From 'moody' teenager to an ice cool diva, ex Sugababe Mutya Buena is set to have the smash hit of the summer. Teaming up with Groove Armada 'Song 4 Mutya' has put the talented singer with her distinct style and oh so recognisable voice back where she firmly belongs, at the top of the British pop scene. Mutya spoke exclusively to Lovegirls after her performance at the Lovebox Weekend.

LoveGirls: So why did you leave the Sugababes?

Mutya: One of the reasons I left was because I had my daughter, and I wanted quality time, she is two now and I've spent a whole year with her watching her grow, now she doesn't want to spend all her time with me, at the moment all she wants to do is play with her nephews and nieces, that's why now I can get up and work.

Also I had been with the sugababes for years and a change was nice, I didn't leave to be a soloist, I actually wanted to do more producing and writing but being given the opportunity to do an album was great.

LoveGirls: The new Sugababe is a clone of you, or basically an uglier version of you, did it annoy you that she replaced you within a few days of you quitting?

Mutya: Mmm yeh, it was my choice to leave but I did think it was funny that within two or three days she was in the papers. I was like 'wow'. It made me feel that I wasn't wanted or needed and it took away what I had worked for. I think that's what pissed me off. But you know what, I wouldn't disrespect her.

LoveGirls: Does it seem like there is a revolving door of people leaving and joining the group?

Mutya: Well when Siobhan left they got Heidi, then I left and they have Amelle and I think if Keisha had to leave they would just get someone very similar to her. I think it just carries on the Sugababes. Maybe in a few years there will be a whole new band.

LoveGirls: When you were in the Sugababes you were often seen as the 'Bitch' did this tag bother you?

Mutya: It pissed me off yes, because a lot of people judge me for being outspoken. I just can't be fake to people, I'm very laid back where the other girls are more bubbly so even if I just sit there it doesn't mean I'm in a pissed off mood just means I cant be bothered to move.

LoveGirls: We interviewed Siobhan Donaghy (one of the original members of the band) recently and she called Keisha a bitch but also said she felt guilty that you got the blame for her leaving. How do you feel about that?

Mutya: I got the stick the whole time after she left. Once I was out raving and some girls came up to me and were like 'you're a bitch' and I was only 15. I could not believe I was getting the blame for everything but I guess I was just an easy target.

LoveGirls: Do you wished Siobhan had come out and said she left the band because she didn't get on with Keisha instead of you getting the blame?

Mutya: It did bother me but at the end of the day, we [the girls] knew the truth and we were still very young, shit happens. Me and Siobhan swapped numbers we MySpace each other, I love her as a sister. The past is the past and you can't hate someone for leaving.

LoveGirls: Are you still in contact with Keisha or Heidi?

Mutya: I actually haven't spoken to either of them for a while, I'm trying to get on with my stuff at the same time they have a new album and a new member. Everyone just moves on.

LoveGirls: So is Keisha a bitch?

Mutya: (laughs loudly) you know what she is definitely her own person. The thing about her is you have to get used to her. She is very into her work so if you're very laid back, like me, then it can be too much. But for me (laughs threw gritted teeth) she was very nice.

LoveGirls: Can you tell us a little bit about your new album?

Mutya: Basically it sort of 80's electro pop, and I have a bit of the jazzy side and a bit of the old school R&B with a Indie as well. It's actually quite diverse.

LoveGirls: How nervous were you about releasing 'Real Girl' your first solo single after leaving the Sugababes?

Mutya: Yery nervous! I didn't actually think it was going to do as well as it did. I think I proved a lot of people wrong when it got to number 2 in the charts.

LoveGirls: What's your favourite song on the album?

Mutya: Suffer For Love, I thinks is because it was the very first song I recorded on the album. It's the song that just made me want to go into the studio just to feel like I was still working.

I love the meaning of Suffer For Love, its very old school R&B kind of like back to 1990s. Its basically about when you're in a relationship and you're the one who wants the relationship but your always the one that ends it, because you're the one who is suffering for it. I think it's a song that a lot of people will be able to relate to.

LoveGirls: How was it working with Amy Whinehouse?

Mutya: I didn't work with her in the studio itself but I've known her for years and when I was working on the album, she was working on some other things so she did some stuff in the studio for me. I really wished I would have been with her at the time but it's was a really tight deadline. I think the song might come out as a single; it's quite Christmassy with bells so it could come out in December. It's not a serious song It's really fun; I can imagine if we did a video together it would be hilarious.

LoveGirls: You collaborated with Groove Armada on Song For Mutya, its tipped to be the smash hit song of the summer, how did that come about?

Mutya: They got in contact with my management, I've always been a big fan. Obviously I took it with two hands. That song came up when we were discussing when you see an ex with someone new and you think, you went from me to that, and its awful. So that's why in the song we describe his girlfriend being like, well, a dog.

LoveGirls: You recorded a song with George Michael and performed with him at Wembley Arena, what was it like working with him?

Mutya: Oh my god it was fun. He is amazing. It was such a privilege working with him, just being able to go into the studio and see him do his part, and then finding out I was going to do his tour with him and perform with him, oh my god. I just think to my self that's history, I mean he's only worked with four females and that's Aretha Fraklin, Mary J Blige, Whitney Huston and me and I'm just so excited about it.

LoveGirls: What's the best thing about being a solo artist?

Mutya: Being able to answer to yourself, sing what you want to sing, sing how you want to sing and just being free about certain things without having people telling you what to do. I mean when we first started out in the Sugababes it was very raw sounding and quirky and then it slowly went gradually commercial. I loved the first album.

LoveGirls: If you could have written any song, what would it have been?

Mutya: Oh, it would be Stevie Wonders Knocks Me Off My Feet, or Al Green, oh one of Al Greens most famous songs, I can't remember what it's alled, it's going to bug me now.

LoveGirls: I have to ask this, other wise we will get hate mail. Who would you go gay for?

Mutya: Oh Ummmmm. I don't know really, it's a really hard question. I had this conversation with my friend. I would want to go with a more manly type not someone femine with long hair swinging it across my face because I would have to bitch slap them. If I did I would say Da Brat, she is someone quite ghetto and ready to box someone for me. But I think as females we are all beautiful people and can look at each other in that way. I've got loads of lesbian friends and when we go out together, I'm like rahaaa.

'Song 4 Mutya' was released last Monday and was the second song to be taken off her album Real Girl. If her performance at Lovebox Weekend and the reaction from the crowd is anything to go by then Mutya has a long successful career ahead of her and good luck to her, she is after all a refreshingly down to earth girl with buckets of talents who definitely no longer needs two side kicks cramping her style.