Melanie C: Sweat, Attitude and a new era. Thirty years after finding global fame with the Spice Girls, and more than 25 years into her solo career, Melanie C is still moving forward.Her new album, ‘Sweat’, brings together pop, dance music and the energy of her early rave days. She talks about the album, new single ‘Attitude’, life on tour, DJing in Ibiza and her recent surprise performance with fellow Spice Girl Mel B. By Angela Sara West
“I’ve done a lot of soul-searching,” says Melanie C. “Now, I just want to have some fun and get people dancing again!” That feeling runs throughout ‘Sweat’, her ninth studio album. The record celebrates movement, freedom and connection, while bringing together Melanie’s pop roots and her more recent work as a DJ.I first interviewed Melanie back in the 1990s, during the Spice Girls years. I remember her energy, kindness and strong connection with the fans. Almost 30 years later, that connection is still important to her.“I think artists often expect a lot of their fans. Some of our fans travel across the world to see shows. So, it’s really nice to be able to get to people locally in their own neighbourhoods and really share that experience with them.”
Life on the road. Melanie has enjoyed one of the longest and most varied careers in British pop. Since appearing as Sporty Spice in 1994, she has continued recording, touring and performing around the world. 2026 has already been a busy year, with appearances in Sydney, New York, Los Angeles and Australia, as well as performances and television appearances including ‘The Kelly Clarkson Show’ and ‘Good Morning America’. She also received a Global Impact Award at the O2 Silver Clef Awards. Her new album ‘Sweat’ became her highest-charting solo album, reaching number three on the Official Albums Chart and number one on the Official Record Store Chart. For Melanie, the album brings different parts of her musical life together: Sporty Spice, solo artist, teenage raver and DJ.
Back to the rave days. Before the Spice Girls, Melanie was part of a group of teenage friends who called themselves “The F**king Yeah Four”. At 18, they spent time dancing through the Costa Brava rave scene. Those early experiences of dance music, freedom and friendship stayed with her. Now, that energy can be heard again on ‘Sweat’. Sweat and self-expression. The release of the album comes alongside The Melanie C World Tour, which includes a headline show at O2 Academy Brixton in October.The live show will combine new dance tracks with some of the biggest songs from Melanie’s career.
What keeps her inspired after so many years?
“I just love what I do!” she says. “I love performing, I love that feeling of being on stage, releasing music and having that connection with people.”She says music still helps her connect with others. “As different as we all are, we share so much and we have so much in common. It’s really beautiful to be able to express yourself and to connect with others.” She is also constantly inspired by other artists. “I can’t imagine ever not being inspired to carry on and make new music.”
Meeting the fans
Ahead of the world tour, Melanie travelled around the UK for a series of album signings and intimate performances. “The whole signing tour was pretty special. We visited so many cities and towns, including some places I’d never been to professionally before.”Liverpool was particularly meaningful. “We were in Liverpool on the album release day. It’s such a great thing to do — to go home.” “It feels very appropriate that I should go home and thank my city for how supportive they’ve been over the years, of me as a Spice Girl and a solo artist.” She also visited Nantwich, Bury, Glasgow and other towns and cities. “It was great to get back up to Scotland. Glasgow, there’s always such a warm reception there.”
Sweat album tracks
- Sweat
- Drum Machine
- What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
- ’Til It Breaks
- Pressure
- Emotional Memory
- Attitude
- Good For Nothing
- Undefeated Champion
- Cashmere
- Free To Love
- One Track Mind
- Flick Of The Wrist
Reuniting with Mel B
One of the tour’s biggest surprises came in Leeds when Mel B joined Melanie on stage. Mel B had been watching from the audience when Melanie unexpectedly invited her up. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without this woman,” Melanie told the crowd. The pair then performed ‘Spice Up Your Life’ together, marking their first performance together since 2019. “We’ve got a lot of history there with Mel B being from Leeds and my dad’s up there,” Melanie says. She also enjoyed returning to Bristol.“It’s such an incredible city, so creative. So many of the bands that have inspired me come from Bristol.”
Records, CDs and nostalgia
Melanie also enjoyed visiting record shops during the signing tour. She remembers saving her pocket money as a child to buy records from Woolworths. Now she is pleased to see younger music fans rediscovering physical formats. “I get the vinyl thing but now people are back into CDs, which is wonderful.” She believes physical records offer something streaming cannot. “The artwork, the lyrics in your hands… that was such a big part and influence of mine as I was growing up as a young music lover.”
