Talking Shop: Sophie Ellis-Bextor

By Mark Savage
BBC News entertainment reporter

Ellis-Bextor's hits include Murder On The Dancefloor and Catch You

It is a slightly startling 10 years since Sophie Ellis-Bextor hit number one with the shimmering Groovejet (If This Ain't Love).

Since then, she's popped up at regular intervals with her peculiar brand of frosty-but-feisty floor-fillers.

We last saw her supporting George Michael and Take That in 2007-8, after which she took a break to have a second child, Kit, with her husband Richard Jones from pop group The Feeling.

Now she's back with a new album, Straight To The Heart, inspired by her recent reinvention as a club DJ.

Friendly and funny, the star opened up to the BBC News website about stalkers, stealing boxer shorts and why people think she's posh.

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Your new album sees you going back to your dance roots. What lay behind that decision?

I've been DJing a little bit, so you get used to the fact that music sounds brilliant when it's loud. And then I worked with a lot of DJs - the Freemasons and Calvin Harris and Armin van Buuren - who really do that sound so authentically. I think that all fed into the album's creation.

When you're DJing, is there a particular record you keep handy in case of a dancefloor crisis?

There are certainly some tracks where you put them on and think: 'If you're not dancing to this, then nothing's going to work.' Things like Wanna Be Starting Something, or Young Hearts Run Free.

Straight To The Heart will be the star's fourth solo album

One of mine used to be Groovejet…

Well, I don't play that one but I'll take your word for it!

Have you ever been in a club where the DJ recognises you and puts on one of your songs?

Yes, it happened to me at a funfair! It can be a bit embarrassing, but I've learnt that you just have to ignore it. Getting up to dance to your own stuff looks pretty pretentious. And leaving the dancefloor when it comes on is just awkward.

Why is the album called Straight To The Heart?

Because that is what pop music does. It's supposed to be something that, in three minutes, gets you right there. All my favourite pop records do that. It's not really cerebral, you just can't help yourself.

The record is very fun and open. It seems a lot of female artists who have children write songs that are celebratory of life…

I suppose it removes a layer. I feel definitely more positive and much more secure. It's a better world with them in it.

But then, I also wrote a song about this stalker I've had on texts.

What happened? Did someone got hold of your number?

I've had the same number for about eight or nine years, so it was kind of my own fault, but I get these messages which I never reply to.

The song's called Dial My Number and it's saying 'just because you've got my number, doesn't mean anything's gonna happen'.

The singer married guitarist Richard Jones in Italy in 2005

Do you worry that acknowledging this guy in a song will give him the validation you'd denied them by not replying to his texts?

Ah, but they still don't know they've got me - because I might be talking about someone else who's got my number!

The song Off And On has the lyric, 'the time away has done me good'. You're singing about a relationship, but it could also apply to your career. Did you intend to take three years off?

I think sometimes it's good to know when to push off!

When I was 21 and doing my first album, people would ask how I was going to stay the distance, and I would say: 'Well, I'm 21 now, so I can actually fit in two comebacks before I'm 30." And I was right!

Isn't it harder to pick back up where you left off each time?

I don't know. You get more interest because people say: 'Oh, you're back. Tell us what you've been up to.' Certainly for me, it's worked well - and it meant I could have babies.

But I quite like that the public has a very short attention span. If I haven't been on telly for a little bit, I can sense it. People don't take as much notice of you, it's really quite palpable.

When you go back on the telly, what happens?

I often get people saying: 'Has anyone ever told you you look like that Sophie Ellis-Bextor?'

And I usually say: 'Yeah, all the time and it's really annoying!'

The public seems to genuinely like you, though. What's the secret?

I don't think anyone doubts my motives, really. I do what I do and it's not very complicated. Of course, you might hate the music that I make, but I don't think people feel threatened by me just getting on with what I'm up to.

In 2008, the singer played at the Olympic handover ceremony in London

What's the biggest misconception people have about you?

Maybe that I'm going to be really serious, or just that I'm really posh. I don't really mind that one, actually. I think that's quite funny.

Don't they assume you're loaded with money, though? It'll always be your round at the pub.

That happens anyway when you're a pop star! Since Groovejet came out people have said: 'Oh, you must be a millionaire!'

I've had a number one record, guys. That doesn't make you a millionaire. Not any more. Not even 10 years ago when it came out.

One of your new songs, Revolution, starts with the lyric "bang bang, it's a hold-up". Have you ever stolen anything?

When Sonny, my eldest, was about two or three, he put some Spider-Man boxer shorts for a 12-year-old boy into his buggy. Then when we left the shop the alarm beeped and I was mortified!

It's not even like it was obviously for him or me. They didn't fit either of us! But luckily they just let me put them back.

If you became a career criminal what sort of shop would you rob?

A food shop! I'm not actually targeting this shop - but do you know the Fromagerie? It's just off Marylebone High Street and it's got loads of amazing cheese and wine.

So you'd steal cheese?!

Yes! Maybe Le Vacherin - the one you put in the oven. That one's good. But all different sorts of cheeses and breads. I love food!

You toured with Take That a couple of years ago. What did you make of Gary Barlow lending his support to David Cameron for the election?

Oh my God, I didn't see that! I don't really want to get into politics and pop. All I can say is, it wouldn't have been me standing next to David Cameron.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor's single, Bittersweet, is out now. Her album, Straight To The Heart, follows in the summer.