Leigh-Anne Pinnock Unveils Bold New Single 'Friends'
Former Little Mix star Leigh-Anne Pinnock has sent her fans into a frenzy with the release of her latest track, 'Friends,' featuring Rvssian. The singer announced the new music on Friday with a racy Instagram post that saw her posing in a sheer black bra and a tiny top, signalling a definitive departure from her previous 'Miss Nice Girl' public persona.
Shedding the 'Nice Girl' Image for a New Era
The 34-year-old artist had previously vowed to transform her image, expressing a desire to show a different side of herself to the world. Speaking on The Red Carpet Treatment podcast, Leigh-Anne stated, 'I feel like I am just ready to show a different side to everybody. I think what people know of me, like Leigh-Anne the mum, Leigh-Anne the nice girl. Like, I'm just no more Miss Nice Girl.'
She explained that her time in the globally successful girl group Little Mix, alongside Perrie Edwards, Jade Thirlwall, and formerly Jesy Nelson, made it difficult to express her own individuality. 'I think we all needed [the split] to be able to express ourselves and be our individual selves,' she admitted, adding that it was amazing to see all the former members now thriving in their own creative lanes.
The Road to a Debut Album and Creative Freedom
'Friends' is announced as Leigh-Anne's final release of the year and is set to be a part of her highly anticipated debut solo album, 'My Love Told Me To,' which is scheduled for release in February 2026. This new chapter comes after a significant career shift; the singer revealed earlier this year that she had parted ways with her former record label, Warner Music Group.
After signing with Warner as a solo artist in 2022 and releasing her EP 'No Hard Feelings' the following year, her solo progress reportedly stalled. It is understood the label was reluctant to fund a music video for a subsequent single. Now, operating as an independent artist, Leigh-Anne has complete creative control over her new record, a level of autonomy that is rare for most artists and which she is clearly embracing fully.
Leigh-Anne is determined to prove she is more than just a former member of Little Mix or 'Leigh-Anne the mum' to the twin daughters she shares with her footballer husband, Andre Gray. With this powerful new single and a major album on the horizon, she is firmly establishing her unique identity in the music industry.
