Before she became Mel C of the Spice Girls, she was Melanie Chisholm of “The F**king Yeah Four,” a group of 18-year-old friends dancing through the Costa Brava rave scene in the early ’90s. Those nights of breakbeats, sweat, and freedom would shape her forever. Decades later, Melanie C channels that same raw energy into Sweat—her ninth studio album and most euphoric record to date, out now on Virgin Music Group. Alongside the album release, Melanie has unveiled the official music video for focus single “Drum Machine,” directed by Graham Cruz.
Recorded between London, Stockholm, and LA, Sweat is a celebration of joy, movement, and community—a fusion of Melanie C’s pop legacy and her more recent evolution as a DJ. Today’s focus single “Drum Machine” distills that energy into its purest form: pounding kick drums and pulsing synths drive a club track that captures the hedonism of losing yourself in music. As Melanie explains, “Drum Machine is about finding someone who makes you feel alive again – that deep connection where love runs through your whole body, lifts your spirit, and sets your heart to a different beat.”
Album highlights across Sweat further showcase Melanie C’s ability to balance euphoric release with emotional depth. The title track “Sweat” sets the tone with its high-energy pulse, sampling Diana Ross’ “Work That Body” and channeling retro workout nostalgia with a modern dancefloor edge. On “Undefeated Champion,” she leans into glittering disco textures while reflecting on resilience and perseverance, a theme that runs throughout both her career and personal journey. Meanwhile, “Til It Breaks” captures a more vulnerable side, written in the aftermath of a breakup and exploring the emotional limits of heartbreak—delivering a cathartic, club-ready anthem in the spirit of dancing through difficult moments.
In 2018, a chance invitation to DJ at queer club night Sink The Pink reignited Chisholm’s connection to dance culture. Within a year, she was spinning at Ibiza institutions like Pacha and Café Mambo, and commanding festival crowds across the globe. “I love being able to mix anything I want—you can take things apart and build them again, just like in life.” That same year, she rejoined the Spice Girls for their landmark 2019 reunion tour, culminating in three sold-out nights at Wembley Stadium.
With Sweat, Melanie C unites every part of her story: the athlete, the pop icon, the underground DJ, and the teenager who fell in love with rave culture. The release of Sweat arrives amid a standout period for Melanie C. Recent highlights include a special performance at The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center’s annual Center Dinner gala in New York City, a headline DJ set at this year’s London Marathon, and global appearances spanning Sydney’s New Year’s Eve celebrations and New York’s Jingle Ball. She recently appeared on ABC’s Nightline, with the segment now available to stream on Hulu and Disney+.
This momentum continues with the announcement of The Melanie C World Tour, a global run of shows bringing the high-energy spirit of Sweat to fans worldwide. The tour kicks off in North America, starting in Montreal on September 8, with stops in Toronto, Washington, D.C., New York, Boston, Chicago, Vancouver, Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, before concluding in San Diego on September 25. Melanie will then head to the UK and Europe in October, followed by Asia and Australia in November.