All Pop - Artists

They may have a mature new look and sound, but the Spice Girls are still girls at heart, group member Emma Bunton said yesterday.

Bunton, 24, was in Toronto to promote her British song-and-dance group's upcoming album, Forever, which comes out Nov. 7.

Prior to a late afternoon spot on MuchMusic that drew about 300 fans, the Spice Girl-formerly known as Baby-sat down for a one-on-one interview and admitted that she doesn't quite share the popular opinion that the new disc, including current hit single Holler, marks a distinct change in the group's image.

'Natural progression'

"Do you think so?" the diminutive, personable Bunton said, a mere hour after flying in from New York City, where she'd given interviews with fellow Spice Victoria "Posh" Beckham and appeared on Friday's VH-1 Fashion Awards.

"It's been a natural progression, and we have grown as women," she added, referring to the Spice Girls' recent 18-month hiatus, during which Beckham and Melanie "Scary" Brown had babies and Melanie "Sporty" Chisholm released a solo album.

"But we haven't gone way over. Our sound is still there."

For Forever, the Spice Girls teamed up with big-name American production team Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and Toni Braxton hitmeister Rodney Jerkins, giving the record a modern R&B feel.

"We really like the sound that's coming out of America at the moment," Bunton said.

"With the American production, and because we always write our own lyrics and melodies, I think those sweet melodies and harmonies on top still make it very cheeky and fun."

'Nerve-racking'

Bunton called the collaborations "nerve-racking at first," but said a smooth co-

writing relationship developed.

In fact, the singer is wrapping up work on her first solo record, which she hopes to release early next year.

"I was nearly there before we started working on Forever," said Bunton, who last year lent her vocals to U.K. band Tin Tin Out's hit rendition of What I Am.

"I've done tracks with Jam and Lewis, and I've been writing -- but not duetting -- with Bryan Adams. It's very guitary, with an American R&B style, too."

Along with Beckham, she's also done some TV presenting in Britain, an urge she got to indulge yesterday on Much when, between signing autographs and answering callers' questions, she co-hosted for an hour with veejay Master T.

Naturally, the Spice Girls' vigorous work outside the group has spawned rumours of a looming break-up.

But Bunton stressed that the group remains a priority.

"It always has been," she said. "We love doing our own thing. But this is our main thing and it's worked really well."

Even when the girls were away, she said, they weren't apart.

"We are genuinely friends, so we hung out. Nothing's changed.

"It wasn't like we came back together just to write the album.

"But when we do get back together in the studio, we are like kids. We laugh and gossip, and they're trying to make us work!

"We've never not been together for it to be awkward."

No plans for tour

Due to Beckham's and Brown's maternal duties, there are no immediate plans for a Forever tour, though they are considering a series of quick concert jaunts.

Bunton, meanwhile, may break out of her recent role as the Spice Girl with the lowest profile with a tour of her own. Beckham's marriage to Manchester United soccer star David Beckham, Chisholm's solo career, and Brown's divorce flung the other three into the headlines during the hiatus.

Speaking of her privacy, she said, "I'm lucky. But I tend to be really family-orientated. One of my best friends I've known since I was four.

"Maybe I just haven't got anything in my closet," she said laughing.

"Wait and see. I'm sure I'll be next."

Emma spices it up in T.O.