As Sporty Spice she was part of a worldwide phenomenon.

As a solo artist Mel C hasn’t done badly either.

But listen to her songs and themes like bullying, depression and anxiety crop up, suggesting a lifestyle far removed from being a glamorous pop star life.

“It’s good to delve deep into those emotions and express them,” says Mel, who plays the O2 ABC on Tuesday.

“Sometimes I don’t realise how I really feel about something until I’ve written a song about it. I’m not a confrontational person and anything like that makes me feel very uncomfortable, but I find I’m able to get things off my chest by writing songs.”

Given that pop music is filled with larger than life personalities, both onstage and off, it seems fair to wonder how tough avoiding conflict has been for Mel, both with her former band and her solo career.

“In life we always meet people with all kinds of personalities and I have found it difficult at times,” she answers.

“Especially with I was younger, I found it difficult to sometimes say what I was thinking. But one of the great things about getting old is that you tend to care less – you don’t mind offending people as much!”

That was certainly the case over the past two years, where she was one of two Spice Girls to turn down a reunion of the fivesome (Victoria Beckham also declined). It meant passing up a fortune, but the singer was reluctant to do it, instead focusing on her solo career.

Last year saw her seventh album Version of Me released, a record inspired by electronica.

“I feel like I’ve been in the industry now for over 20 years, and been a solo artist for most of that time, but I wanted to approach everything differently this time,” she enthuses.

“I’ve always had incredible musicians in my band, and my music has actually become less electronic over the years – when I think back to (her 1999 album) Northern Star there was some amazing production from people like William Orbit, but things got more traditional as time went on.

“This time I had a burning desire to do something more electronic, inspired by bands I love from the 90s, like Portishead and Massive Attack, but I was listening to modern people like Jack Garratt too.”

That meant Mel worked with everyone from grime duo Sons of Sonix to singer-songwriter Alex Francis. Now she will bring the album to Glasgow, along with a very special guest – her daughter Scarlett.

“I’m bringing my little girl and she’s never been to Scotland before,” says Mel.

“We’re coming up the night before, so she can hang out in the city for the day of the gig. She’s going to have her own bunk on the bus too! For me it’s great getting back to Glasgow because I know it’s a great crowd and I’ve always had fantastic gigs there. We played King Tut’s years ago and everyone just kept singing back to me.”

Mel is comfortably the most successful solo Spice in musical terms, having enjoyed success with both singles and albums. However the Spice Girls and their Girl Power message were always about more than just music.

“I do meet people, whether it’s DJ’s, journalists or just people on the street and it’s amazing how many say how it affected them and that it was a positive thing on their lives,” she says.

“When you see people who’ve gone on to have great careers or kids or their own businesses, it’s amazing to think that we meant something to them.”

Mel herself is still involved in supporting women’s rights and LGBT rights, and she remains optimistic, despite the rise in right wing politics over the past few years.

“We have challenges but that was always going to happen,” she explains.

“I think the silver lining of things going on in the world today is that people are speaking out again. Women do feel empowered, but when we feel we are compromised we will come out in numbers.

“I think about my daughter and her friends. They’re growing up in a world where a guy can live with a guy and a girl can live with a girl and they won’t question that. I think it’s very exciting that they will grow up in a world where that is now completely normal.”

She hasn’t lost her interest in sports either, with UFC fighter Conor McGregor someone she finds inspirational.

“I’m not a big fan of ultimate fighting because it’s a bit too hardcore for me, but what I admire about him is that he’s just so positive,” she adds.

“He has that creative visualisation where he makes things happen, and I find him very inspiring because of that.”

Mel C, O2 ABC, Tuesday, £23.50, 7pm

JONATHAN GEDDES