Alessia Bisini
A new era has begun for Leigh-Anne Pinnock. After ten years on stage as a member of the British girl band Little Mix, the time has come for the singer-songwriter to take off and launch her solo career.
Having rewritten music history, breaking record after record, selling tens of millions of copies, and becoming the first all-female group to win the Best Group category at the Brit Awards, Little Mix took a temporary hiatus on 14th May 2022.
Now it’s time to showcase Leigh-Anne’s unique talents, as she unveils an intricate artistic world inspired by her cultural and ancestral roots. Her solo work represents a departure from the highly commercialised pop sound of the group that originated from the X Factor in 2011.
FIRST DEBUT
In 2012 choreographer Frank Gatson Jr., formerly Beyoncé’s artistic director, told her: “You have to work ten times harder because you are black.”
Leigh-Anne believed this phrase summed up the prejudice, bias, and deep-seated racism present in the music industry. That’s when her determination to make a difference in the industry grew. 11 years later, Leigh-Anne debuted as a solo artist with her new track Don’t Say Love, presenting a previously undisclosed aspect of her stage persona, which she is now fully ready to express.
Produced by Jon Bellion and Pete Nappi, and co-written with Aldae, the track blends Leigh-Anne’s polished vocals with an upbeat rhythm, heavily influenced by garage music and black musical stylings.
THE NEW SINGLE
Her latest single, titled My Love, features Nigerian rising star Ayra Starr and showcases Leigh-Anne’s fresh talent as a solo artist by taking inspiration from two lesser-known genres: afrobeat and Afropop. The track reached number three on the UK Airplay charts, propelled by a blend of the artist’s suave vocals, a lively rhythm, and sturdy garage music influences.
The song delves into the intricate nuances of self-love and relationships. My Love serves as a powerful anthem for rebirth, exploring the love shared by a couple and also shedding light on the artist’s self-love and self-respect. The High Wycombe-born singer-songwriter’s statement of intent is an expression of newfound personal and professional confidence. The tune is an eruption of vocal and musical intensity that reaches its peak in the chorus, where the repetition of the song title leaves a lasting impression.
The accompanying music video, which was shot in Lagos and directed by Meji Alabi, features Leigh-Anne coming out of the ocean, signifying her rebirth as a solo artist and echoing the theme of her previous release. It also features exceptional choreography and an ambience that authentically represents Nigerian culture without sounding pretentious.
“Nevertheless, I aspire to incorporate other genres that I am passionate about”
Leigh-Anne has also recently disclosed that her inaugural solo album will comprise a variety of musical genres. As she once told Billboard News: “Even though pop resonates with me, I acknowledge that my inclination towards creating pop-like sounds will always be a part of my artistic style. It is common knowledge that I am inclined towards old-school R&B.
“Nevertheless, I aspire to incorporate other genres that I am passionate about; thus, we have infused reggae music into the album”.
The latter half of her independent music career highlights how she could not have explored her true identity or created a song with this particular attitude and sound during her tenure with Little Mix. If this is just a glimpse of the British musician’s future career, who knows what’s really in store? I’m sure it’ll be something super exciting.
BEYOND MUSIC
Beyond music, Leigh-Anne has also been focusing on activism. In 2021, the singer released a documentary titled, Leigh-Anne: Race, Pop and Power, in which she spoke openly about the issues of racial discrimination and colourism she has encountered in her life and the music industry.
In addition, she founded The Black Fund, an organisation that offers monetary and multiple types of aid to charities that make considerable strides in empowering black communities. The Fund predominantly serves as a support system for existing charitable organisations and groups that provide assistance to the black community. It aims to establish itself as a reputable brand, especially among young people, offering them opportunities, access, jobs, and involvement in their areas of interest, with a particular emphasis on the creative industry.
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Featured image courtesy of Katlyn Amelia via Flickr. Image licence found here. No changes have been made to this image.
Alessia Bisini
Alessia Bisini is a freelance writer and publicist based in Milan, Italy. Since 2014, her writing has been mainly focused on music, entertainment, and pop culture. She's also a gender equality advocate, especially in the music industry. Twice a month, she runs a newsletter called "Let's Go Girls!".