"Growing up, I would tell anyone who would listen that I was going to be a pop star," says Leigh-Anne. "I was so deluded in the most amazing way."

That self-confidence led her to apply for The X Factor, where she became a member of Rhythmix. One name change later, Little Mix went on to become the biggest and most influential girl group to come out of the UK since the Spice Girls. After a decade at the top of the pops, the trio went on hiatus in 2022 to pursue solo projects.

"The last couple of years I've really been discovering myself again," says Leigh-Anne. "Coming out of the group and trying to work out who I was as a solo artist… I just needed time." However, the industry had other ideas. "There was so much pressure on me to become an overnight success, and there were all these expectations that I needed to be just as big as Little Mix," she continues. There were also plenty of super helpful suggestions from other people that she "sound a little more like this" or "be a bit more like that".

"There were just all these little things that chipped away at my ability to stand up for myself," admits Leigh-Anne. "I lost my self-belief along the way."

That changed when, annoyed at constantly clashing with her record label, she went into the studio with producers Clarence Coffee Jr. and Owen Cutts to drown out the noise. Focusing only on what she wanted to make, that one session spawned swaggering clapback anthem 'Revival', the smirking 'Dead And Gone', and the playfully venomous 'Look Into My Eyes'. Those three tracks open Leigh-Anne's self-assured debut album 'My Ego Told Me To'.

"Those songs felt so different to anything else I'd worked on… they just had this attitude to them," says Leigh-Anne, who soon rediscovered the same ego that had convinced her she was going to be a pop star. "That younger version of me needed to be unleashed. Ever since then, everything I've done has been so much bolder."

"Ego can be dangerous, but when you use it in the right way, it can be really powerful," she adds.

It can also make a banging album. "I grew up loving reggae, and I'm a huge R&B fan, but I'm also a pop girlie. I really wanted to incorporate all these different sides of myself into a cohesive record, especially because at the beginning of my solo career, there was a lot of confusion about what sort of artist I was. And I get it," she grins. 'Don't Say Love to My Love' was "a bit of a leap", and then there was the late-90s-inspired 'No Hard Feelings' EP. But 'My Ego Told Me To' revels in the clashing sounds and energies.

It's a proud, defiant, jubilant showcase of Black music at a time when racists are very quick to say what is and isn't British, and the Union Jack is being weaponised on lampposts. "Both of my grandparents came over as part of the Windrush Generation, so that does hit something in me. The amount of racism that is freely online is scary, and seeing the Reform protests is petrifying. I've always wanted to celebrate my heritage, and I love exploring different genres of Black music," she says. "I didn't think about it being a political album, but I guess it is what it is."

It comes after Leigh-Anne teamed up with Bastille's Dan Smith, Brian Eno, Mabel, Neneh Cherry and more at the end of last year for charity single 'Lullaby', with all proceeds going to Palestine relief organisations. "I've always been passionate about using my platform, and the world is so messed up right now," says Leigh-Anne. "All I'm doing is leading with compassion and just being a human. I'm not really bothered about ruffling feathers because I think we all need to be doing that right now."

Lyrically, 'My Ego Told Me To' is just as eclectic as the music. "If I'm feeling something, I'll write about it." Tender songs about family sit next to swaggering celebrations of independence. 'Best Version Of Me' is brutally honest about Leigh-Anne's mental health coming out of the group, while 'Tight Up Skirt', 'Most Wanted' and 'Talk To Me Nice' see her get hot and heavy. "In Little Mix, we had to make everything suitable for our young audience. At the beginning of going solo, there were times I felt like I couldn't talk about certain things, but I'm at the point now where I feel like I can be as sexual as I want to be. I knew this was never going to work for me if I couldn't be totally free with it."

"This record really is a true representation of me," she adds. "It's been a long time coming, but the fact I'm releasing it as an independent artist just makes the moment even sweeter."

The decision to go it alone was inspired by RAYE, says Leigh-Anne. "She stepped out and did exactly what she wanted to do, and just look at what she's achieved. She's proof that when you're authentic to yourself, your art can connect." She also loves Zara Larsson. "She's an example of someone who's been working at it for years, and the world has finally caught up to her. She's incredible and deserves every bit of success."

Leigh-Anne isn't trying to match previous wins with 'My Ego Told Me To'. "I always think to myself, 'Girl, you've been doing this for over 10 years now. You've done it all already, so just have fun and put out your art.' Once I took that pressure off myself, I was so much happier," she explains before grinning. "I do think this record deserves Top 3 [in the UK Album Charts] though."

There's been plenty of talk about the inevitable Little Mix reunion, but right now, Leigh-Anne has more to say as a solo artist. "It really does feel like this is just the start."

She's "definitely" already thinking about the next project and has also started work on a deluxe. "I've put so much of myself into 'My Ego Told Me To', so I want to revel in that for a while," she continues. There's a string of record store gigs and signings in the next few weeks before a UK and European headline tour in April. And after that? The world. "I'm just excited to see how this blooms."

"It hasn't been smooth sailing, but every single time I've fallen, I've got back up and kept going," she says. "Hopefully, people can see that and feel empowered by the idea that sometimes shit happens, but you just have to keep going. You have to keep believing in yourself. "

Leigh-Anne's album 'My Ego Told Me To' is out now.