Life is sweet for the Sugababes. After a run of chart-topping releases, the girls have netted themselves yet another award, a Brit for Best British Dance Act, and this week they have embarked on their first headline tour.

Ten shows in all, and like the rest, York Barbican Centre has sold out.

Not bad for three teenagers: Heidi Range, the eldest at 19, Keisha Buchanan, 18, and fellow original member Mutya Buena, 17.

Heidi, from Liverpool, and North Londoners Keisha and Mutya have accrued both success and credibility, a combination beyond so many other girl groups.

Last year's double platinum album, Angels With Dirty Faces, drew praise from across the industry, winning the Smash Hits Best Album award, while two of its singles, Freak Like Me and Round Round topped the charts. Fourth single Shape has just charted at number 11.

The Sugababes are refreshingly modest about their success. "Shape is the last single off the album, and the album's done so well, we can't really expect any more than what we've got," says Keisha.

Even winning a Brit Award - watched by their mums in the audience - was unexpected. "It hasn't even sunk in yet, I'm still getting used to it," says Keisha. "I think probably when the Sugababes is over, that's when I'll look back and go, 'Wow, so much stuff I've achieved'."

She dismisses the rumours that they are all planning their own solo careers. "Apparently we were supposed to be splitting up this week. We didn't know that ourselves!

"The truth is when we were younger, that's all we ever dreamed of being. I think what makes us different is that we're three solo artists in a band," Keisha says. "There's no rush because we're having a brilliant time at the moment, we're really happy, and that's the truth. We could be in the group until we're 23, 24 even, and then have solo careers. We've got plenty of time."

In the meantime, the Sugababes already have started work on their new album, as well as working out how to make it big in America and preparing for their UK tour.

Ahead of last night's opening show, Keisha could not wait to be back on stage: "It's the best thing ever. You don't get to do it very often, and that was the whole point of us being in the music industry, to perform."

It is not without its embarrassing moments, she admits, like the time she forgot the words to one of their songs live on stage. "I don't know how I managed to do that, I guess my mind was somewhere else," she says. "The crowd knew all the words - that was really embarrassing."

Keisha is seeing fellow singer J-Rock from Big Brovaz. "He's 24. I like the older type," says the 18 year old. "He's my baby; he's not my boyfriend or anything but we are seeing each other at the moment. Apparently he chatted me up two years ago, and I kind of blanked him," she says.

Not everyone approves of his perseverance, it seems. "He's like the girl magnet of his group, so his fans do not like me," she says. "It's not like marriage or anything, we just want to make that clear to them. But we do like each other a lot."

Spending time with J-Rock also gives her a break from the other Sugababes, especially Mutya Buena, who she has known for ten years. "She knows me very well, and I know her very well. We've been with each other every single day since we were eight years old.

"Me and Mutya are like sisters, and as anyone knows if they've got a sister, you don't always get along. We love each other to bits, all of us, but I can be around Heidi more than I can Mutya because I've been with her every single day for ages," says Keisha.

"We even had the same friends as well up until a year ago, from school. She lives round the corner from me, and on my days off I see her at the corner shop."

Keisha and Mutya, and Heidi, will be spending plenty of time together in the months ahead, in the recording studio. They have written ten tracks for the next album, planned for release later in the year. This time the sound will be slicker and more grown-up, Keisha promises. "We always try to move on from where we left off. Even from the first single, Freak Like Me, to Shape, every song's been completely different. For this new album we're making sure we show people our writing and singing abilities.

"When we go in the studio, we just vibe it really," she says. "Having Heidi in the group, she's got a really pop soul voice, which brings real maturity to the group. So I think the sound will be very strong, very polished."

Sugababes, York Barbican Centre, March 29, 7.30pm. Sold out. For returns only, ring 01904 656688.

Updated: 09:19 Friday, March 28, 2003