00:00 We're literally having an R&B jam.
00:02 - I wish I was there for that.
00:03 (laughing)
00:05 - Hi, it's Leigh-Anne and this is Billboard News.
00:09 - It's Tetris with Billboard News
00:15 and we're feeling all pink and pretty today with Leigh-Anne.
00:18 How you doing?
00:19 - Hi, I'm good, how are you?
00:20 - I'm amazing, so happy you came all the way
00:22 over the pond to hang out with us.
00:23 - Always.
00:24 ♪ Don't say love if that's not what you're chasing ♪
00:27 ♪ Empty lies, empty words, entertainment ♪
00:31 - Don't Say Love is a certified bop, love it.
00:34 So tell me why you decided this was gonna be
00:36 your introduction to the public as a solo artist.
00:39 - So, yeah, Don't Say Love came in
00:41 like the beginning of the process.
00:43 Always knew it was a banger.
00:45 It kind of became obvious quite quickly
00:47 that it needed to be the first single
00:49 and especially with the meaning of it,
00:51 the idea of wanting to be loved wholeheartedly
00:54 and like at 100% I think it was very relatable to me
00:59 and I just thought, you know what,
01:01 yeah, this needs to be the first one.
01:03 - And that's such a relatable subject in general,
01:05 I think that touches people,
01:06 so how's your fan reaction been to the single?
01:08 - It's been incredible.
01:10 It's been better than I could have imagined.
01:12 Just seeing people doing their videos and singing to it,
01:17 seeing how happy it's making people,
01:19 that's what it's all about, so yeah, it's been really good.
01:22 (upbeat music)
01:24 - And now you gotta, I'm sure,
01:27 move on into a full-length project,
01:29 so let's talk about that.
01:30 I've heard you were talking about fusing
01:32 some genres together.
01:33 So what genres do you wanna mix
01:34 and what do you want your sound to be?
01:36 - So I'm an R&B girl,
01:37 like everybody knows I love my old school R&B.
01:40 ♪ So like a death can't beat myself ♪
01:43 ♪ Can you be strong ♪
01:44 At the same time though,
01:45 I really do wanna incorporate
01:47 all the other genres that I love,
01:48 so yeah, we've got some reggae stuff on there
01:50 and then I think I am a pop girl at heart too,
01:53 so I just feel like that stamp
01:55 is always gonna be in the mix, you know?
01:57 Yeah.
01:58 ♪ It's a shame it had to end up this way ♪
02:01 - And you did say old school R&B,
02:02 so now that popped into my head,
02:03 I wanna know, who's your favorite old school R&B artist,
02:06 but also new R&B?
02:08 I wanna see both spectrums.
02:09 - Well, I love a boy band,
02:11 so I have all the stuff, Jagged Edge,
02:13 Drew, just since Drew Hill,
02:16 Immature, Joe, I love.
02:21 Genuine, the list goes on.
02:23 - You did name a lot of groups there,
02:24 so tell me how it is to be an artist now
02:26 that you're stepping into your solo game,
02:28 like how you approach that versus being in a group?
02:31 - It's definitely different,
02:33 like I don't have my sisters to fall back on.
02:37 ♪ I swear that we won't lose this thing we found ♪
02:42 So I definitely miss the sisterhood,
02:44 but at the same time,
02:46 it just feels so freeing
02:48 and just like, I don't know,
02:50 like that sense of empowerment just to stand on my own
02:53 and know that I'm just doing this for me
02:55 and yeah, it just feels like the right time.
03:00 It just feels so right to me.
03:02 - And then also, I wanna talk to you about Kelly Rowland,
03:04 because I think that's amazing that you said
03:06 she was the one that put you guys together.
03:09 - Yeah.
03:10 - That is strong, vocally.
03:11 - Really?
03:12 - Absolutely, it's about being the next generation
03:15 and discovering something new.
03:16 - Oh yeah, of course.
03:17 - Have you talked to her since then?
03:18 - Yeah, so I actually saw her at Rock Nation brunch
03:22 and we had a little moment and she's just so sweet
03:26 and she was just being so lovely.
03:28 She's just, I don't know,
03:31 she's like the older sis, you know?
03:34 Just kind of, you know that she's always got your back,
03:36 like that's what it feels like.
03:38 She's just, yeah, she's amazing.
03:39 - I mean, the knowledge from her Destiny's Child knowledge,
03:41 obviously I'm sure can help you in a lot of ways.
03:44 I feel like you guys need to collab, would you do that?
03:45 - Oh my God, yeah, can you imagine?
03:47 I'd love that.
03:48 - And I mean, you have a whole new stage of your life
03:53 that you're in now, so mom, twins.
03:56 So, okay, walk me through juggling launching a solo career
04:01 but also being a mom.
04:02 - I don't really know how I'm doing it, to be honest.
04:06 - Sounds wild to me.
04:08 - I don't know, I just feel like I'm taking it day by day
04:11 because it's the hardest thing I've ever done.
04:13 Like, I hate leaving them, I hate it.
04:16 But at the same time, I love this, I love what I do.
04:20 And there's no reason why I can't have a successful career
04:23 and be an amazing mom.
04:24 I mean, I'm freaking proud of myself though
04:27 for how I'm doing it.
04:28 And well, they actually love music
04:30 and they're always dancing.
04:31 My second single, they sing along to is like, "Yay."
04:34 - Oh my God.
04:36 You need to have them tease it.
04:38 That needs to be, that is the plan.
04:40 - I see, wow, okay.
04:42 - You should do that.
04:43 - So you also have Perry that's a parent.
04:45 So how is it to kind of go through
04:46 this phase of your lives together?
04:48 Has that changed your sisterhood?
04:49 - Oh my gosh, it brought us even closer, I think.
04:53 The fact that, yeah, we had each other to lean on.
04:56 - We can't wait to see where your solo career goes,
04:58 but you know, I have to ask for the fans.
05:00 Where do you see the next level of Little Mix?
05:03 When can we maybe see you guys back together?
05:05 ♪ Little love you asked from time ago ♪
05:07 ♪ Could get a love me then but now I do ♪
05:09 - I definitely think we'll have a reunion.
05:11 I mean, how can we not?
05:13 You know, like look what we've created.
05:15 Like we've created a legacy.
05:17 So I just think, yeah, like we don't really have a choice.
05:20 Like Little Mix, we'll always be Little Mix, you know?
05:24 ♪ I want everybody else ♪
05:27 ♪ It's time I did it for me ♪
05:29 - Somebody watching this interview right now
05:31 and they're like, "Who is Leigh-Anne?
05:32 "What would you want to leave with?"
05:35 - I think one thing that Leigh-Anne doesn't want to be
05:37 is boxed into anything.
05:39 I want to be a global superstar.
05:41 I want to be, I want everybody to feel like
05:46 they can listen to Leigh-Anne.
05:48 I want to make music to empower.
05:50 I have a lot to say.
05:51 I want to keep inspiring people
05:53 and I want to be true to myself.
05:55 - Love that.
05:56 Well, ladies and gentlemen,
05:57 I introduce you to global superstar Leigh-Anne.
06:00 (Leigh-Anne laughs)
06:01 Thanks so much for hanging out with us today.
06:02 - Thank you.
06:03 (door slams)
06:06 [BLANK_AUDIO]
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