WITH her confident gaze and strong streetwise personality, you wouldn't think Mutya Buena would be scared of anything.

But when the 22-year-old mother-of-one left the Sugababes – the triple-platinum pop group with a healthy collection of awards that had been her life throughout her teenage years – Mutya was left feeling vulnerable, to the point where she would put up tracks on MySpace just to see people's reactions.

"I just wanted a taste of how people are going to take me, to tell you the truth. It's scary... coming out from such a successful group, not knowing what's going to happen to you," she admits.

"When I left the band, I did wonder if anyone would sign me. "

On December 21, 2005, Mutya made the life-changing decision to quit Sugababes after seven years.

She was often seen as the moody or bitchy one due to her outspoken comments and body accessories - Mutya has several tattoos, a few piercings, a metal tooth and long fake talons.

"During the Sugababes, people did misunderstand me," she sighs.

"But you've got to remember that I started when I was 14. When you're that young, you don't know much and you're not really going to be sitting there taking in the media training 'cos you're not concerned."

While rumours were rife that the walkout was because of catfights between the members, she insists that wasn't the case.

"I wanted a change," she states, matter-of-factly, as she goes through the details of her departure from fellow Sugababes Keisha Buchanan and Heidi Range.

"I had my daughter Tahlia, and found it pretty unfair to give birth to a baby that I was not gonna be able to look after. People told me I could have a nanny, but I didn't want anyone else bringing up my child. It's hard explaining all this to someone who doesn't have kids.

"I suffered with post-natal depression and everything was making me cry. Now Tahlia's nearly two, it's easier to balance the two things. But at the time it was difficult. I made the choice to leave and I believe it was the right choice.

"My plan originally was to take a couple of years out and do some producing and writing for other artists. I didn't want to be in the limelight.

"But Island (Records) gave me the opportunity," Mutya adds. "They had faith in me. I still didn't think I was going to be doing anything this year. I was just recording with producers and writers I knew to keep busy, making sure I didn't get too down about anything."

Her new album, Real Girl, which came out on June 4, happened almost by accident after singer-songwriters Ali Tennant and Guz wrote Suffer For Love.

"The whole album just fell into place from there," Mutya recalls. "Nobody thought I'd have any material till God knows when. So I think I've shocked everyone."

Her faith in her work seems to have been justified – her current single Real Girl is at number 2 in the charts.

Sugababes fans may indeed be surprised by Mutya's solo music. Much of the album is typified by the feisty former girlband member's new grown-up streak, and many songs go down the soulful road, with hints of a Mary J Blige sound.

The half-Irish, half-Filipino singer has also managed to wrangle duets with some of the UK's most sought-after artists: George Michael, the hotter-than-hot Amy Winehouse and dance duo Groove Armada. Mutya normally keeps her cool, but she admits to being starstruck when she worked with her mum's favourite pop singer, George, on This Is Not Real Love.

"It was really exciting to be on stage with - in my eyes and my mummy's too - a pop star living legend. Great stuff! He really is talented. I remember his Wham! days," she shrieks in excitement.

"I was scared because of things I'd seen or read, but we just ended up talking about Big Brother, funny conversations about normal things. We went to the same school, Kingsbury High, and had the same music teacher. Keith Moon of The Who and Charlie Watts of The Rolling Stones went there too. It made me feel like I knew him."

Working together with the icon was a dream come true, she says.

"When we started work, he was very unselfish, always praising me. I couldn't really tell him just how privileged I felt to even be in the same studio as him. And on top of that being invited to be the only guest on his tour!

"He made me feel like I was part of his family. It taught me a big lesson about not judging people until you know them properly. I'd love to work with him again."

The North Londoner also enjoyed working with Amy Winehouse, saying: "It's just such a pleasure to have Amy on the track. She has influenced me in as much as, when she began, I don't think anybody took her seriously. Now, everybody wants a piece of her."