With My Ego Told Me To, Leigh-Anne invites listeners into an exhilarating era of self-discovery and artistic reinvention. Emerging from her celebrated journey with Little Mix, she steps boldly into the spotlight—fearless, authentic, and ready to share her unfiltered story. This album is more than a debut; it is a declaration of independence, a celebration of heritage, and a testament to the power of trusting your own voice. As Leigh-Anne uncovers new layers of herself, she promises not just to introduce us to who she is, but to inspire us to embrace our own evolution.

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Could you describe when and how your inspiration for this new chapter as a solo artist first began?

It's been a journey. I went solo three years ago, always knowing I wanted to make music inspired by the genres I love—R&B, Reggae, Danchell, and Afrobeats. I thought about how to incorporate those influences and add my pop stamp to create something that's truly mine—who is Leigh-Anne. When I launched my label, there was so much expectation. Given our group's success, people expected me to achieve the same numbers on my own. It's so unrealistic, and that pressure was overwhelming.

I needed time to figure out who I was and what I wanted, and taking time for myself was necessary. Going independent felt right—I needed to do things my way and make music true to my soul, not to what others wanted —and I’m not compromising my sound anymore. Everything that happened brought me to this album, and I feel so proud to have found my sound, my thing, and my lane—I love it. I'm so happy and excited for people to hear it. Now, I'm no longer thinking about what others say I need to sound like or who I should be. I'm going to be me, and this album represents that—this is who Leigh-Anne is.

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How did your approach to creativity change when you began making independent artistic decisions?

At the time, it was scary. I started my solo journey, released two singles and a strong EP, then leaped to go independent. I was scared and uncertain, but the moment I committed, telling myself and my manager, 'That's it, we're going independent,' my inner confidence returned—my younger self telling me to stand up for myself. I didn’t hesitate. I embraced the decision and felt a wave of confidence. Eliminating doubts has been necessary on this journey.

You created parts of the album in Jamaica, so how did being there influence the creative process you had for the album?

The first writing camp  I did was in Jamaica; it was unbelievable, it was such a special experience. Being home, writing music that resonates with me and is honest, was an amazing experience. There was something about being in that environment, which is my second home, that allowed me to write from the heart. I got some great songs from that trip, some of which are already on my EP and others on the album. Being out there and writing was truly special.

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The album is very much rooted in multiple genres, from R&B, pop,  reggae, and dancehall, all of which you bring together in your own way. How did you bring all of these sounds together in a way that felt really spoke to what you wanted this sound to be?

I’m proud of the way in which I was able to blend these genres into a cohesive album. For me, it is the perfect blend of these genres with my pop style, and I’ve carved my own lane. This is my representation of pop—I don’t want to be boxed in or labelled. I wanted to show my Jamaican and Bajan heritage and my many layers. There is real versatility, and I’m excited for people to hear it and understand who I am. Even things like having my grandparents on the album, I hope people understand why the album is rooted in Reggae and how that is really a part of who I am as a person and see who Leigh-Anne is.

Opening up the way you have, I know there's a difference between being in a group and speaking your own truth. How did you find that process when sharing your personal experiences and vulnerability in your solo work?

Being in a group, you write music together, and it isn't always personal to you, per se. So, having this independence, I can write whatever I want, pouring my heart out honestly. I’ve always wanted to do that with my songwriting, and for me, it feels like therapy, and also, I want my fans to know me and relate if they’ve had similar experiences. Being open felt natural since I wear my heart on my sleeve. Still, I sometimes wonder if I’m being too honest. I trust my fans; they support me, and I want to support them in return. I’ve enjoyed having creative control, doing what I want, and going independent. Every creative decision—the visuals, track list, writing—comes from me. I feel proud to have finished this album on my own terms and in my own way.

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Can you walk us through your process for choosing the album title and creating its overall theme?

I wanted a strong, creative concept for this next era. I kind of thought about an ego some years ago, or maybe like a year ago or something, but I think she really came to life in my sessions. When I did “Dead and Gone”, “Revival”, and “Look Into My Eyes”. I was working with Coffee and Owen Cutts right after I was going through all that label drama, and I felt so frustrated. It felt like I was running into a wall and not getting anywhere with them, and I just wanted to go into the studio and do what I wanted, with no brief, no opinions, nothing. Those sessions produced my best music and felt true to me. “Dead and Gone” is about letting go of the part of me that wouldn’t stand up for herself. You need thick skin in this industry, and I feel like I did have this version of myself, which was my younger self, who was this bold, fearless and determined girl. I kept thinking about her and asking myself, 'Where did she go?' Why have I hidden the bold side of myself? That people don't know.

