NMEPOP.COM: What has 2000 meant to you?
Jodi: The past year was quite big for us because we released our first single, traveled to a lot of different countries and we've seen a lot of big things. Next year is going to be our year we think. We're going to work really hard and we've got a good feeling about next year.

NMEPOP.COM: There must have been a lot of pressure on you during 2000.
Nikki: There was pressure from the record company and the media and it created a big hype. At the end of the day we were doing our thing and we were just focusing on us as a group and not what was going on around us. If there's any pressure being put on we'll try to brush it off.

NMEPOP.COM: What was your proudest moment of 2000?
Linzi: I think there's been a few proud moments. First of all bringing the first single out, 'Last One Standing', which was the best feeling in the world. We worked so hard to get to the stage of releasing and then we got in the Top 10 which we were totally pleased with.
Michelle: Getting presented with a gold disc in Australia, we were really chuffed with that.
Linzi: Doing the 'Smash Hits' tour. For three years we've been watching and hoping to get on it and now we've finally done it, which is an achievement also. We could go on forever. Everything is like a ladder and you take another step up every time you do something and that's how you build up and make yourself better.

NMEPOP.COM: What's been your most cringeworthy moment of 2000?
Michelle: There's been a few of them! Anika: I think mine was in the second video. I wear this boob tube dress saying 'I Love New York' on it. We were performing on stage and it went 'floop' and feel down! I just got on with it but it was embarrassing.
Nikki: Mine was in Manchester. Every time I went on the stage I fell over. Three times I tripped over the speaker. Also, we were doing the Pepsi Chart in Australia and I tripped up halfway through. I'd got a friend to tape it and we sat in the car and watched it back and you could really notice.
Jodi: Her nickname is Dramachu. You know Pokemon, as in Pikachu. The thing is with Nikki is she styles it out. She can't just trip and leave it. She tripped and did a full-on pirouette turn. We watched it and we were like, 'Yeah watch her trip but watch her save it!'. Our dance routines are really basic so it stands out a mile.

NMEPOP.COM: What's the most trouble you've caused in a hotel this year?
Linzi: We were in Cardiff and I decided I wanted a shower. I put it on and left it 'cos I love mine scorchin' hot. There was loads of steam and because I left the door open it went out. I set off the fire alarm in the whole hotel! We didn't know it was us. They were saying we had to evacuate the building and I was like, 'I've only shaved one leg!'. Michelle: Someone knocks on the door and says, '507, there's a fire in there!' We're like, 'No there ain't'. Even though they knew it was the steam we still had to evacuate.
Linzi: I chucked anything on and went running down the corridor going, 'Girl Thing set off the alarm!'. Everyone's standing going, 'Is this your fault?'.
Jodi: Me and Anika were in the room next door and came out going, 'Whoever did that we're going to kill 'em!'. Linzi was like, 'It was me'. We were like, 'Trust it to be one of our lot'.

NMEPOP.COM: What did you learn most about yourselves in the past year?
Jodi: We've learned loads about the band, the industry. We're still learning. We're only young. As you go along you learn from your mistakes. You put in your ideas and have more involvement.
Nikki: I think also we've learned if we stay strong as a unit and don't let anyone outside get into us five.
Jodi: As soon as you start listening to other people outside the band that causes a problem.

NMEPOP.COM: Tell us about the next single...
Anika: It's called 'So You Wanna Have Sex' but it's actually saying not to have sex. We don't want the mums to hate us. It's not a dirty song.
Jodi: It's saying, 'So you wanna have sex but I really wanna know what's next. You've got to treat me with respect if you wanna get with me, I can be your fantasy'.

NMEPOP.COM: What are your plans for Christmas?
All: Time off, seeing family.
Linzi: Party, sleep, sleep, party.
Anika: We don't get to see our family and real friends much so we're going to go home and chill out for about a week.
Linzi: And snog under the mistletoe.

NMEPOP.COM: What's your favourite childhood Christmas memory?
Nikki: Mine was getting a Barbie house. You know when you pester your mum all year and then you get it. That was the best thing.
Jodi: I remember when I was only about four, begging my mum for a typewriter because I said I wanted to be a songwriter. I didn't have a clue what I was talking about but I'd see people on TV typing. They got me it eventually but because I was so little the buttons were too hard for me to press so they had to take it back!
Linzi: I got a karaoke machine when the craze first came out. I was always wailing on it. It was cool.
Michelle: I remember getting a keyboard. You know when you could play the demo track and pretend you were playing it? My dad thought I was really playing!

NMEPOP.COM: What are your hopes for 2001?
All: World domination!

Published: 05-12-2000