Appleton are officially entering a new chapter.
Just days after delivering one of the most talked-about sets at London’s Mighty Hoopla festival, sisters Natalie and Nicole Appleton have returned with ‘Ready To Begin’, a bright, guitar-driven pop anthem that doubles as a mission statement for their long-awaited comeback.
The new single arrives alongside the announcement of ‘Side By Side’, the duo’s first new collection of material in more than two decades. Set for release on September 4th, the EP marks a significant milestone for the sisters, whose last Appleton project arrived in the early 2000s before both went on to pursue other ventures.
Written by Natalie and Nicole alongside producer Shadowhands – who previously worked on the duo’s 2002 U.K. No. 2 hit ‘Fantasy’ – ‘Ready To Begin’ captures the sense of optimism that has surrounded Apple’s return to music. Anchored by shimmering guitars and an uplifting chorus, the track reflects a reunion that appears to have evolved organically rather than through a carefully orchestrated comeback campaign.
“‘Ready To Begin’ perfectly sums up how we feel right now,” Natalie said in a statement. “When we started writing together again there was no grand plan. We just wanted to have fun and see where it took us. Suddenly we found ourselves making new music, performing live again and remembering why we loved doing this in the first place.”
The announcement follows a remarkable year for the sisters. Earlier this year, Appleton released ‘Falling Into You’, their first new music together in 23 years. The single earned support from BBC Radio 2, where it was added to the station’s A-list playlist, and was later performed during a Piano Room Session backed by the BBC Concert Orchestra.
Momentum continued to build last weekend at Mighty Hoopla, where Appleton played their first major live show in more than two decades. Midway through the set, the sisters surprised festival-goers by bringing out former Sugababes member Heidi Range for performances of ‘Round Round’ and ‘Pure Shores’. The unexpected collaboration quickly became one of the festival’s defining moments, generating widespread attention across social media and reminding audiences why both groups remain beloved figures in British pop.
While nostalgia has inevitably played a role in the excitement surrounding the reunion, ‘Side By Side’ appears determined to look forward rather than backward.
The four-track project combines the duo’s trademark harmonies and melodic pop sensibilities with a contemporary production style that reflects where the sisters are today.
The EP’s track-list includes the new single ‘Ready To Begin’, alongside ‘Falling Into You’, ‘Strange Kinda Paradise’, and ‘Monster’. A live Piano Room recording of Jimmy Webb’s ‘Wichita Lineman’ will also be included as a digital-exclusive bonus track.
“The reaction to ‘Falling Into You’ and our first Appleton show in over twenty years has been incredible,” Nicole said. “We feel so grateful that people still connect with these songs and are excited about what we’re doing now. This EP feels like the natural next chapter.”
For Natalie and Nicole, that chapter seems rooted in the creative chemistry that first made Appleton a distinctive force in turn-of-the-millennium pop. More than twenty years after they last released a body of work together, ‘Side By Side’ finds the sisters reconnecting with the partnership that launched their careers – not as an exercise in nostalgia, but as a genuine creative rebirth.
“We’ve always had a special connection when we sing together,” Nicole added. “Making these songs reminded us of that. It never feels forced – it just feels natural.”
If ‘Ready To Begin’ is any indication, Appleton’s comeback is less about revisiting the past than embracing the possibilities of what’s next.
Appleton – Falling Into You (Official Visualizer)
Download / stream ‘Ready To Begin’ here
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