Melanie Blatt Young Theatre School where she met Nicole Appleton. The two girls became best friends. During this period, Blatt also played young Eponine in "Les Misérables" for six months, and was the understudy for Cosette together with fellow Sylvia Young student Denise van Outen. In 1993, Blatt sang under the name Melanie Guillaume in the band Drive with Julienne Davis. They released one single, "Curfew", together. She also did backing vocals for Dreadzone with Denise van Outen. Later that year, Blatt met Shaznay Lewis at the Metamorphosis recording studio in All Saints Road, London. Together, with Simone Rainford, they formed the
Black Coffee (All Saints song) of "Black Coffee" were marred by in-group tension and fighting. The group were not on speaking terms at the time of their "Children in Need" performance on 17 November 2000 after Nicole announced her pregnancy the night before. According to the Appleton sisters, they were completely ignored by Lewis and Blatt during their performance at the Smash Hits Poll Winners Party on 10 December 2000. The performance was later criticised by "The Guardian"s Betty Clarke who wrote, "Only All Saints let the side down, going through the motions..." At the Capital FM Christmas Party, Natalie and Lewis nearly came to