Defined Magazine

Leigh-Anne is Bringing Her Boss Energy

8th January, 2026

Words Christine Ochefu
Photos Rachell Smith
Styling Brian Conway

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The artist known as Leigh-Anne Pinnock is keen to reintroduce herself. When we meet over Zoom to talk about her debut album My Ego Told Me To, she’s all smiles; calm, serene almost. But at once a fire coming forward upon the mention of her upcoming work. “The process of going solo, then going independent, then doing all of that whilst being a mum – it's kind of wild,” she smiles. “But I feel like I've learned a lot. I've built up my resilience. And getting to this point now where I can release my album and it's exactly how I want it to be, it feels amazing.”

Pinnock is now a lifetime away from the little girl who sang Sisqó covers at her childhood talent shows. “I must have been in year eight or year nine,” she recalls. “And every time before that, I’d never won anything. I was so shy’ as much as I loved to sing, I would look at the floor, or the backing track would always be too loud, and I would never win or come close.”

“I sang Sisqo’s ‘Incomplete.’ I was so nervous, shaking, but I went on and I smashed it – I came first, and it was the first time I’d ever placed somewhere. And I think that was such a pinnacle moment for me going forward, knowing, ‘I can really do this.”

Any music listener worth their salt will know the story; a member of X-Factor pop juggernauts Little Mix, the group first brought her talents to audiences in 2011, soon becoming an unavoidable feature of the mainstream pop machine. But in the years since the members’ collective departure, Pinnock is keen to solidify who she is as a solo artist, and bring a refined, mature sound to audiences referencing the genres she loves; the Black artistry of her heritage, R&B, reggae, lover’s rock and more.

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Due next month on February 20th, it’s an album of the Sasha Fierce variety; its dual album covers speak to her two sides. One outlined in green, all playful and teasing, and the other red-emblazoned and fiery. That latter person, she says, is a reintroduction of sorts, reaching out to her inner voice that refused to accept disrespect, a quality she found herself suppressing earlier in her career.. She’s releasing music for the first time since a major label. Leaving Warner Music in early 2025, My Ego Told Me To comes via her own solo, independent venture MADEINTHE90S LTD, the name maybe harking to the decade that would cement some of her biggest musical influences, and to a time in her life where she most intensely held the self-assurance and autonomy she looks to reconnect with now. “She’s almost like my protection as well, because this industry is fucking mad,” she says. “I went into the studio one day and let all my frustration out.“That’s when this alter ego was birthed.”

“When I say alter ego, she is just another side of me. Her colour is red, she is the fire; the person who would walk into a room and not take no for an answer. She is basically my younger self, because that was me before I got into this industry, that side of me that always stood up for herself. I think that was suppressed a little as the years went on, and I needed to revive her.”

Pinnock’s story — from mainstream pop machine to introspective, culturally rooted solo artist — is one of growth, courage, and authenticity. Here, she tells us about her new release, moving forward as a solo artist and what reinvention looks like in this moment.

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The album title is My Ego Told Me To. Could you tell me more about the background to the project, the meaning of the title, and what inspired you musically?

I’ve been writing the album for about two years now. I feel like I’ve had a roller-coaster journey as a solo artist; last year, I made the decision to go independent and really follow my gut instinct. That’s where the album title stemmed from; [my alter ego] told me to take that plunge and be as authentic to myself as possible. If it wasn’t for her, I don’t think I would be in this place now, which is probably the happiest I’ve been in my solo journey. I owe it to her, and to my younger self.

Tell us more about this alter-ego. Is this like a Sasha Fierce reference?

It’s funny, because I see her as an alter ego, but really she is just the younger version of me. She’s always been there and been inside. When I think of all the struggles or obstacles I’ve had in my career or in life, she’s always been that fighting force saying, ‘you’ve got this.’ I think I suppressed that side. I wanted a strong creative vision for the album and the whole era; the Leigh-Anne everyone sees, her colour is green. That’s my favourite colour; the emotional, vulnerable, softer side. But my alter ego is this red fire, this boss energy. It’s about bringing her to the forefront.

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You left your major label in early 2025 and will be releasing the album independently. What motivated you to go independent with this release?

When I made the decision, it wasn’t dramatic, I just knew it was right for me in that moment. When I first came out as solo, I loved my music. I had two top 30 singles [‘Don’t Say Love’ and ‘My Love’ featuring Ayra Starr] and I put my EP No Hard Feelings out, which I’m proud of. But I think I almost felt like I was butting heads with my label at the time; they didn’t feel like my tribe, it didn’t feel like they really believed in it, or like they got it, I should say. And I can’t make anything happen with that sort of feeling.

There’s one lyric on the album where I say, ‘living my dream in a nightmare’. And I think that is so telling of this industry, how toxic it can be and how it can really chew up and spit out artists. It’s quite brutal. Maybe six years ago, I would have been really scared to go independent, but I feel like it’s the thing in this day and age of music. I think it’s something that just makes sense for artists; people want to know that everything’s coming from you, and that it’s true to you. So, yeah, I definitely feel like it’s been the right decision. Scary, but different.

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A lot of the project is rooted in your heritage, with reggae, Caribbean, R&B and dancehall influences. Was that intentional, and how did you shape this new sound over time?

It’s been a natural progression. I was excited to portray my culture and heritage and really put that stamp on the album. When I left the group, I had my first writing camp in Jamaica and I had so many incredible writers and producers fly over; working with Danja, Supa Dups, Abby Keen (Absolutely), PRGRSHN and Digenius. I think it’s important to have collaborators that get you.

I always knew I wanted to make music inspired by the genres I love – R&B, reggae, Afrobeats – but still put my pop stamp on it. Lovers rock and reggae are genres I grew up with; I’m quarter Jamaican, quarter Bajan, I would go to Jamaica every year and my cousin would burn me CDs of lovers rock. I loved it growing up and still love it now. I wanted that sound as the root of the album, but the album has so much colour and it all works together.

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What’s been going on for you in terms of life or personal development in the build-up to this release?

How long have you got? [laughs] Yeah, it’s been a lot to process. I think coming to terms with the process of going solo, and all the things that that brings, and then obviously going independent. There’s been so many changes, and then doing all of that whilst being a mum, it’s kind of wild. Like coming out of the group, from something so massive, established, and successful, to finding who Leigh-Anne is. I kind of underestimated how long I was in the band; over ten years is a long time to then come out and think you’ve got it all figured out. I struggled with expectations and pressure, the idea that I had to be just as successful as Little Mix, which is crazy when that took so long. But I feel like I’ve learned a lot. I feel like I’ve built up my resilience even more. And getting to this point now where I can release my album and it’s exactly how I want it to be, I think I’m just really happy with that.

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Do you see this album as a reintroduction of yourself?

Yeah, definitely. I love my girls, and I’m really proud to be from Little Mix. I think I always knew it was going to be a harder journey for me, because I’m doing music that’s very different from the group as well. So I always knew that would be a challenge in itself, but I’m really grateful for the fan base that have come along with me. And I’ve always been passionate about growing a fan base outside of the Little Mix fans and appealing to a different audience.That’s always been something I’ve wanted to do, and that takes time and consistency. So this album is reintroducing myself and that body of work. I’m hoping people can see the world that I’ve built, and like it!

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What would you like people to know about you and your music at this point in your career?

I’ve been really personal and vulnerable on the album, but also assertive and confident. I think both things can sort of work together, and I think the album does that really well, showing both sides of me. But the best way to know who I am is to listen to it. I hope my story inspires people, and I feel like I represent a lot of people. There’s a bigger reason why I’m here doing what I’m doing.