Presenting Little Mix

Unfortunately, the most popularly known fact about Little Mix is that member Perrie Edwards was once engaged to One Direction member-recently-turned-soloist Zayn Malik. The planned wedding went bust and both are now probably dating other people. Still, I am glad that thanks to that chapter in their lives, music lovers became aware of Little Mix and the great singing that the girl group has to offer.

Little Mix is made up of Perrie, 22 years old and the holder of a performing arts degree; Jesy Nelson, 24 who studied music and drama; Leigh-Anne Pinnock, 24, who is of mixed Barbadian and Jamaican parentage and was a Pizza Hut waitress; and Jade Thirlwall, 23, who is of Yemeni and Egyptian mix and studied performing arts. 

These girls met when they auditioned for the TV talent show, The X-Factor. Like the members of One Direction, they did not make it as soloists but showed so much potential, they were grouped together by the producers of the show into Little Mix.  The group went on to win the X-Factor in 2011 and became the first group and so far the only one to win the competition.

Each one of the members of Little Mix is a soprano with a three-octave range. That explains why they do those intricate harmonies and a capella arrangements so well. They made an impressive debut with the album DNA and the single Wings four years ago. This was followed by Salute, where they showed off their R&B dance skills with the hit song Move. Their third album titled Get Weird came along late last year.

What works well for Little Mix is the girls’ ability to take influences from other girl sounds and make them their own. This is why there are always hits of the Spice Girls, TLC, En Vogue, Destiny’s Child and even of the iconic Supremes in their recordings. As they continue to evolve, a distinct Little Mix style is also emerging.

This is most evident in Weird. The album is an energetic, package of catchy, commercial pop that harks back to the ’90s. First single Black Magic is the group’s biggest seller so far and the prospect of Love Me Like You is also very strong. I am sure a new album is already in the works for these girls. What I want to hear in that one is how they will cross the bridge into mature pop. If they get to do that then they will be set for life.            

Also included in Get Weird are Weird People, Secret Love Song feat. Jason Derulo, Hair, Grown, I Love You, OMG, Lightning, A.D.I.D.A.S., Love Me Or Leave Me, The End plus bonus tracks, I Wont, Secret Love Song Part II, Clued Up and The Beginning.

Incidentally, if we are to believe the hit charts it looks like Zayn did make the right decision to go solo at this point in his career. While the fate of his former group One Direction now hangs in Limbo, he is riding high on the success of his Pillowtalk single. All that he needs now is a big-selling album.

Here now are this week’s top hits as per the Billboard charts. The Top 20 in the Hot 100 are Work by Rihanna feat. Drake; Love Yourself by Justin Bieber; Stressed Out by twenty one pilots; My House by Flo Rida; Sorry, also by Bieber; Pillowtalk by Zayn; Me, Myself & I by G-Eazy X Bebe Rexha; Piece By Piece by Kelly Clarkson; 7 Years by Lukas Graham; Cake By The Ocean by DNCE; Hello by Adele; Work From Home by Fifth Harmony feat. Ty Dolla $ign; Roses by The Chainsmokers feat. Rozes; I Took A Pill In Ibiza by Mike Posner; Hands To Myself by Selena Gomez; One Call Away by Charlie Puth; Stitches by Shawn Mendes; Down In The DM by Yo Gotti feat. Nicki Minaj Don’t by Bryson Tiller; Back To Sleep by Chris Brown.

The Top 20 albums are I Like It When You Sleep For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware Of It by The 1975; 25 by Adele; ANTI by Rihanna; This Unruly Mess I’ve Made by Macklemore & Ryan; Purpose by Justin Bieber; Piece By Piece by Kelly Clarkson; Traveller by Chris Stapleton; Blurryface by twenty one pilots; For All Kings by Anthrax; Hymns by Joey & Rory; Dig In Deep by Bonnie Raitt; Beauty Behind The Madness by The Weeknd; Islah by Kevin Gates; TRAPSOUL by Bryson Tiller; When It’s Dark Out by G-Eazy; The Art Of The Hustle by Yo Gotti; Fetty Wap by Fetty Wap; Now 57 by Various Artists; EVOL by Future; My House by Flo Rida.