Leigh-Anne Pinnock opens up on struggles as a solo artist due to industry pressure and expectations

Leigh-Anne Pinnock has candidly revealed that the “pressure and expectation” of transitioning from a hugely successful girl band to a solo career initially robbed her of the joy of making music on her own.

The 33-year-old former Little Mix star launched her solo career in 2022 following the group's hiatus, but admitted she felt weighed down by what she described as “impossible” standards set by her past success.

Speaking on Capital XTRA Breakfast on Monday, Pinnock explained:

“The pressure is what stopped me enjoying it as much.

Obviously, coming from such a massive group and having the pressure to do just as well as that massive group did is kind of impossible to do overnight. That took ten years. It takes work.

Also, I'm not doing music like the group did. I’ve gone down a different route, and I think those expectations just weighed on me. It was like, ‘This is just not fun!’”

Pinnock, who joined Little Mix via The X Factor and went on to achieve an impressive 19 top-ten singles and five UK number ones with the group, said she now wants to create music without that burden hanging over her.

“I’m doing this solo because, one – I want to have fun,” she continued. “I deserve to have that without feeling like this horrible pressure on me.”

Little Mix announced in December 2021 that they were going their separate ways after rising to fame through The X Factor in 2011.

During the interview, radio hosts Robert Bruce and Shayna Marie asked Pinnock how she was learning to cope with the inevitable pressure that comes from having been part of such a prominent act.

She admitted she’s had to “change [her] way of thinking” since the band took a break in 2021.

To her, true success is no longer just about numbers or charts, but about creative fulfilment.

“Success to me is being happy – being able to make music that I love and I’m proud of,” she said.

She emphasised that compromise is no longer part of her musical journey.

“I don’t want to make music that’s just a little bit like how I want it to sound. That’s not how I want to do this anymore. So yeah, it’s about being fully proud, fully backed, and to love what I’m doing. I really feel I can say that now – with chest.”

Leigh-Anne appeared on the breakfast show to promote her latest single, ‘Been a Minute’.

Describing the track as “the song of the summer” in an interview with Rolling Stone, she promised it’s so catchy that “it’s impossible to listen to without wanting to dance.”

“It represents freedom, being fully in control, and a sound that I feel needs to be heard and celebrated this summer,” she said.

Now entering what she describes as a new era, Pinnock affirmed she is doing things entirely on her own terms.

“[I’m] worrying less about what people think and other people’s expectations of me.

We’re coming to disrupt. No more Miss Nice Girl…”