Appleton (music duo) became students at the Sylvia Young Theatre School in North London, which was to tutor their fellow All Saints colleague and Nic's schoolmate, Melanie Blatt as well as Denise van Outen, Emma Bunton, Letitia Dean and Samantha Janus. The sisters were back in the UK in 1994, and, together with Shaznay Lewis, joined with former schoolmate Melanie Blatt to form All Saints. In 2000, both sisters appeared in the poorly received film "Honest", directed by ex-Eurythmics member Dave Stewart. In 2001, All Saints disbanded. Natalie and Nicole formed the band Appleton, and in September 2002, issued their first Appleton single
Black Coffee (All Saints song) "I Wouldn't Wanna Be" a new arrangement and renamed the song "Black Coffee". Recording took place at Guerilla Beach and Larrabee West in Los Angeles, and at Sarm West and Olympic Studios in London. According to Blatt, their collaboration with Orbit allowed All Saints to explore more experimental genres than those of their previous releases, while Nichols viewed Orbit's production in the new arrangement completely different, and better than that of his own on the original. The "Black Coffee" sessions were more frustrating for group member Natalie Appleton who saw the song as an opportunity for fellow member Nicole Appleton