Interview: Sugababes

Heidi, the blonde Sugababe, should give some lessons on how to look sexy without seeming vulgar and in-your-face to many of today's flesh-flashing starlets. Dressed in jeans and a velvet blue military jacket from Top Shop, Heidi wants to point out when undressing can be truly justified.

"We did a photo shoot for Pretty Polly where we're all wearing underwear because obviously that's what Pretty Polly sells." Obviously. Selling a single is also a good reason to undress in videos, but they're not trashy like the Pussycat Dolls, are they? "They've got something," says new member Amelle, the brunette. "I think they've got an edge," agrees Heidi.

Edginess is something the girls seemed to have acquired over the years, but especially on their latest album, Taller In More Ways. Produced by Dallas Austin, it marks an important step in the career of a girl band. It almost gives them the credibility that the Spice Girls never had. "We went to Atlanta to meet him," remembers Heidi. "We're all fans of what he's done," continues Keisha, the only remaining original member of the band.

Everyone is a fan of at least one thing Dallas Austin's done. He's produced Michael Jackson, TLC, Duran Duran and countless others. It seems as if he's one big music encyclopedia. "We asked him loads of questions. Boy, he's got stories about Michael Jackson!" says Keisha. And boy, did he push her button! "I had a crush on him for about two or three weeks," she laughs, assuring us that the single Push The Button wasn't about Dallas. "Seriously, I think he's amazing. I'm in awe of him." Working with such a big name was a nerve-wracking experience. "We were really nervous, but he's a really nice guy," continues Heidi, "By the time we started recording, we felt really comfortable and relaxed."

The stress came shortly after the album's release. Mutya announced that she was leaving the band. Seemingly out of the blue, her decision only continued to fuel the rumors about her strained relationship with Keisha. But Heidi claims it was just boredom that provoked her departure.

"It did happen out of the blue, but it was not really a shock. We could see it coming." Mutya became a mother and outgrew the band. "I think she just wasn't happy doing it anymore. She had a baby and she'd been in the band ever since she was 12. She felt it was time to move on. We'd always said that we'd never carry on doing it if we weren't enjoying it any more."

Keisha obviously wants to play down the rumours that she and Mutya were only on singing terms. "I think even if Mutya had made the decision before we did this album, she would want to finish the album anyway to prove a lot of people wrong. A lot of people were saying that we were going to split up since the day we basically started. They thought we couldn't come back with another successful album. So I think that she kind of wanted to satisfy something within herself. Everything happens for a reason. I think we're definitely in a better position now."

Ooh, that says a lot about their relationship, doesn't it? Hopefully, things will go better with Mutya's replacement, Amelle, first spotted by their manager at a showcase she did with her sister in another band. The young singer from Hampshire is still a bit incredulous at her luck. "I still can't believe it, really," she squeaks. "I'm so happy because I've always liked singing and I loved the Sugababes."

All in, recruiting someone who already knew their songs by heart but who also fit the look was a genius way to not waste time. "Our management got Amelle to record some of our songs," says Heidi. "We were really surprised." And Amelle's big voice made them nervous, according to Keisha. "Once we heard her voice, Heidi said, 'Could you imagine if she's this model or something like that?' We're little!" What a relief - they can swap clothes.

Music, however, comes first. "We know that we don't sell our records with sex appeal." Keisha has obviously forgotten about their wardrobe in their videos. "For us, it's just about not being bored, trying different things." And to be fair, they don't exactly wear the micro-minis and more-than-midriff-bearing tops that the Pussycat Dolls favorr so much.

"I think they would've done well even if they were wearing bags over their heads," says Keisha, probably thinking of the first time they heard the catty girls' first single. Heidi remembers it too. "We heard that song, actually, when we were making this album with Dallas. We were in London and he put it on and said, 'This is a new girl group and it's a really good song.' And we were like, 'Man, we should've done this song!'"

Maybe next time. "We'd like to work with him in the future," says Heidi - perhaps to finish some of the songs left over from the Taller sessions. "We've done some really good songs that didn't lake it on the album just because they were too R&B. We'd like to maybe go back and do something with them." Surely Dallas is available.

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