Leigh-Anne Pinnock drops her debut solo song 'Don't Say Love' ❤️
She's also released the stunning music video
Last updated 18th Sep 2023
After Little Mix started their hiatus in May 2022, following their 'Confetti' tour, fans have been calling out for Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Perrie Edwards and Jade Thirwall to release solo music. Now the wait is over, in the shape of Leigh-Anne's 'Don't Say Love'.
A week after announcing her return to music, Leigh-Anne has dropped her amazing song along with the music video. The video was directed by Emil Nava, who has worked with stars such as Calvin Harris and Rihanna on 'This Is What You Came For', and Ellie Goulding's 'On My Mind'.
On 6th June, Leigh-Anne started teasing something was coming, before later announcing the name of her new song along with a teaser, along with another stunning photo.
She told her fans: 'I've waited an incredibly long time to say this and I can't believe it's actually happening. DON'T SAY LOVE. My debut solo single is coming on JUNE 16 and you can pre-save/pre-add it RIGHT NOW! x'.
This new info was released just a couple of days after the 31-year-old singer surprised fans by dropping a snippet of the track on her Instagram page. Leigh-Anne shared the futuristic visuals, simply writing: '#leighanneiscoming.'
In a move that is popular with artists who are preparing to release new music, Leigh-Anne wiped her Instagram page of all previous posts. She also changed her Instagram bio to '#leighanneiscoming.' Although Leigh-Anne didn't reveal the exact date that her new track will be released, she said via Instagram Stories that the song is already available to pre-order on streaming platforms.
The video was met with a host of excited comments from fans, with Leigh-Anne's fellow Little Mix bandmates also rushing to congratulate her. Perrie Edwards said: 'Omg. I dieeeeeeee. The visuals. The vocals. The lewkkk!' (sic)
Jade Thirlwall wrote: 'WE ARE READYYYYYY.' (sic) One fan commented: 'OH MY GOD I CANT BREATHE.' (sic) Someone else added: 'Yesss!!!!! Finally.' (sic)
What is 'Don't Say Love' about?
Leigh-Anne told Vevo the meaning behind 'Don't Say Love', explaining: "'Don’t Say Love' is about no longer seeking external validation and regaining my confidence and sense of self in a world where I often felt misunderstood and unheard."
What is Leigh-Anne's new song called?
Leigh-Anne's song is called 'Don't Say Love'.
When was 'Don't Say Love' released?
'Don't Say Love' was released on 16th June.
Take a look at Leigh-Anne's amazing career:
2011 - Leigh-Anne Pinnock wins The X Factor as part of Little Mix
Prior to auditioning for The X Factor, Leigh-Anne Pinnock worked as a part-time waitress at Pizza Hut. In 2011, she chased her pop stardom dreams and auditioned for the show as a solo artist. Leigh-Anne was soon put into a girl group along with Jade Thirlwall, Perrie Edwards and Jesy Nelson, originally named Rhythmix. They soon changed their name to Little Mix as they continued with the show.
On 11th December 2011, Leigh-Anne, Jade, Perrie and Jesy became the first group to win The X Factor, with Little Mix crowned the champions under the leadership of their mentor Tulisa Contostavlos.
2021 - Documentary, film debut and Little Mix hiatus
Leigh-Anne took part in a documentary, entitled Leigh-Anne: Race, Pop and Power, which aired in May 2021. The documentary centred around Leigh-Anne talking about racial issues, and also featured RAYE, Keisha Buchanan from the Sugababes and Alexandra Burke. She received a nomination at the National Television Awards for Best Authored Documentary.
After the documentary, Leigh-Anne and Andre launched a charity called The Black Fund. The charity works with existing charities to deliver support to the black community.
In October, Leigh-Anne appeared on RuPaul's Drag Race UK as a guest judge. The series featured many famous guests throughout, including Emma Bunton, Steps, Matt Lucas and Oti Mabuse.
Leigh-Anne's film Boxing Day was released on 5th December. Not only did Leigh-Anne's Pinnock Productions contribute to the film, but the singer also starred in it. After filming wrapped in early 2021, the movie was released in UK cinemas on Friday 3rd December 2021.
Then, later in December 2021, Little Mix announced they would be going on a hiatus in 2022, following their 'Confetti Tour'.
2022 - Leigh-Anne announces solo record deal
In February 2022, Leigh-Anne confirmed she had signed a solo record deal with Warner Records UK, sharing their announcement with the caption: 'So excited for what's to come 😍🙏🏽'. Later that year, she shared pictures from Jamaica where she could be seen with other writers and producers, confirming she was working on new music.
2023 - Honorary doctorate, debut solo single and memoir
In March 2023, Leigh-Anne announced that she'd narrated the original Hans Christian Anderson version of The Little Mermaid for Audible UK.
