Leigh-Anne at Koko

Leigh-Ann Pinnock admits to the audience: “When I did this solo thing, I wasn’t sure how many of you would come with me.” Having struggled to forge an individual identity as a member of Little Mix, the singer struck out on her own with 2023’s Don’t Say Love, following up with a string of singles before dropping her No Hard Feelings EP in May of this year. Her fellow alumni have also explored solo careers – while none have yet broken through à la Harry Styles of One Direction, each retains a sizable pocket of fans held over from their decade as a chart-topping pop group. Koko’s sold-out crowd quells any doubts as to their loyalty, greeting her with a squall of appreciation.

The singer poses on stage behind a swept curtain, an image of self-assurance. Don’t Say Love reaches for clarity in the embers of a failing relationship, asking “Don’t say love if that’s not what you’re chasin’ / Empty lies, empty words, entertainment.” A quartet of dancers flanks Pinnock, while the keyboardist and drummer are positioned on raised platforms, making room for the tightly knit choreography below. Theatricality punctuates the music, with plenty of dance breaks falling in between choruses.

Stealin’ Love likewise features a danced outro, a duet that shows off her impressive physicality. Pinnock isn’t up-staged by her troupe. In fact, she shines in the ensemble, boasting a larger-than-life stage presence honed by years of arena tours. One trade-off is a lack of spontaneity. Even when coming forward to greet her fans during I’ll Still Be Here, the moment feels just as choreographed as the rest of the show.

Pinnock brings her Caribbean heritage to bear on the stylings of her solo output. Written during her songwriting camp in Jamaica, Nature sits into a heavy reggae beat. It’s a welcome break from higher-tempo pop tracks that come before, furnished with lush production that is satisfyingly realised in a live setting; resonant, cutting synth chords stab alongside the snappy beat of the drums. With lyrics of yearning anticipation, she croons: “When it’s for you, I’m never too far / Love how you move, it’s in your nature.”

A cover of SWV’s Weak evinces 90s nostalgia. Pinnock adeptly navigates multiple key changes, offering a glimpse of what she can do when freed from the constraints of modern pop. Her live show would benefit if she drew more liberally from her reggae and R’n’B influences: these are the moments in which she truly shines. 

Ben Browning
Photos: Ambra Vernuccio

For further information and future events visit Leigh-Anne’s website here.

Watch the video for the single Nature here: