My single 'What Took You So Long' I wrote with Biff and Julian (part of the Spice Girls production team), they've got a whole crew in Dublin. I'm very hands on with lyrics and production, I have to know what's going on. I'm really pleased with it, it's uplifting with a great guitar riff in it.

After the success of the Tin Tin Out single did you consider doing any other collaborations?

I love writing my own material, it's a big thing for me, I've always wanted to do that. I've collaborated with Tin Tin Out on the album and I've covered 'Sunshine On A Rainy Day' which you'll all know. But the rest of the stuff I've written myself.

You must have been flooded with offers?

I think it was generally known that I wanted to work with producers that would allow me to have a lot of input.

The video looks like a good laugh to make...

It was amazing. Again the idea came from me which was quite nerve wracking 'cos it was like 'how is this going to turn out?' I worked with a fantastic director and I just told him all my ideas and we elaborated on them and it was great fun but it was actually freezing. Can you believe that? It was freezing cold but the whole crew were great and I had a great laugh."

It seems like you've been away for a while...

Mel B can do loads of things at once whereas I have to concentrate on one thing or the other. I was concentrating on the Spice album, then I was concentrating on presenting and through all that I was recording as well so I wanted to make sure it was done right before I brought the album out. I think I'm a bit of a control freak."

Did you need to recharge?

I didn't have any time off. I have not stopped. I haven't even had time for a holiday.

So what about the album?

I'm really pleased with the album because it has got quite a few different sounds on there. I've done lots of guitar stuff, which I love and is my favourite. I've also done some real dancey tracks and a little bit of r&b. I love all different types of music so I put them all on there and I think people will be able to identify with what I've written about 'cos I've written about things that we all go through down to falling in love, having your heart broken, having to tell someone it's over. General things that the girls and boys out there will know exactly how it feels. I knew how I wanted it to sound. I knew I wanted different flavours on there. When I was younger I used to listen to Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, I was a real Motown girl and it always gave me some kind of emotion and I've put that on my album. I really want whoever listens to it to bring something out in them.

How did it differ working without the other girls?

It was really weird at first, I really missed them but then on the other hand it's nice cos you can do exactly what you want, it's all down to you which is nerve wracking but really good fun.

What about doing all the promotion on your own?

It is odd. If you're having a bad day you could usually go 'oh you can speak to them'. But I really enjoy it. I love meeting new people. When you go and do all these TV shows you meet other bands. I feel really lucky, I'm 25, I'm in this situation and I feel so lucky that I can do this. I can be in a band and I can do this solo stuff. It's amazing.

Have you got any plans to tour?

There are no plans yet but I definitely want to tour. I've got ideas for shows and I'm really looking forward to it. It's the best part singing live and your fans are there and you go a bit wild for an hour.

Your album marks yet another artistic direction...

We have all got different tastes in music but when we come together we connect and that's why Spice Girls are probably a little bit mad. Our albums are just crazy 'cos we bring all these influences into an album. You can see the influences now doing solo stuff. It can be difficult and it is frustrating. For the fans you have to keep telling them that 'look this is not true'. You see them crying and you just think they are getting so upset and it's all lies. We're always talking about touring again and obviously we are really concentrating on solo stuff, we have to give each other that space 'cos we're women and we want to try different things. But please it's not true and we are still together."

And you've done a track ('I Don't Know') on the new Damage album?

I did a track with the boys. I hang out with them sometimes if they are in the studio and Jade comes down to me if I'm in the studio and they asked me to sing on that track. I was so embarrassed 'cos they are really cool boys and I had to go in and do my bit but I really enjoyed it and I'm going to be performing it with them really soon.

What do you think of people analysing the lyrics?

I think it's absolutely ridiculous. The song goes 'I don't know if you want to but I do. So here's my name and number, it's up to you.' It's about when you are out and you see someone and you're like 'here's my number, if you wanna call? I don't know if you want to but it'd be nice' And they are saying it's because... (throws her head into her hands). I mean it's like the other time when they said me and Jade got married. It was my mum, I was wearing leather trousers and a coat, Jade wasn't even there. I don't even know where they get it from. It's all a bit mad. They make things up. They've got a job to do.

What about the Raw Spice popumentary?

I think obviously it's stuff that was done ages ago and we didn't know what it was so you're gonna say 'no don't show it' but I think we're going to be laughing our socks off. Anyone who thinks this is the beginning of our lives, I'm afraid it's not. He came and filmed us for about two days. I think it'll be funny. I'm quite looking forward to it. I spoke to Mel and said 'are you gonna come over with a bottle of wine so we can have a giggle' so we might be doing that."

And finally what are you looking forward to doing for the rest of the year?

I'm really looking forward to letting people listen to the album and see what they think ("fingers crossed") and I'm really looking forward to singing live. I'm doing G.A.Y. and some instore performances, some signings, so get down there, and I'm really excited about everything.