Sophie Ellis-Bexter sailing solo

Sophie Ellis-Bextor's fans have had a long wait for her fourth album, but after a decade as a solo artist the singer says she's now feeling more creative than ever.

Her latest allbum, Make A Scene, continues the neat line in sophisticated, grown-up disco she's been crafting for herself since releasing the likes of Murder On The Dancefloor and Take Me Home back in 2001.

And fans of the singer will get a chance to hear tracks from her latest album when she supports Erasure in Cannock Chase tonight.

Make A Scene, her fourth album, was released earlier this month although it was actually finished more than a year ago. But thanks to a little label wrangling, which resulted in Ellis-Bextor leaving Universal after a decade and setting up her own enterprise EBGBs (which stands for Ellis-Bextor Great Britain), it's only just out.

"It's a big thing to have done, leaving a major label, but exciting, and I'm feeling very good about things," she beams.

"What we've managed to do in a year is amazing, and it's all been fairly smooth. Starting my own label is something I've wanted to do for a little while but the timing had to be right.

"Things have changed so much in the record industry since I started, and things are a lot more immediate now. I felt I wanted to have that spontaneity and you can't really have that when you're signed to a major label."

Early signs point to the 32-year-old's decision being a good one. Make A Scene went in at No 32 – more impressive than it might sound considering Take That released Progress on the same day, which flew to the top of the charts, while the Adele juggernaut shows no sign of slowing down.

"I was a little bit nervous but the album's been doing much better than I expected," she admits.

"It feels like a relief and an achievement, and the team I've got around me I think is the best I've had. I'm very proud."

* Sophie Ellis-Bextor supports Erasure in Cannock Chase tonight (Friday)