{"id":293514,"date":"2026-02-20T13:44:08","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T13:44:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/293514\/"},"modified":"2026-02-20T13:44:08","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T13:44:08","slug":"leigh-anne-pinnock-on-starting-again-with-the-release-of-her-debut-album","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/293514\/","title":{"rendered":"Leigh-Anne Pinnock On Starting Again With The Release Of Her Debut Album"},"content":{"rendered":"

When searching for a confidence boost, one rarely looks back to their teenage years; adolescence is hardly synonymous with the securest sense of self. But for Leigh-Anne Pinnock, the former Little Mix singer, that\u2019s exactly where she goes to for hers. <\/p>\n

\u2018That younger version of me, the girl I was before I got into the band, this album is driven by her,\u2019 she says, referring to the determined 19-year-old she was before Little Mix took off; someone who hadn\u2019t yet been at the whim of stifling record labels or pursued by social media trolls, not to mention the inescapable fate of being constantly compared to her fellow bandmates. <\/p>\n

Today marks the release of her debut album, My Ego Told Me To. Vibrant and self-assured, it is pop at its core, with infectious reggae and R&B beats threaded throughout the 15 tracks – you\u2019ll quickly find yourself moving along to the music. It tells the story of the hardships of her career thus far, while unveiling the woman she has become: \u2018I\u2019ve got tunnel vision on my dreams, I\u2019ve blocked out the negativity,\u2019 she tells me when we meet at her publicist’s offices in central London a couple of weeks ahead of the release. <\/p>\n

Related Story<\/p>\n

Pinnock is instantly warm, wearing a monochromatic brown suit jacket and matching capris. She has an ease that makes the conversation feel like catching up with an old friend over a pinot in the pub. \u2018I\u2019m finally leaving all the industry\u2019s expectations behind; this project is f*cking all of it off to be honest,\u2019 she laughs. Pinnock swears delightfully often in the hour we spend together, as if to prove she\u2019s not a teen-pop girl anymore. <\/p>\n

Since December 2021, when she and her bandmates decided to call it a day and pursue solo life, Pinnock has been navigating life beyond one of the world\u2019s biggest girl groups. Little Mix sold over 75 million records worldwide, with billions of streams from hits like \u2018Shoutout To My Ex\u2019 and \u2018Black Magic\u2019. <\/p>\n

‘This album is driven by a younger version of myself’<\/p>\n

On the actual release day, she has a plan. \u2018I\u2019m going to have 10 shots that night!\u2019 she sings \u2013 whether she\u2019s joking or not is up for debate, but regardless, she deserves them. Of course, she hopes the album will do well but at 34 years-old, she says today she\u2019s less interested in accolades and more focused on rediscovering the \u2018fearlessness\u2019 that her 19-year-old self once held, before a decade in the industry chipped away at it. \u2018There was so much toxicity. The label, social media, society putting women into boxes, being told that the music that I wanted to release solo wouldn\u2019t do well,\u2019 she says. <\/p>\n

Until last spring, Pinnock was signed to her former label, Warner Records, releasing singles that amassed millions of streams, but she still felt similar constraints that she\u2019d felt in the band. And by early 2025, she made the decision to go independent, after a disheartening call between her manager and the label. \u2018The final straw was the label drama, them not seeing my vision and trusting in me as an artist,\u2019 she explains. \u2018I needed to cut it off and do it on my own. To bring back the bad b*tch that wouldn\u2019t hold her tongue in certain rooms.\u2019<\/p>\n

Reclaiming that confidence by going independent hasn\u2019t been easy. \u2018It was so difficult. I didn\u2019t have a choice. I needed to bring [that version of myself] out, especially in this industry, she\u2019s my protection.\u2019 She continues. \u2018The logistics, creative, and financial aspects… I\u2019m overseeing everything myself. 15 years in the industry, I\u2019m really showing people my artistry.\u2019 Finally. <\/p>\n

\"leigh<\/p>\n

Alex Evans<\/p>\n

My Ego Told Me To is a new side of Pinnock. Rooted in reggae, the album\u2019s remixed sampling pays homage to those who came before her. From Denise Belfon\u2019s iconic soca hit \u2018Work\u2019 to Sister Nancy\u2019s defiant \u2018Bam Bam\u2019, the project is a celebration of her influences and identity. \u2018I arranged all the tracks myself,\u2019 she says proudly. \u2018”Dead and Gone” set the tone, letting out all the frustration from the label, giving birth to the ego that this album is named after. Then came Revival. Each song builds the story.\u2019<\/p>\n

Family plays a central role, too. \u2018I\u2019ve got my grandparents on an interlude. I wanted to show my heritage. On the track, my grandma reminds me, \u201cYou are a star.\u201d That fire has been part of me from the very start.\u2019 <\/p>\n

