In the early noughties, the UK singles chart was dominated by the likes of Girls Aloud, Blue, the Sugababes, Jamelia and Lemar. For the zillenial generation, our earliest memories of music videos are Liberty X’s “Just a Little”, Mis-Teeq’s “Scandalous” and Busted’s “Year 3000”. Two decades on, and London artist George Riley is revisiting and reimagining this specific era of pop history.

“What is the sauce that they had that made [music] feel so fun and electric?” was the question she sought to answer when approaching her latest project, More Is More, an 11-track mixtape that dropped last Friday (September 12). The first single, “Forever” featuring Mura Masa, sounds distinctly similar to Kylie Minogue’s 2001 classic, “Can’t Get You Out of My Head”, and deliberately so. “It’s got that Kylie bass sound,” Riley explains, though it’s not identical, “there’s one note that is slightly off from Kylie’s.”

Beyond her exploration of 00s UK chart music, Riley cites Britney Spears, Madonna and Janet Jackson as a few of her biggest influences. “How can I mix that with my own sound?” she asked herself, before perfecting the blend with this release, resulting in a nostalgic alt-pop record.

“Not to shit on some of my other music, but sometimes performing personal music can be really tough, so I wanted to make something fun that is a little escapist,” she says. “It’s about having a great time.” By the looks of things, Riley is going to be having a great time for the foreseeable – she’s headed on tour supporting Oklou before playing a few headline shows of her own. To celebrate the release of what she describes as her most “cohesive project yet”, Riley gets down to business plotting her ideal night out. Spoiler alert: it involves a surprising amount of soup.

It’s your dream night out, which day of the week are we hitting the town?

George Riley: Thursday. My dream night out is one that I didn’t expect to happen – I’ve been taken on a ride.

What are the essential party supplies you’re bringing out with you?

George Riley: My bag is full of crap, always. Maybe a pack of cigs and a snack pack of olives.

You need a little snack?

George Riley: [Laughs] I actually love it when people have soup at the rave.

Soup?!

George Riley: Yeah, in some European clubs they have soup! I think it’s so good because sometimes your body is so drained, but a cup of soup is perfect. You drink it down, it’s warm, and then you’re ready to go again. In Jamaica people sell soup by the side of the road. From midnight onwards you can always find chicken soup, fish soup, pea soup. Ugh, I love soup. If people start selling soup at the club I think it will do really well.

OK, aside from soup, what are you drinking on this night out?

George Riley: So for pre-drinks, we’re going to a bar with a happy hour and I’m drinking Campari sodas. I love Campari, I’m not an Aperol person.

Pres are over, where’s the main event?

George Riley: We’re gonna go to the Carpet Shop in Peckham. [DJing] We’re gonna have OK Williams, Lil C, Lagoon, basically Prestige Pak plus friends.

What songs are you requesting?

George Riley: [Laughs] Myself, obviously. This is actually a party in aid of me. They’re just going to play George Riley all night.

Who would you most want to bump into in the smoking area?

George Riley: Janet Jackson. I’ve heard of other people who have met her and apparently she’s a dream. My time is coming – we’ll have a lovely chat. She’ll be like [in Janet Jackson voice], “Hey George, like, I’ve seen you online, I love you!” and I’ll be like “oh my God, that’s so nice, I’m your biggest fan!”

Do you think Janet would enjoy a night out in Peckham? 

George Riley: I’m gonna say it’s not really her scene, but she does have a young energy. It’s not really somewhere she wants to be, but she’s wound up there and we’ve ended up having a really lovely chat, so it was worth it.

When’s the right time to leave the club?

George Riley: When you stop having fun. There’s never a bad time, especially if they’re not serving soup. If the conversation’s not flowing, take yourself home. Or once we’ve listened to my entire discography.

What’s the perfect closing song?

George Riley: “Empty” by Janet Jackson or “Forever” by George Riley.

Do you French exit or say your goodbyes?

George Riley: I have been known to French exit sometimes. Occasionally you gotta get out of there, but make sure your close friends know you are safe.

It might be hard to French exit if it’s your party.

George Riley: No, in fact, that would make it more iconic. I’ve disappeared like a thief in the night and they’re still going. My aura still exists and they don’t even notice I’m gone because the vibe is so strong.

You’ve left the club but the soup didn’t fill you up. Where are you headed for a late night snack?

George Riley: I didn’t even know I was going to bring up soup, but there’s a place in central London that’s open until 4am called Lanzhou Lamian noodle bar – this is the best soup. They do fresh noodle soup that will make you feel amazing. That’s one of my best London recommendations.