Scary Spice is back with new music
We all know her as “Scary Spice” of the highly successful girl group The Spice Girls, but lately Melanie Brown has been conquering the world of television on shows like America’s Got Talent as well as X Factor overseas.
Now, she’s found her confidence again in music with her new single, “For Once In My Life.” The catchy dance tune, which was released along with a fun music video, is her first in eight years, and she’s ready to get back in the studio.
TheCelebrityCafe.com: You’ve been really busy with hosting lately.
Mel B: You know what, I’m always busy. And I don’t even see it really as work, because everything I do I still really enjoy. I get to bring my kids along and they get to enjoy it, too. It doesn’t feel like work, to be honest.
TCC: First, you did X Factor Australia and in the UK, and now America’s Got Talent,” and I read that you’ve signed on for another season?
Mel B: We’ll see. I don’t even know if we will be brought back yet, but hopefully we will be. I’ve had a really good time doing it.
TCC: The show seems so unpredictable compared to others like X Factor, which only involves singing, but America’s Got Talent really includes everything.
Mel B: It is a little bit of everything, and I think that’s what all of us have really enjoyed about being on this show, because you don’t know what to expect next. You don’t know if you’re going to see a magic act, a danger act, a singer or a dancer, it’s been really interesting. It is one of the only true variety shows that’s still standing.
TCC: You’re such a natural host — you’ve co-hosted The Today Show recently, and generally you are very energetic and fun in interviews. If Saturday Night Live asked you to host, would you consider it?
Mel B: I would love to host Saturday Night Live. That’s right up my street because I’m all for doing skits of myself. I would love to do something like that. You’ve put a little thing in my mind now.
TCC: You’ve had other ventures in television like Dancing With The Stars, of course, but you’re also really involved in the business of being fit— workout DVDs, Jenny Craig after you had your baby, and now you have your partnership with Real Water and Susan G. Komen Foundation. Why was it important for you to get involved with this and show that side of yourself?
Mel B: Well, because I’m a businesswoman at the end of the day. Anything that I actually do drink myself or I do actually use myself, I’m going to be into promoting it. It just so happens there was a window where me and my husband could invest in Real Water when it was doing very poorly many years ago, back in the beginning. It just so happens that everyone loves the water. It has really exploded on to the scene, and rightfully so because it’s really good water; it’s really hydrating. As a singer, you need to find you water that works for you, and that’s the one that works for me and many other people. Robert Downey Jr. ships bottles of it to England whenever he has movies over there (because you can’t get it there yet). I’m really proud of it.
TCC: You’ve stayed really fit and healthy over the years, which seemed to pay off in your new music video. You’re literally on Wisteria Lane (where Desperate Housewives was shot), taking off your clothes, jumping rope, and running, all in one take - something rare in videos these days.
Mel B: It was convenient more than anything because I only had nine hours to shoot the video because I was in the middle of taping America’s Got Talent. That was the perfect location. I’m also a huge fan of Desperate Housewives, who isn’t? And it all made sense — the fact that I’m on my way to work, I’m tired of my mundane job, I rip my clothes off, I get rid of all that boring excess baggage, and I just enjoy myself for once in my life, and that’s the whole premise. It’s all about embracing your inner beauty and just living for yourself.
TCC: The actual song, “For Once In My Life,” seems like the perfect song to describe your return to music, with a girl power theme. The production on it was so fast, and you just put out there instead of doing the press beforehand, but why the hurry?
Mel B: I wasn’t in any hurry at all. One day, I just wanted to do a song that has this feeling. I called up my producer, he happened to be available, we got in the studio that night, we wrote the song, we mastered the song, and a couple of days later I shot the video. I was like, “I don’t want to hold on to this song.” I didn’t want to have to do weeks of promotion. I didn’t want to tell people, “It’s coming out in two weeks.” It’s ready, so I released it. With no promotion whatsoever, and thank God it got the reaction that I’d hoped for. People listened to it because it’s a good song.
TCC: I have noticed that the reaction has been amazing, from other celebrities and fans alike. Did you expect for it to be received so well?
Mel B: You never can expect what people’s reactions are going to be. You can only hope that everyone feels the way that you do. It just so happens that a lot of my celebrity friends were really supportive and they were like, “Damn! You didn’t even tell me you were in the studio.” And they were retweeting it time and time again.
TCC: And many artists as well. Are there any who influence you now in your music?
Mel B: There are so many different artists. I’ve got four girls, so anything from Rihanna to Miley Cyrus — there’s a bunch of people that are killing it. I’m enjoying their music 100 percent.
Luckily, there’s been a bit of room for me right now, and I’m getting a lot of pats on the back, and that’s something I’m really grateful for. I hope it continues, because I don’t want to stop bringing out music. I’m on a roll, and I’m in the studio again in a couple of days, and I just don’t want to stop.
TCC: Do you have an album in sight?
Mel B: I don’t have any pressure on myself. I don’t have a big record label backing me. I’m doing it all myself. I’m not putting pressure on myself, all I know is I want to do music. I cannot wait to get back in the studio and do more and more of it. We’ll see.
TCC: I’ve read that you still consider yourself “Scary Spice,” and that it’s still a huge part of who you are now, but are there ever times where you think that label hinders you as an artist?
Mel B: No, I’m one of five girls in the whole entire world that can honestly say I’m a Spice Girl. I’m still proud of that, and what we’ve achieved as a group—spreading the word of positivity and girl power. I’m really proud to call myself that.