IT'S been two decades since the Spice Girls burst into our lives, stomping their way around the world shouting "Girl Power!". The feisty five-piece won millions of fans with their catchy pop songs and slick marketability as Baby, Sporty, Scary, Ginger and Posh.

Yet, like a supernova they burned fast and bright. Within a handful of years, it was all but over. Geri Halliwell (Ginger) did a Robbie Williams and left the band in 1998, while Victoria Beckham (Posh), Melanie Brown (Scary), Emma Bunton (Baby) and Melanie Chisholm (Sporty) limped on as a quartet.

The reduced line-up never quite lived up to their heyday and in 2000, the Spice Girls went their separate ways. Each has since variously sought to reinvent her brand by carving a career in fashion, reality TV, radio, presenting, acting or writing books.

The only one to stay devout to her music roots throughout is Melanie C. In fact, the artist formerly known as Sporty Spice has now been making records on her own longer than she was with the band. This week sees the release of her seventh solo studio album, Version Of Me.

In an autobiographical sense, it reflects the last four years of her life. It is a period that included tumultuous upheaval following the demise of her decade-long relationship with property developer Thomas Starr, the father of her daughter Scarlet.

The first single from her new album, Anymore, combines heartache and melancholy-fuelled lyrics with an infectious and energetic floor-filling beat: a deliberate juxtaposition by Melanie.

"It's a difficult one to express because lyrically it is quite sad," she says. "It is about breaking up with someone and you can't get them off your mind. You are doing all the right things, trying to forget about them, but you are a little bit obsessing. Then musically it is really fun and feels quite uplifting.

"It was nice to get that feeling of conflict in the video and I think it works. I'm a bit moody in a club and then there's people [around her] just loving the song and dancing all over the place."

While she insists the song isn't specifically about Thomas, it is impossible not to draw some parallels. "Looking back I have been in that position probably more times than I should have been as a younger woman," she says. "I think a lot of people can identify with that, can't they?"

Melanie, 42, chuckles when I say I can't quite believe that 20 years have passed since their debut single Wannabe was blowing up the radio airwaves.

"I can," she says, wryly. "It is funny because time goes so quickly, but I have been so lucky with my career both with the girls and off on my own. I have done so many different things. I feel like I have crammed quite a lot into those 20 years."

While happy to reminisce, Melanie has no desire to clamber back aboard the Spice Girls juggernaut. She won't be joining Geri Horner (nee Halliwell), Melanie Brown and Emma Bunton on a 20th anniversary tour. Victoria Beckham has also bowed out citing family and fashion label commitments.

It wasn't a decision Melanie took lightly. "It took me a long time to come to that conclusion," she says. "But as soon as I had spoken to the girls and expressed my feelings to them, I felt relieved.

"You know sometimes in life when there is something hanging over you? When you make the decision, you know it must be the right one because you feel much better about it."

It has been reported that each of the Spice Girls could net an estimated £2m from a reunion. Many would find such a lucrative payday hard to turn down, but Melanie remains steadfast in her resolve.

"Money is very enticing but I have always tried to have integrity and I've never looked at any opportunity for the financial gains," she asserts.

"I have done things because it feels right. Yes, like you say, it would have been nice to make that money – everyone has bills to pay – but it just didn't feel quite right for me."

Although she views performing at the closing ceremony of London 2012 as having been the final hurrah for the Spice Girls, Melanie doesn't rule out popping along to see a reunion gig or two.

"I will be dying to go along and watch," she says. "I think it will be quite strange, but I don't think I will be able to stay away."

While her former bandmates relive their halcyon past, she will be moving forward. Melanie is planning a tour next year to promote Version Of Me.

The album – released on her own label Red Girl Records – has a fresh and contemporary electronic sound which is a marked departure from the rock experimentation, brooding ballads and musical theatre covers of past solo offerings.

"Although I'm a pop artist and always will be, I didn't want to be too formulaic with the writing of the songs," she reflects. "I think it has helped to make a strong record.

"The inspiration for the album was some of the older stuff I've listened to over the years like Massive Attack and Portishead, but then coming more up-to-date with a lot of the great electronic stuff that is out there at the moment like Major Lazer, Jack Garratt and The Weeknd."

Melanie still lives up to her sporty nickname and is a keen amateur triathlete. When did she last wear a tracksuit in public that wasn't for a fitness-related activity? "I've got one on now," she quips.

While the rest of the Spice Girls were clumping about in platform heels or teetering precariously in stilettos, Melanie sensibly owned a collection of trainers to rival any Olympic athlete.

"I did cull them considerably but it is starting to grow again," she admits. "I went through a phase of not buying too many, but sportswear is all the rage now, isn't it?" Melanie was clearly ahead of her time. "I know," she laughs. "Everyone has finally caught up with me."

Version Of Me is released on Red Girl Records on Friday. The single Anymore is out now