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With all of the struggles from last year, I wanted to revive her. I wanted to bring her back, and almost add to my protection, and take over. With the title "My Ego Told Me To," I guess she is a bit of an ego, because she feels like a force. She told me to make an album that I'm 100% proud of. She told me to get the hell out of that old label, go independent, and do her thing. I think it's just such a relatable concept as well. You could be in any situation where you wish you'd said something to someone or stood up for yourself. Everyone's got that side to them, the fire that they can bring out when they need to, and sometimes, like, we're made to feel like we can't be loud or take up space. And I feel like no, that's not the case at all. Let us be confident. Let us express ourselves and be who we want to be. So I think that it's just such a relatable thing.

How do you feel now, compared to when you first started creating the album?

I'm in the best place I could imagine, happy and relieved from pressure. I’ve loved all my music, but this feels like a body of work without compromise, which is amazing. I feel much more fearless. I can feel my ego filling me with confidence, assurance, and stability. That comes from being proud of my work. This is so freeing—even if it’s been scary, it’s the best thing that could have happened.

What has been the most fulfilling moment so far in making this album?

Just finishing the album. I think that was the most satisfying part. But I know the most satisfying part will be when it's out.  I already know, in my heart, that my fans are going to love it. I know they will, because I love it. And they're with me. My fans are with me. I hope this album opens more doors for me, grows my fan base, and achieves big things.

As somebody who has been in this industry for a long time, with all that you have been through and experienced. How have you been able to maintain your excitement and joy whilst also protecting your boundaries as an artist?

I'm someone who throws myself into everything, so I'm probably not actually that good at protecting my boundaries sometimes. Like, if I'm feeling like exhausted, or if I'm not feeling great, or whatever it is, I'll probably still push myself to do something, but I think that's like the grafter in me, like I'm just, I've just, all I've ever known is to work hard.

I think having really good people around you is really important, just in general, not having yes people, because yes people like, I think that's when it just all goes downhill. being just humble and normal, and I think just having people around you to bring you back to Earth sometimes, or to keep your feet on the floor, and that's so important.

I am very much a family person, so like, in terms of protecting my boundaries, if I feel like I've been online too much, because social media can be so intense. I think protecting myself is often as simple as putting my phone down, and then I'm with my family. I'm, like, in the living, in the present, like, some people love me and know me.

We've spoken about your heritage and how it's shown in this album. In terms of how that has formed you as a person and just formed you as a creative, talk to me a bit about that. How has that impacted you and your life's journey, even in becoming a singer and getting to this point?

Being able to go to Jamaica every year and see my granddad, knowing my heritage, was always something. Both my parents are mixed race; my mom's dad is of Middle Eastern descent, and my dad's dad is Jamaican. So being in a household, rich in culture and knowing what my heritage is, and knowing who I am, in that sense, I think, has really shaped me for sure, and I feel very grateful that, like, I have such a strong sense of identity in that sense. Being Able to go to Jamaica, be with all my cousins, and, like, be in my culture was just amazing and important in terms of shaping me as a person.
Even in terms of bringing it into my music, that is why it's so important to me. My heritage means everything to me, and even when people like me might not understand, because they just know me as Leigh-Anne from Little Mix and think I should just do pop, it's like, but why? I've poured so many more layers and so much of myself into this album. It's me. And that is where it comes from: actually going, spending time with my grandparents, my Bajan granddad, all our Sundays, and always going up to London, having proper Bajan food as well. And just being in my culture, yeah. And like, like, down to music, just everything. I feel so proud of the strong connection I have to my heritage, and how could I not want to incorporate that into my career and what I'm doing?

If you told me, like, I could only listen to one song, what would that song be?

Regarding the message, I really hope people resonate with Best Version of Me. I think it's, yes, it's such a relatable concept. It's not running from yourself anymore, facing up to who you are, stepping into who you are, and not being afraid to be who you are. And blocking out opinions and just again expectations and whatever else people throw at you, it's like just, do you be you, and the best version of yourself is the most authentic version of yourself.​

Finally, ​what do you think this album says about Chapter right now?

This album is all about following my gut, trusting my instincts, and reclaiming the power I might have lost a little along the way. Stepping into myself, unapologetically, taking up space, being me. It is all about being me, going back to the ego and my younger self, and just bringing back that fearlessness, like not being afraid to be bold. And I think there's just such an amazing message in that. It's an album where you can listen to it and really understand who the artist is and their point of view, like where I'm coming from. There are different things that I would like people to take away from this album. I really want people to feel inspired. Like, things aren't always plain sailing, like journeys that can be rocky up and down, but ultimately, you're always going to find yourself where you need to be. Never give up on anything. Never give up on your dream. Just keep going, literally keep going.

Credits
Photographer: Maya Wanelik
Creative Direction: Kwamena
Producer: Seneo Mwamba
Creative Producer: Whitney Sanni
Styling: Kwamena
Assistant Stylist: Khalifa Antwi
Hair Stylist: Gaia_maua
Makeup Artist: Taisha Sherwood
Nail Tech: Sasha Walters
BTS videographer: Shirin
BTS: Michael Sonaike
Design: @margokatesmith & @shalemalone
Studio: @stu22.io
PR: @satellite414

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