In July 2023, Leigh-Anne received an honorary doctorate from Buckinghamshire New University in recognition of her anti-racism and racial equality work. She returned to her home town of High Wycombe to collect the accolade.
Leigh-Anne delighted fans by dropping her debut solo song 'Don't Say Love' on 16th June. Speaking about her new music, Leigh-Anne told us: "I would love to sell out shows on my own. That would be a dream. Just to have fans, just for me I think is gonna be... Ah yeah, there's gonna be tears."
In July 2023, Leigh-Anne received an honorary doctorate from Buckinghamshire New University in recognition of her anti-racism and racial equality work. She returned to her home town of High Wycombe to collect the accolade.
She released her second single 'My Love' on 7th September 2023. The song features Nigerian singer Ayra Starr.
Leigh-Anne released her memoir Believe on 26th October 2023, announcing the news on social media with a clip of herself reading it. She wrote in the caption that she'd felt as though she'd been in a "whirlwind" since winning The X Factor, and hadn't had "chance to process," adding that she wanted to "respect her past" before embarking on a "new journey".
2024 - 'No Hard Feelings' EP and first solo show
Leigh-Anne released 'Stealin' Love' on 28th March, a new song which featured on her EP called 'No Hard Feelings', released on 31st May. Leigh-Anne described her EP as a collection of songs which: 'While not part of my album, have helped inform my direction as an artist, a songwriter and a musician.'
Leigh-Anne took to the stage for her first headline show since going solo in Lafayette London, a live music venue near Kings Cross.
On Friday 22nd November 2024, Leigh-Anne took to the stage of Birmingham's bp pulse LIVE arena for Hits Radio Live, performing solo hits and new music. The 'Don't Say Love' singer wowed audiences with her incredible vocals and energetic dance breaks. Check out all the pics here.
2025 - More songs and leaving her record label
In May 2025, Leigh-Anne began teasing new music, sharing pictures of herself in the studio and featuring what appeared to be a clip of new music.
In September 2025, Leigh started to tease another song, which fans believed was called 'Dead and Gone'. It was later released on 17th October, following pop banger 'Hello' on 3rd October, for which she teamed up with Sigala and Jonita.
Her last song of the year was released on 21st November, called 'Friends' and featured Jamaican singer Rvssian. In an email to her fans, Leigh-Anne explained what it was about: 'We've all had that one friend who turns out wasn't actually your friend. This song for me captures that feeling of the weight off your shoulders after finally cutting them off ❌.' (sic)
Leigh-Anne reflected on a busy 2025 in a New Year's Eve Instagram video featuring footage recorded earlier that year, opening up about her decision to leave her record label. She said: "So, long story short, the label have said no basically. They don't have the budget to put my album out. So I'm ready to just take the reigns. It'll be a new chapter and I just can't wait. And I'm leading this s---."
2026 - Debut album release
Leigh-Anne released her debut album on 20th February, telling Hits Radio: "This is a massive moment, I think it's just because it's taken so long to get here. It's been two years in the making and I think the fact that I'm doing it my way, like my terms, and I've done it myself, and got it over the line myself, I just feel like it's just even sweeter."
On the day Leigh-Anne announced her debut solo album, 'My Ego Told Me To', the singer also revealed she will also be going on tour in April 2026. She will be performing in Glasgow, Manchester, Bristol and London as part of a wider European tour.
Leigh-Anne is the first of the current Little Mix girls to release solo music, having announced she had signed a solo record deal back in February 2022. She took to her Instagram Stories to share the news, posting the Warner Records UK announcement captioned: 'So excited for what's to come 😍🙏🏽 '.
In the following months, Leigh-Anne teased fans with footage from recording studios including a video in March 2022, where she could be seen with songwriters Dyo and aB Keen.
Then, earlier this year, Leigh-Anne shared a 'record store cover' of 'ICU'. In an email sent to fans, the singer wrote: 'Thank you everyone for all the love on my SWV cover for #IWD. I know you've been asking for another one and when I was asked what to cover next, I knew there was only one song I wanted to do.
'I've been obsessed with Coco Jones and her song 'ICU' for so long and now I finally get to present my take on it. We filmed this one in south London in this gorgeous record shop and I'm so happy with how it came together. Let me know what you think! X'.
While Leigh-Anne is the first of the current Little Mix line-up to release solo music, former member Jesy Nelson has released two songs, since leaving the group in December 2020.
Jesy's first song, a collab with Nicki Minaj was called 'Boyz' released in 2021, followed by 'Bad Thing' this year.
You can hear songs by Little Mix on Northsound 1.
Now read:
Leigh-Anne Pinnock excites fans with video in the studio
Leigh-Anne Pinnock shares a 'record store cover' of 'ICU'