There’s a sense she’s returning to something familiar rather than trying to manufacture a brand new identity. We still hear the same fiery performer people first saw years ago on The X Factor, the difference now is that she sounds more certain of herself, speaking louder about what she wants and where she stands.
Pinnock describes My Ego Told Me To as “versatile, rooted in reggae and my heritage, but stamped with pop,” and that duality defines its sonic journey. The title of the opening track, “Look Into My Eyes”, immediately portrays this sense of confrontation but also powerful confidence. It starts in a slightly unexpected place with its choir-like, echoe’d intro. Followed by a fast-paced electronic pulse, it's accompanied by a steady reggae backdrop. Despite these contrasting paces and differing sounds, it's all unique to Leigh-Anne as an artist.
That sense of reclaiming space is revisited in “Revival”. Again, built on a reggae backdrop, the beat is relaxed but steady. Accompanied by echoing ad-libs throughout the song, it plays like an internal monologue, giving the impression of her arguing with – and empowering – herself. The lyrics “I’ll never back down / let me remind you who’s running this town” serve as a reminder of the albums narrative of reclamation. However, at points the lyrics feel like they want to be pushed further, into a more poetic turn to match the richness of the instrumentation.
“Best Version of Me” is where the album gets more emotionally interesting. The song roots itself in feelings of anxiety and uncertainty: “I’ve been running away from myself for a while / I’m fighting for the best version of me.” The lyrics feel honest and vulnerable, but the sound doesn’t follow the expected slow ballad route. Instead, it moves with a quick, restless energy.
Elsewhere, the album further broadens its emotional palette. “Me Minus U” leans into sleek pop romanticism, where Pinnock's vocals run softer, but her voice is also powerfully profound. It's an apt turn for the part of the overarching story where she muses on the importance of being in love whilst simultaneously reclaiming your identity and power.
But “FREE” might be the album’s most direct statement. Through the lyrics “Baby I could lose a mil and I’d make it right back,” we learn the revived self-belief that Pinnock embodies throughout the album, and her resilience motivated through her all-caps ego.
When all is said and done, My Ego Told Me To isn’t necessarily about Leigh-Anne becoming someone new, it's about remembering who she was before the external noise set in. And, most importantly, having the nerve to honour her authentic ego and embody her again.