London calling
London has been Melanie’s home for many years. “This spring, I played at Union Chapel, a venue where I’ve guested with other people, but had never had my own show.” The intimate performance included acoustic versions of classics alongside songs from ‘Sweat’. She performed tracks including ‘Undefeated Champion’, ‘Drum Machine’ and ‘Attitude’, as well as new versions of ‘Spice Up Your Life’ and ‘2 Become 1’.
Attitude
‘Attitude’ is one of the boldest tracks on the new album. For Melanie, it is about confidence, independence and knowing who you are. “‘Attitude’ is that rush of adrenaline you get when you decide you’re done playing small,” she says. “It’s fearless, it’s playful, it’s a little bit cheeky — but at its heart, it’s about confidence and independence.”She describes the track as joyful but defiant. “For me, ‘Attitude’ is pure energy — sassy, cool, confident.”
A love of dance music
Dance music has become an increasingly important part of Melanie’s career. Over the last eight years she has developed as a DJ, performing at festivals around the world and regularly playing in Ibiza. “For the past five years I’ve been playing at Pacha, and it just really reignited a passion that I have for dance music.” That passion became a major influence on ‘Sweat’. Written and recorded across London, Stockholm, Los Angeles and Sydney, the album combines pop with electronic and dance sounds. But it also has quieter and more emotional moments, touching on resilience, heartbreak and starting again.
O2 Academy Brixton
One of the most important dates on Melanie’s upcoming tour will be O2 Academy Brixton. “I feel quite emotional about it,” she says. She has watched some of her favourite artists perform there and has previously appeared on the stage as a guest, but this will be her first solo headline show at the venue. “It’s 30 years since I started with the Spice Girls, it is over 25 years since I became a solo artist, I’m 52 years old, and I’m playing this brilliant, iconic venue for the very first time.” “So, that show is going to be extra special.”
The new Sweat era
For the upcoming tour, Melanie wants to celebrate every part of her career. “My mind is buzzing right now with tour creative because, like the album, I want to approach this tour differently.” She promises plenty of familiar songs alongside the new material. “I’m going to cram in as many hits as I can. I’m not going to leave anybody disappointed.”She wants the shows to feel like a complete journey. “When they leave, I want fans to be exhausted but elated, and really, really sweaty!” she laughs. One of the darker moments on the album is ‘Flick Of The Wrist’, created during an all-female writing session. The track she is most excited to perform live is ‘Undefeated Champion’.And how would she describe the whole ‘Sweat’ era? “Joyous, energetic and fun!”
UK tour dates 2026
Sun 18 Oct — Dublin — 3Olympia
Tue 20 Oct — Glasgow — Barrowland Ballroom
Wed 21 Oct — Manchester — O2 Ritz
Fri 23 Oct — London — O2 Academy Brixton
Sat 24 Oct — Birmingham — O2 Institute
The Melanie C World Tour 2026
Tue 8 Sep — Montreal — Club Soda
Wed 9 Sep — Toronto — Phoenix Concert Theatre
Fri 11 Sep — Washington DC — 9:30 Club
Sat 12 Sep — New York — Webster Hall
Mon 14 Sep — Boston — Paradise Rock Club
Wed 16 Sep — Chicago — Concord Music Hall
Fri 18 Sep — Vancouver — Vogue Theatre
Sat 19 Sep — Seattle — The Showbox
Tue 22 Sep — San Francisco — The Castro
Wed 23 Sep — Los Angeles — The Fonda Theatre
Fri 25 Sep — San Diego — House of Blues
Sun 18 Oct — Dublin — 3Olympia
Tue 20 Oct — Glasgow — Barrowland Ballroom
Wed 21 Oct — Manchester — O2 Ritz
Fri 23 Oct — London — O2 Academy Brixton
Sat 24 Oct — Birmingham — O2 Institute
Mon 26 Oct — Brussels — Botanique
Tue 27 Oct — Paris — La Machine du Moulin Rouge
Thu 29 Oct — Amsterdam — Melkweg OZ
Fri 30 Oct — Berlin — Metropol
Fri 6 Nov — Tokyo — Ex Theater
Wed 11 Nov — Perth — Astor Theatre
Fri 13 Nov — Melbourne — Northcote Theatre
Sat 14 Nov — Brisbane — The Tivoli
Sun 15 Nov — Sydney — Enmore Theatre
Tickets are available at melaniec.net
Melanie C — Sweat Part II
In the next issue of Events & Entertainment, Melanie talks festivals, the rave scene, ‘Northern Star’ and the Spice Girls’ legacy.