‘The logistics, creative, and financial aspects…I\u2019m overseeing everything’<\/p>\n

Born in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, the star is of Barbadian and Jamaican ancestry but shares closer ties to the latter. Early experiences with lover\u2019s rock and reggae shaped the record\u2019s eclectic mix. \u2018I\u2019ve been going back to Jamaica every year since I was born\u2026 my cousin would burn CDs [with] different rhythms on it and that was where I would listen to it all the time. That\u2019s where my love for the genres grew.\u2019 <\/p>\n

Similarly, the project offers various moods, everything from sensual to spirited. ‘”Tight Up Skirt”, “Talk To Me Nice”\u2026 each song serves a different moment. Some are playful, some emotional, some about love, some about standing up for yourself. I wanted people to feel it all; this is the multi-layered me.\u2019<\/p>\n

Life after Little Mix has taught her many lessons in resilience. \u2018There\u2019s so much talk about what my music should sound like,\u2019 she says, shaking her head. \u2018It\u2019s so mad! Just because people haven\u2019t seen certain sides of me, suddenly I\u2019m not Jamaican or Bajan.\u2019 Understandably, the frustration lingers as she reels off a list of all she\u2019s done to support and highlight Black artists in the industry. \u2018People were saying, \u201cThis isn\u2019t Leigh-Anne\u201d but you might not have seen it in Little Mix because were in a pop girl band – they thought this side of me didn\u2019t exist.\u2019 <\/p>\n

In 2021, the singer released the critically acclaimed documentary Leigh-Anne: Race, Pop & Power, which tackled racial issues and colourism within the industry. Pinnock has also continuously championed various charities throughout her career. But rather than going back and forth with online trolls, Pinnock is now only concerned with doing what feels most authentic to her.<\/p>\n

\"leigh<\/p>\n

Niklas Haze<\/p>\n

Her independence has also allowed her to prioritise her growing family. Since 2016, the star has been in a relationship with professional footballer Andre Gray. The couple welcomed twin girls in 2021 and married in 2023. Her debut tour begins in February, and the children will be joining her on the road. \u2018Balancing life is a daily struggle,\u2019 she says. \u2018If one cup is full, I pour into another. I\u2019ll always make sure my girls have everything. Whatever\u2019s left, I\u2019ll do everything else.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Balancing life is a daily struggle. If one cup is full, I pour into another.’<\/p>\n

Right now, being a mum and spending more time back home is what excites her. \u2018It\u2019s my happy place\u2019 she says. When it comes to winding down, the singer is deeply engrossed in the latest season of the gritty thriller, The Mayor Of Kingstown. \u2018Girl! You better finish that series!\u2019 she exclaims after I tell her I gave up on it halfway through the first season.
<\/p>\n

Looking to the future, Pinnock is hopeful. \u2018I\u2019m stepping into my power. I\u2019ve found myself. If you\u2019re with me, you\u2019re with me. If not, cool. I\u2019m done seeking validation. I\u2019m doing me. I\u2019ve landed. I finally know who I am, and that\u2019s rare.\u2019<\/p>\n

As for the gigs, she promises the crowd will be dancing with her. \u2018Intimate venues let me see everyone\u2019s faces, hear the words back. Expect a show. I love choreography, spectacle, that Little Mix training sticks with you.\u2019<\/p>\n

As she reflects on her journey there\u2019s a sense of completeness. \u2018This album is me, unapologetic, fearless, multi-layered. I\u2019ve learned resilience, trust in my instincts, and that you can reclaim yourself no matter what\u2019s been taken away. That\u2019s what I hope people feel when they listen.\u2019 <\/p>\n

Pinnock\u2019s message is simple, yet profound: confidence is reclaimed not just by looking forward, but by embracing where you came from.<\/p>\n

My Ego Told Me To is out now.<\/p>\n

ELLE Collective is a new community of fashion, beauty and culture lovers. For access to exclusive content, events, inspiring advice from our Editors and industry experts, as well the opportunity to meet designers, thought-leaders and stylists, become a member today HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Related Stories<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"When searching for a confidence boost, one rarely looks back to their teenage years; adolescence is hardly synonymous…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":293515,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[5218,162314,8368,156,2116,157,111,139,69,162313,162315],"class_list":["post-293514","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-music","tag-content-type-default","tag-contentid-0e41e81b-8042-42d0-a32c-58f3a065cce2","tag-displaytype-long-form-article","tag-entertainment","tag-locale-gb","tag-music","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-shorttitle-leigh-anne-pinnock-drops-her-debut-album","tag-subsection-culture"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/293514","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=293514"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/293514\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/293515"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=293514"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=293514"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=293514"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}