of good to have that infrastructure of a major label, but it’s really nice to have the freedom of creativity that they’re not too involved."
Do you think with your label, you’d ever want to release and work with other artists?
"When I first started the label, that was very much something I was excited about doing, but unfortunately the digital age coincided with me starting the label and record sales have dropped so dramatically that financially it’s just not viable. I can just about support myself as an artist so I really wouldn’t be able to give another artist a fair chance.
"(It) would be lovely if that changed in the future. It really interests me to work with young people in music; just about how you deal with working in the industry. And young people with mental health issues, cause obviously it’s something I’ve experienced myself, so when things start to settle down next year I’d like to pursue finding ways of getting into that.
"There are things out there – I’ve very loosely been doing a little bit of research. There’s something quite local to me; the Roundhouse in Camden, they support young artists in this way and I believe there’s another charity as well – but yeah, I want to get into it. Because all this experience that I’ve had, it’d be really nice to put it to some good use."
As our time is short, and we feel we could talk to Mel C forever, I quickly move on and abruptly ask about her upcoming tour plans for 2017 and what Mel C fans can expect?
"Well this is the thing – the record sounds so different to any of my other solo records. I’ve set my band a really big challenge because I really wanna keep close to the record – I want it to sound like the record, and I’d almost like to take parts of my back catalogue that we’ll be performing and bring it into line. So I just want to have a refresh and a fresh start really. I feel like this is a new chapter in my life, so I’m really excited to put that right across every aspect of my work."
Anything else you'd like to add?
“I'd like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, and I hope that 2017 is better than 2016 (laughs uncontrollably). It can’t be any worse!"
Version of Me by Melanie C is out now via Red Girl Records
Mel C 2017 tour dates
2 April – Glasgow O2 ABC
5 April – Liverpool O2 Academy
6 April – Manchester O2 Ritz
8 April – London O2 Shepherds Bush Empire
9 April – Birmingham O2 Institute