With two Brit Awards, three MOBOs and a prestigious Mercury Music Prize to her name, Ms Dynamite quickly turned her underground garage following into mainstream success.

Her first album ‘A Little Deeper’ spawned three huge hit singles in the UK – ‘It Takes More’, ‘Dy-na-mi-tee’ and ‘Put Him Out’.

After a short break from music, Ms Dynamite returned to the forefront of the charts following a collaboration with fellow Shakedown performer Katy B on the hit song ‘Lights On’.

With new single ‘Neva Soft’, produced by Labrinth, due out in September just in time for Shakedown, Ms Dynamite is back at the top of UK music and she’s here to stay.

http://www.shakedown.co.uk/line-up/msdynamite

Preparations for tomorrow night’s (Thursday) fundraiser were well underway at Watford Colosseum when heavy rain leaked into a storage room damaging some of the sound equipment.

However the show, to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital, has been relocated to Area nightclub in the Parade and will go ahead as planned.

The concert will now start at 8.30pm and tickets, which cost £10 each, will be available on the door at the nightclub.

DJ Luck and MC Neat, John Kelly, Matt Jam Lamont and Dubba Johnny are also due to perform during the evening.

The words of her most recent single Neva Soft released last year ring true to me as I hang on the phone. ‘All the hype from the anticipation… Never know ‘bout the moves we’ve been making… Best things come to those who been waiting’.

I ask if the lyrics reference her long-awaited third album.

“I don’t want it to come off that I’m the boss, I’m not so egotistical,“ says Ms Dynamite. “Words couldn’t describe the support I get from people and I totally acknowledge that. However, in the same way I can’t put a time limit on when it will be finished as that’s all pressure, and creativity shouldn’t be rushed or pressured. It would be much worse to deliver something rushed at the last hurdle.“ So will she commit to a date for the next single even?

“It’s definitely getting very close but I’ve never committed to a date. The beauty of the position I choose to be in right now is that I don’t function as a record label on a schedule. I’m more in a space and a zone, and more open to how I feel, so I can get the best out of myself musically.“ The Archway-born artist, real name Niomi Arleen McLean-Daley has just turned 31. So what’s her biggest birthday wish?

“Erm, honestly without sounding cheesy or hippyish, I’m happy with everything the way it is. I’m not really a birthday person, it’s just another day and I’m not wishing for anything I don’t have already.“ The years away from the spotlight seem to have done her good. The one-time schoolgirl garage scene sensation, who shot to fame in 2002 with her debut album A Little Deeper, wanted to focus on raising her now eight-year-old son, Shavaar. She produced a second album Judgement Days in 2005. Then she took a break until 2009 when she appeared on Zinc’s Wile Out and Nextmen and Andy Cato’s The Lion’s Den. Last year she guested on Katy B’s huge club tune Lights On. The single and video for Neva Soft came out last summer.

Since then, she has been juggling motherhood with “writing, recording, working in a studio and performing.

“I always knew that one day I would get back into music. But I really closed the door and focused all my energy on being a mum. I made my choices because I didn’t want Shavaar to have pressure from the decisions I’ve made.“ What does he think of his mum’s music?

“He likes some of it but not other bits. He’s quite opinionated. He loves to sing, rap, play the piano and drums – he’s very musical.“ Children feature a lot in her work too. Niomi has raised funds for Childline, Stars Back Poverty and Children in Need, as well as this latest appointment at the Colosseum’s GOSH fundraiser.

“For me it’s basically feeling like an older sister to anyone and everybody. My role in life has been as a big sister and children are very dear to my heart. Obviously now as a mum, that’s just increased. Children are natural and amazing. The energy, genius, beauty and innocence that children hold needs to be protected.“ Now more dynamo than dynamite, Niomi is heading for a full- on summer of festivals and guest spots.

“It’s non-stop. I looked at my diary yesterday and I don’t think I have a Friday or Saturday night free until November, but I love performing – it’s one of my favourite aspects of what I do.“ And the new album?

“I like to keep my cards close to my chest,“ she laughs but admits she’s probably about two-thirds of the way through the album, which she plans to release on her own label Dynamic Ventures, this summer. Already three tracks are in the mix. The old-school reggae track No More, feelgood pop track Runnin’ and the semi-acoustic ballad Miss, which features a rap from Dynamite and vocal hook from Emeli Sandé.

“At the time I wrote Miss I was becoming a little bit more grown-up. And a little bit more aware that we all have hundreds of different sides to us as individuals. For me, part of being strong or being alright in life is about accepting all of the elements of yourself.“ Also in the line-up for the GOSH fundraiser are DJ Luck and MC Neat, John Kelly, Matt Jam Lamont, Dubba Johnny, Jake Abraham, Ed Case, Jamesie, DJ KGB and Spanish Fly, Champagne Bubblee, Matt Cadman and Sacha Dieu.

Area Nightclub, The Parade, Watford on Friday, May 4 at 8.30pm. Details: 0845 075 3993

Due to unforeseen circumstances the Colosseum is unable to host this event. Area Nightclub has very kindly agreed to host the event to ensure as much money as possible is raised for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity.

Watford Colosseum will see a musical fusion of hip hop, house, garage, R&B (and other musical genres I know little about!) when some of the top performers in their field take to the stage on Friday 4th May.

With two Brit Awards and three MOBOs under her belt Ms “Dy-Na-Mi-Tee” has the credentials to guarantee a great night of music and dance singlehandedly.  But there’s a lot more to be added to the mix.

Also taking to the stage, and no strangers themselves to top ten chart positions, are House/Garage duo DJ Luck and MC Neat. Two piece dubstep act, Dubba Jonny, top Ibiza DJ and performer John Kelly and many more guarantees that this promises to be a fantastic night out.

And this concert in Watford is for a great cause. Great Ormond Street Hospital’s Theatres for Theatres is a three year initiative to raise £4 million to fund two new state of the art operating theatres. The theatres will be used by the Neurosciences team treating children with complex and often life threatening neurological and craniofacial conditions. The aim is to create world class facilities allowing up to 20% more children to be treated over the next ten years, making a dramatic difference to the lives of so many young patients.

The show starts at 8 o’clock but you could get the night off to a great start by heading for the Bistro with its excellent selection of light bites, big plate meals and paninis for some pre show dining. Full details, including prices, booking and the Bistro menu can be found at the Watford Colosseum website.

What’s the link between Ms Dynamite, Liam Bailey and Delilah, who all performed last night?