Mel on taking a break

"The last single I released was about two years ago, but I was touring so it's not as if I've been off enjoying myself, I've been working all the way through! "My last gig was a festival in Sweden in 2001 and then I was going to take some time off but I got bored! I took a couple of months off and then I went back into the studio. I've spent the last year writing, recording and getting the album together."

Mel on her new music

"I'm really pleased with Here It Comes Again - it's one of the first I wrote when I went back in the studio to record the second album. It was the one that got me really excited thinking I could really make another record. It's a song with a bit of attitude. I didn't want to come back with anything too flimsy. The album is quite diverse - there's some rock stuff, some acoustic stuff, there's a lot of different influences. I'm nervous about what people will think about it."

Mel on boyfriend Thomas Starr

"I'm in a very happy relationship with Thomas but there's no sign of wedding bells! We were out shopping recently for a present for his goddaughter's christening. We were looking for jewellery for her and people assumed we were getting engaged. We're not! We like spending time together - we had a quiet New Year together because I have such a big year coming up promoting my record."

Mel on Victoria

"I've never felt fearful about being kidnapped because I haven't got enough money! No-one would pay the ransom! That whole situation must have been horrific for Victoria and David. They're as high profile as you can get - I don't see myself in that light at all."

Mel on the Spice Girls

"I've not spoken to Victoria in a long long time, but I see Emma occasionally because we live close to each other and I went to see Mel B filming a couple of months ago in the Isle of Man. It's always nice to catch up, but we don't see a lot of each other. We do keep in touch but it's not very regular. I'm very proud of everything that happened with The Spice Girls. There's no chance whatsoever of The Spice Girls getting back together."

Mel on Sporty Spice

"I don't know if I'll ever shake the Mel C from the Spice Girls tag, but being called Sporty Spice annoys me a little bit. When people in pubs point and shout 'Are you Sporty Spice?' it can be a bit embarrassing.

Mel on her figure.

"For a year now I've been looking after myself. I love working out and I've always been active. I've been sensible with food, I know I can't eat too many chips. I'm not comfortable in being in the public eye with the way I look. I know from common sense what to do to change myself. I do get a lot of stick and I take it personally. "So much has been said about me and I've been criticised in so many different ways that once its said, I've learned to get over it. There's nothing much else they can say - it's all been said. It does upset me still but to a lesser degree than it once did.

Mel on being a star

"As a celebrity you become quite aware of where the paparazzi hide out. I've always maintained I won't let anyone determine how I lead my life but I don't want to be seen in newspaper and magazines every five minutes. I don't go clubbing in the West End of London where you know you're going to be seen. I'd rather stay local where I live and be private."

Mel on her gold tooth

"I just got bored and decided to get rid of it. Family and friends have been nagging me 'when are you going to get rid of it?' and one day I thought, yes, it's got to go. I felt like a change."

Mel on tattoos

"The tattoos aren't going anywhere and I don't plan on having any more. I've heard I'm supposed to be getting my tattoos removed but that's not true. It really hurt to have it done, it hurts more to get them removed so I think I'll just leave them where they are, thank you very much."

"When you're making a video, you're always being touched and styled and it drives me up the wall. You get prodded and preened constantly all day but you don't see that on video. People are being very complimentary about the way I look in this video, but I don't really look like that! It's all down to fantastic lighting and an experienced hairdresser and make-up artist!"

"There weren't many breaks on the video but now and again I got a few minutes to relax. They get you on set at 5.30am, and it takes about 90 mins to do hair and make-up and they are still never ready for you! You're sitting there waiting to start shooting until 10am with a load of make-up on and hair up."

"A few of the kids on the shoot came up to me and said they really liked the song. Even though some people in America know Melanie C, they all know Melanie from The Spice Girls. On the first day of shooting they were all having a good nose at me and checking me out. I was standing in downtown LA all dressed up and wearing loads of make-up and miming I felt like a right idiot! When you haven't done something for so long you realise how stupid it is."

"On the second day of the shoot we went to Vasquez Canyon in the desert and it was freezing! I had a jacket on and I was still cold. "We got to desert about 8.30am and it was beautiful and sunny with a blue sky, but it was very cold. I thought 'It's going to get warm soon' but it just got colder and colder. It was so cold I wanted to cry! Because it was in the desert there was nowhere to hang out, so we'd sit in people carriers with the heaters blasting out warm air!"

"We had a few television crews with us - MTV was doing a video diary and I was also doing some stuff for CD UK. It was all eyes on me. I flew to the USA especially for this video. I flew out a few days before the shoot so I'd get rid of jetlag. I didn't want to feel like crap on the shoot."

"Making a video can be a painful process but it's just two days out of your life so you can't complain. I wanted this video to be shot outside because it can be really boring and tedious shooting it in a studio. In California the weather is guaranteed but it gets cold there in December and once the sun goes down that's a wrap. Everything I do is my decision. I always decide which video I want to make