GIRLS on TOP!
06th January 2000 -BBC News

Pop star babies, film star boy'fs and No 1 pop hits - yep, ALL SAINTS are back in town and they're ready to rock...

So laydees, were you scared of being out of the pop limelight for so long ?
Nic: I was but sometimes you just need to get out of people's faces for a white in order to grow.
Mel: I wasn't, cos at the end of the day if you're good, it doesn't matter how long you've been away.
Shaznay: It took us extra-long like Oasis because we wrote everything ourselves. We weren't shoved in a studio with a hitmaker to write songs for us.
Nat: Yeah, there's always that feeling when you've been away for a Long time but the power of the song got us back up there.

Were you ever bored during your time off?
Nat: We were busy, you know! We were recording in the studio and filming Honest but it's nice to be back.
Shaznay: I missed being busy but I enjoyed relaxing, having a holiday in the Caribbean and doing normal things like seeing my mum and my friends. I tell you what, I really got into all the American chat shows like Jerry Springer and Sally though!

What does the new album sound like then?
Shaznay: It's still cool, we've all learnt a lot and experimented a lot more. It still has that All Saints vibe but we've gone a lot further - we've gone a bit more daring. Like one track we've done is this sort of hip-hop, rock track. I'd say Skin from Skunk Anansie meets Biggie Smalls or something like that!
Mel: It's still very All Saints, I mean, you'll know it's us! Has Lily heard it? Oh yes, she loves it. As soon as she hears the beat she goes like 'Mama, mama'.

So what else have you laydees been up to appart from the film and the new album?
Mel: Well, nothing really! Getting my house in order and looking after my fianceé! I'm actually really good at stuff like that, but to be a housewife and do things the best you can, you need 100 per cent free time. It's like, if I come back from work and I really want to cook it's hard to do that and look after Lily as well!
Nat: I've bought a house and a dog called Chiquita! She's so small and she poos everywhere! Who cleans up? Me of course!
Nic: I've bought a house somewhere nice and I also bought a Chihuahua, he's called Godzilla. I went with Nat when she bought hers and I didn't intend to but they were the last two and there was no way I was gonna leave one! I just love animals so much! My house is like being in Ace Ventura Pet Detective, all the animals jump on me when I get in!

We've noticed you've also been partying a bit...
Nic: Yes, but only because I've been in the studio. When I've finished work I go out. I'm just making the most of this time. You know, I won't miss it but I want to live my life to the fullest and go out and have fun.
Nat: I used to party more before I was in All Saints. The party bug is in me and I like to have a good time. I was in a bad marriage when I was very young and it did a lot to me. I lost a lot of my youth because I had a child. Now I'm making up for it!
Mel: The reason you don't see me out all the time is because I don't go out all the time! I stay at home. I watch TV and play with Lilyella!

Do you think you're better known for your partying than your music?
Nat: Everyone parties, they (the papers) just seem to want to focus on us. We go out just like everyone else.
Mel: If I do ever have the chance to go out, I can't just go out and socialise, I wanna hear good music and dance! Shaznay and I go out and dance hard! I went somewhere for the first time the other week with 'N Sync and Christina Aguliera. I had the best time! It was a box rammed with people, it was hot and sweaty, it stank and the music was so loud it hurt! It was great!
Nic: I think I'm known for a bit of both! But that's because I'm single and the others have boyfriends. I mean if Shaznay didn't have a boyfriend she'd be out with me, as would Mel. Anybody my age would go out, snog a guy and go home, heh heh! It's all par for the course. Hopefully soon I'll settle down and it'll keep me in.

Are you ready to settle down?
Nic: Yeah! I really would like to settle down. I'm not the single type - I always get into trouble, don't I ?! Everybody thinks of me as this hardcore, party- crazed person. I'm a very homely girl and nobody sees exactly what I do but I'm really ready for marriage!
Mel: I have no spare time so I don't get bored! I'm actually excited to be back at work. This is the complete opposite to what I normally do and I'm lucky to be able to have that.
Nat: I'm 26 and my daughter is seven now and I'd like her to have a sibling.
Shaznay: I'm very settled. I'm around someone who does normal things, you know, gets on the tube and stuff - he keeps me quite grounded. Those people who write articles in the papers never write about me because I'm too much like them. I'm just too normal. I was happy before All Saints. I wasn't as rich but I had good friends and I had a good time. If you can have success and stay normal, it's a gift!

Do you still do things like dusting and ironing?
Nic: Absolutely! I love grocery shopping and I love cooking for the whole family. I always have them over for dinner and I cook a mean Sunday roast!
Shaznay: I cook but I'm not very good at timing. I put jacket potatoes in the other day and I thought they were cooking but two hours later they were still cold because I hadn't put the timer on!
Nat: I still clean up dog poo, vomit, the lot. I wash my sheets and my knickers but I think I may have to get counselling because I'm very particular about things!
Shaznay: I know what you mean! Yesterday I rearranged my living room and it took me all night. I've just had it decorated so I needed to put the furniture back so I just decided to move it around!

What's next on the All Saints agenda?
Nic: After 2001 hopefully the record company will pay for a holiday and we'll probably go into the studio again. We have a good pattern now.
Mel: There'll be a tour where we do new stuff that people haven't heard. But whatever comes comes!
Shaznay: One of my ambitions is to make sure I give 100 per cent to everything I do and be more relaxed.
Nat: Next step is to promote the album and go on tour in America. We may do a two-month tour of the states in October with 'N Sync but we'll just wait and see what happens.

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