Moore 'embarrassed' by pop career

Mandy Moore has admitted that she is embarrassed by her early pop career.

The singer, who rose to fame with debut single 'Candy' in 1999, maintained that she was forced to release commercial music by her record company.

"I found myself in the company of Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, who had really quality music, much more so than mine," she told Details magazine.

"I was just told to show up and what to sing... that was late-'90s pop music for you.

"I'm sure there are people scratching their heads, going 'Wow, how is she still around?'"

The 25-year-old, who married singer Ryan Adams last month, claimed that her new album Amanda Leigh will demonstrate her credibility as a recording artist.

"The music is all a reflection of me now, not somebody else's choices," she said.

Moore's new LP is expected to be released in May on her new label Storefront Recordings.