Melanie C, one fifth of the Spice Girls, has released a new solo album Sweat, which she says feels more Spice Girls than anything she has done before as a solo artistDaniel Bird Assistant Celebrity and Entertainment Editor and Casey Cooper-Fiske Press Association Senior Entertainment Reporter
18:19, 29 Apr 2026
Melanie C has revealed her Spice Girls legacy inspired her new album(Image: © 2026 PA Media, All Rights Reserved)
Melanie C has revealed her latest album was inspired by her Spice Girls days. The group transformed the girl group format from the very beginning with the dance-pop sound of their debut single Wannabe, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, rocketing straight to the top of the UK singles chart upon release.
The chart-mauling five-piece, comprising Melanie Brown MBE, Melanie C, Emma Bunton, Geri Halliwell, and Victoria Beckham, went on to notch up two UK number one albums and nine chart-topping singles, including massive hits such as 2 Become 1, Who Do You Think You Are and Spice Up Your Life.
The band went their separate ways in 2000, though they have reunited on several occasions since, most recently in 2019, without Lady Beckham. Yet for Melanie C, full name Melanie Chisholm, the profound impact of the group’s early years continues to resonate deeply.
Melanie shot to fame as one-fifth of the Spice Girls(Image: © 2026 PA Media, All Rights Reserved)
Since the late 2010s, the 52-year-old has rekindled her passion for dance music from her youth, carving out a reputation as a DJ, gracing legendary Ibiza venues such as Pacha and Cafe Mambo, as well as London’s beloved queer club night, Sink The Pink.
Throughout this period, her solo releases have steadily shifted towards the dance floor, culminating in the high-octane pulse of her forthcoming album Sweat, set for release on May 1, which she insists carries more than a touch of Spice.
“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,” she explains. “I love to do that, because for me music has always been like a support and strength, you know, you’re feeling s**t, if you want to wallow in it, you put a sad song on, if you want to be lifted, you put something upbeat on.
The singer is days away from releasing her latest solo album, Sweat(Image: Copyright remains with handout provider)
“So, I continue to do that, and 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.
“So (her experience with the Spice Girls) totally has informed this record, and with the Spice Girls, 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?
“And just with those times, like being down at the Strongroom (a London studio), and writing and recording Wannabe and like when we went in to do the master vocals on 2 Become 1, and we were in that beautiful room there.”
The singer has turned her hand to DJ’ing(Image: Copyright remains with handout provider)
Three decades on, Melanie is still proud of her Spice Girls legacy(Image: Copyright remains with handout provider)
Melanie explained that when she walked into rehearsals before playing Glastonbury Festival with Orbital, all of the memories came flooding back. DJ’ing is something that brings her “so much joy”, allowing her to have the world at her fingertips being able to spin any song she likes.
“I just really started to see everything from a different perspective as a DJ,” she explains. “You do, kind of, 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.
“They were quite far apart, and this whole experience has been trying to find that sweet spot, because I know I’m a pop artist and, as a vocalist, I’m a pop vocalist, so it was trying to find who I am within that space.
The Spice Girls last toured in 2019, without Lady Beckham(Image: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
“I’m really, really happy with how it turned out, because I did want it to be really joyful and motivating, and even though I didn’t want to lose that storytelling part of making a record, I really wanted to make people move.”
Beyond her latest album, Chisholm is also 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.
Chisholm acknowledged the group had experienced their “ups and downs” but revealed the “milestone” of turning 50 had prompted them to “start to really appreciate everybody”, noting “we’re discussing things a lot more than we than we have done in the past”.
She explains: “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.” 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 to promote the record, featuring shows in London, Glasgow and Dublin.
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