Your new single 'Lullaby' is out next week - it's quite a personal track - tell me a bit about it.
Well I wrote the song when she [her daughter Phoenix] was about four or five months old and I had things in my mind about what I wanted to write about for the album. And they were all going to be personal - almost like a little bit of therapy. Phoenix was at the top of the list because she is my life - she was one of the first things I wanted to write about. I co-wrote it actually with a guy called Biff who we wrote 'Wannabe' with in Ireland. So it was nice to kind of go back to my routes and kind of hang out in Ireland for a bit as well. And it's just a very lovely track, it described motherly love between mother and daughter. Very simple and very sweet.

The single's from your album 'Hot' that came out last year - how proud of that record are you?
I'm very proud of the whole album - very proud of it. I think people need to here it more before they actually get to like it, it's one of those kinds of albums. It's very different from the Spice Girls. I think the Spice Girls is far more pop whereas mine is pop R'N'B. A different combination. I'm just really proud of it - it's just nice to be able to get your own album out.

It came out in October last year, looking back now would you change anything about it or are you totally happy with it?
I love it wait I'm yawning I love it - every song on there I've thoroughly thought about and I've gone through the whole process to write it. It's just very therapeutic.

Do you have a favourite song on there?
Oh I like all the tracks.

Not the new single?
I like 'Lullaby' because it's more currently personal because of my baby daughter. But I like all of them and if I didn't like any of them, they wouldn't be on there, they'd be off - on a B-side or something.

Have you started work on the next record yet?
I haven't. After I release this one I'm probably going to release another one and then probably a TV show - called this is my moment. Then I've got a documentary coming out called 'Roots' which is about black magic and voodoo and then I'm probably going to tour and get my band together, so I'm actually performing this song everywhere with the band. So I'm probably going to take a few bits and bibs on tour and thinking about probably writing another one next year or something. But then I want to incorporate the Spice stuff as well.

Looking back - your debut single was with Missy Elliot - what was she like to work with?
Fantastic. And she actually called me up and said "Melanie I've got a song for you, I want you to hear it" and I was like "are you sure you've got the right person, oh my god!" and then I had a check with the girls and within two weeks I was in her studio recording it and Destiny's Child were there - I was having palpitations. She's amazing to work with.

Have you heard her new album?
Yes it's fantastic. My god that woman is a genius.

Do you have any particular favourites on that album?
The one that's released ['Get Ur Freak On'] I absolutely love it - and the video. Brilliant. Fantastic.

In the future who would your dream collaboration be with? An idol?
Lil' Kim, Mary J Blige, Prince.

Have you though about getting in touch with them or does it not work like that?
Oh I will do when I start my second album. I'll give them a call - get the record company to call them first in case they say no! And then I'll call them.

You had quite a busy weekend - as far as I've heard in the media - you were on Live And Kicking
Yeah in Scotland.

And you were on G.A.Y as well. Can I just ask, did that rude word kind of slip out? [she said wanker on breakfast TV]
Well that was the end of the poem! I said a poem and that was the end word and he went "…." so I said it for him. Well it was a bit naughty because kids do watch it and I wouldn't use that kind of language in front of Phoenix.

Are you embarrassed about it at all, or do you think it wasn't really your fault?
It blurted, out it wasn't my fault. They shouldn't have put the poem on there with that word on the end missing because obviously someone is going to say it. And that somebody was me - sorry.

You played at G.A.Y how was that?
Fantastic. The first time we performed there was as a group. Doing 'Wannabe' and 'Who Do You Think You Are?' and things like that. So it was good to go back there and Emma's been back there, and Melanie's been back there to do her solo stuff, and Vicky's booked in there for September, so it's really nice to go back there 'cos that was our first gig we ever did. So then I did my first gig as Melanie B doing five songs with my dancers - so it was a pretty good experience.

The first time was that back in '96?
Probably even before that.

Quite a while then, half a decade ago.
And we're still nice, ha ha.

Did you recognise anyone in the crowd there at all?
Oh yeah!

People with the particularly big bouffants I take it.

It's your birthday next week - have you got anything special planned?
Not as far as I know, no. It's not big though, I mean your 21st is big, my sister's going to be 21 the week after me, so that's a big one. And all the '0s' are big aren't they the 30s the 40s. 26 isn't very big, it's not that much of a big deal. But I hope I get a surprise. Phoenix start making me a surprise - you're at nursery today - make me a picture!

She might make you a card there or something.
That would be nice.

Do you have any Spice Girls projects lined up at the moment or not?
No. We're hopefully doing some stuff next year with the album and promoting that. But nothing's set in stone yet.

So you haven't booked any studio time yet or anything like that?
I don't think we'll be writing another album until we've promoted this one.

But there is going to be a new tour?
Hopefully, but it's not set in place yet.

Now we all know you're not splitting up - the Spice Girls - but how often do you all see each other?
Well not a lot at the moment. Melanie's off doing her tour, Emma's in Europe for two or three weeks promoting her single and album. Vicky's back in Manchester finishing off her album and video, so we haven't really had a chance to get together. But when I was away last week, Phoenix was being looked after by Emma which was quite sweet. We kind of keep in contact on the phone.

So it's been like that for the last year with everyone all over the place?
No, the last month.

If you had to listen to one Spice Girl song once, every day of your life, which one would it be?
Probably 'Holler'.

And if there was one that you had the choice of never hearing ever again, which one would that be?
I love them all. The thing is our group is so democratic when we're picking singles, that if there's one person who doesn't like it, it doesn't make the album. It's a simple as that.

Have you not heard any of the songs too many times? Like 'Wannabe' has been on the radio a billion times…
Oh I love that!

If it comes on the radio you'll turn it up?
Yeah. I'll have a giggle to myself because it's just wicked, out and out pure pop with kick to it - it's great.

Looking back over your career so far, what's the absolute best moment?
It would be meeting Nelson Mandela.

I was going to ask you what that was like…
It was with my daughter and it was on the thing for 'Celebrate South Africa'. It was fantastic to have my baby there to meet him as well.

I was in the crowd actually, I did notice the slight accident.
My boob didn't all pop out, it was only a little bit.

Well I didn't notice until someone said "what's happening up there?"
Were you facing the other way?

I hid my eyes, I couldn't look.

You're having a really busy time at the moment
Well believe it or not, I do have days off. I get the chance to be a mum as well. It's not work all the time without having any fun.

If you could go on a holiday with Phoenix tomorrow, where would you go?
Probably Tibet. It's a very spiritual space and a place I haven't been to before.

What are your plans for the rest of the year?
I'm possibly releasing another single off the album, then I've got my documentary to do in Africa, my show which is being filmed in Manchester called 'This Is My Moment', then get my band together to do a few gigs, then next year sorting out the second album and doing some stuff with the Spices. I think that's enough for now.

Yeah, that will keep you going for a while.

Do you have a message for readers of The Base?
My message is keep it real, believe in yourself and live today like it's your last day ever because who knows what could happen tomorrow.

My very final question, who's a better singer - you or Geri?
I'll leave those [pointing at camera]to answer that.

Fair enough. Thank you very much Mel.
Excellent. Thanks.