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Daily Mail
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Little Mix star Leigh-Anne Pinnock reveals why she struggled to enjoy working as a solo artist as she opens up about industry pressure
Leigh-Anne Pinnock has said that the 'pressure and expectation' that came from being in a successful girl band stopped her from 'enjoying' her work as a solo artist. The former Little Mix star, 33, embarked upon her solo career in 2022 and admitted that she initially felt the weight of 'impossible' expectations. After joining the group on the X-Factor, the former Pizza Hut waitress went on to have an impressive 19 top-ten singles and five number ones with the band. She told Capital XTRA Breakfast on Monday: '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 10 years. It takes work. And also, I'm not doing music like the group did. 'Like, I've gone down a different route, and I just think those expectations kind of like weighed on me and it was like, "This is just not fun!"' Leigh-Anne Pinnock, 33, admitted on Monday that the 'pressure and expectation' that came from being in a successful girlband stopped her from 'enjoying' her work as a solo artist The former Little Mix star embarked upon her solo career in 2022 and said that she initially felt the weight of 'impossible' expectations after the band's success (pictured with Perrie Edwards, Jade Thirlwall and Jesy Nelson in 2015) The singer said that as a solo artist, she wanted to make music without feeling like she was under the same kind of pressure she felt in a girl band. She said: 'I'm doing this solo because one, I want to have fun. You know, I deserve to have that without feeling like this horrible pressure on me.' Little Mix announced in December 2021 that they were going to part ways after finding success on X Factor in 2011. The Little Mix star was then quizzed about how she is managing to alleviate the natural pressure she feels coming from an established act by radio hosts Robert Bruce and Shayna Marie. She admitted that she has had to 'change' her way of thinking since Little Mix went on a hiatus in 2021. Leigh-Anne stressed that, to her, being successful is being happy and having the ability 'to make music that I love and I'm proud of.' Compromise, she added, is no longer a priority for her as a soloist and she said she doesn't want to make music that is 'a little bit like how I want it to sound'. She said: 'That's not how I want to do this anymore. So, yeah. It's just to be fully proud and back and to love what I'm doing. 'I really feel I can really say that now with chest.' Leigh-Anne stressed that, to her, being successful is being happy and having the ability 'to make music that I love and I'm proud of' Leigh-Anne was appearing on the breakfast show to promote her new single 'Been a Minute'. Describing her new track as 'the song of the summer' to Rolling Stone, she promised that it is so catchy that it is impossible to listen to without wanting to dance. She told the outlet: 'It represents freedom, being fully in control and a sound that I feel needs to be heard and celebrated this summer.' The Little Mix star said she is welcoming in a new era in her music career and is doing everything on her terms and taking more risks. She said: '[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…'
Daily Mirror
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
'I partied at Drake's three-day Wireless set - this moment was unmissable'
For its 20th anniversary, Wireless Festival made a bold choice in inviting Drake to headline all three days of the prestigious event. Despite receiving backlash for the never-before-done move, Drake didn't disappoint and brought out an all-star cast of surprise guests that had the crowd jumping and singing their hearts out the whole weekend. This year, each day had a different theme: Friday (old-school R&B), Saturday (UK rap), and Sunday (Afrobeats). I attended both Friday and Saturday, and I had the best time ever. On both days, I was in crowds of up to 50,000 attendees each day. According to Capital XTRA, there was a confirmed total of 150,000 people over three days. Knowing that the event would attract a huge crowd, my friend and I stayed at the back, and there was enough space for us to dance and see the stage, which quickly came to life with Drake's special guests. Friday was my favourite day, and Drake knew how to start his three-day run with a bang. Not only was the crowd all hyped up by Summer Walker and PARTYNEXTDOOR, but Drake also brought Bobby V, Mario, Giveon, Bryson Tiller, Lauren Hill, and even Kehlani made a small appearance during Kwn's set. So many iconic artists in one night. I wasn't expecting Mario and Bryson Tiller, two of my favourite artists, to come out and perform their biggest hits. It was the cherry on top, and one of the best moments of Wireless. Saturday was a celebration for rap fans. The flyer simply teased 'The Mandem' without any explanation, which left fans wondering if it was even worth it to buy tickets. Let me tell you, it had the biggest crowd of the weekend. Big names like Central Cee, Dave, J Hus, Skepta, Headie One, K-Trap, as well as some US rappers: Yeat, Sexyy Red, Latto, and 21 Savage. But what shocked me the most was a complete change of pace thanks to Vanessa Carlton's live-performance of 'A Thousand Miles' to wrap up the night - a moment no one saw coming. From the headliner himself, I loved how Drake blended old and new songs from his albums, changing up the setlist each day. To show his love for the UK, he flew - literally - around Finsbury Park as Whitney Houston's 'I Will Always Love You' as fireworks lit up the sky. Drake kept saying that the UK was his 'real home', also claiming UK rappers are better than the ones from the States. The rapper even took a shot from his cup when fans started screaming 'F*** Kendrick', as per his decade-long feud with rapper Kendrick Lamar. Over the years, Wireless Festival has received some negative reviews, especially concerning aspects such as organisation, last-minute cancellations, accessibility and value for money, which made me hesitant. For example, in 2024, four acts - including Tyla and Digga - suddenly dropped out. Also, Sunday's set had an early closure due to the Euros final between England and Spain. However, this year was a year of improvements. Wireless Festival 2025 came well-prepared. They had water stations, cooling areas, medical assistance regular updates through their app, and a lot of security. Famous brands, like Liquid IV, one of their sponsors, had a tent where festival-goers could visit and hydrate themselves with their latest electrolyte products. To help me with the scorching heatwave temperatures, I drank Liquid IV's newest electrolyte mix - and it was a lifesaver. Not only did it keep me well hydrated and energised throughout the day, but it also gave me a good night sleep, waking up refreshed the next day. My experience at Wireless Festival, as a first-time attendee, was quite positive. The experience was well worth it, thanks to the number of surprise guests. My friend and I sang our hearts out to each song, and woke up the next day with a raspy voice. In short: good music and good vibes all around. Was it worth it? Definitely. Would I go again? Maybe not during a 30 degree heatwave, but if the temperatures are cooler than yes - most likely.
