The Bite Magazine - Autumn/Winter 2025 - Issue 38

bitenewmusic Leigh-Anne - Friends Image courtesy of Satellite-414 via Tallulah S inger and actress Leigh-Anne, who rose to prominence as a member of the girl group Little Mix, formed and won the eighth series of The X Factor UK in 2011, released the music video for her standalone single ‘Friends’ with Jamaican producer and singer Rvssian, out independent- ly via Virgin Music Group. Written by the artist and Grammy award-winning songwriter Theron Thomas, the track is built upon the iconic Gogo Riddim and sees the pair seamlessly fuse pop and basement rhythms. The accompanying music video, directed by Difty, follows Leigh-Anne and her friends as they cruise through London, having fun together and capturing the track’s carefree energy and swagger. Speaking on the track, the singer said, “‘Friends’ is one of those tracks that you can't help but vibe and move to. The song takes me back to when I’d just learned to drive, my girls and I would pile into the car and head down to Lon- don just to party. That carefree vibe, the laughter, the love, it’s all there in ‘Friends’.” Leigh-Anne’s forthcoming debut album, My Ego Told Me To, arriving in February 2026, is a fearless statement of freedom and identity. Created with collaborators including Clarence ‘Coffee’ Jr., Owen Cutts, Khris Riddick, and Fred Ball, the record blends pop, R&B, dancehall, and reggae, all rooted in her Caribbean heritage. It’s bold, unapologetic, and marks her transformation into an artist fully in control. The album will feature singles ‘Dead and Gone’, ‘Been A Minute’, and ‘Burning Up’. The singer recently announced the ‘My Ego Told Me To Tour’, which will include dates in the UK, Ireland and Europe. Start- ing in April 2026 at Dublin’s 3Olympia Theatre, it will stop in Glasgow, Manchester and Bristol before heading to London for a show at O2 Kentish Town Forum. The European leg will include stops in the Netherlands, France and Germany. www.leigh-anneofficial.com