Little Mix may have auditioned as solo artists when they were on the UK’s version of The X Factor, but the combination of their unique vocals won the hearts of many and a recording contract.
The group currently consists of Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Jade Thirlwall, and Perrie Edwards, who have become international sensations in just a few years.
After becoming the first group to win The X Factor in 2011, the British girl group has sold over 50 million albums and singles internationally won multiple awards, and have gained a worldwide fanbase known as Mixers.
Their past albums, DNA (2012), Salute (2013), Get Weird (2015), Glory Days (2016), and LM5 (2018), all went platinum not too long after each release.
After almost a decade of success, their most recent album, Confetti, is a bittersweet transition as this is the last album to feature group member Jesy Nelson before she announced her departure.
The group’s sixth studio album is something completely different from what they have put out in the past. Little Mix is a group that embodies the meaning of women empowerment and have even expressed it in their music.
From their 2014 hit “Salute”, which signifies the meaning of girl power using hip hop sounds and military references, to “Woman Like Me” in 2018 featuring rapper Nicki Minaj, which highlights whether a guy could fall for a girl through her authenticity.
However, this recent group of songs takes a different approach which makes the album more fun and energetic.
With the songs in Confetti, this album is composed more like a diary that focuses on love and heartbreak.
What makes this album so original is that each song includes different samples of music genres that give off a different feeling while listening. From 80s pop to retro to contemporary to reggaeton; this album is like a sample platter at a restaurant, you get one of everything.
This girl band may be known for executing incredible harmonies and choreography, having a great sense of fashion, and standing up for what they believe in. But after being a part of the creative writing process of this album, they can most definitely add songwriting to their list of many talents.
The ladies have used their good and bad experiences and created something that their fans can relate to in a more celebratory manner.
From romances and breakups to expectations and ridicule, these occurrences have led the ladies to get creative in the studio and making something that they have never done before.
The opening track, “Break Up Song”, has an upbeat rhythm that brings a lively tone to a negative situation and turning it into a positive one.
“Sweet Melody”, which is my favorite track from the album, brings more of a pop-reggaeton vibe that has caught my attention for its catchy tune and its focus on getting over a past relationship.
Another track from the album that stood out to me was “Not a Pop Song”, for its brutally honest lyricism of the group staying true to themselves in their music and not letting expectations run their careers.
The entire composition gives an honest look at what the members of the group have each gone through personally and as a whole.
It’s no surprise that the album’s name, Confetti, is what it is since all of the songs have a feeling of celebration behind them. In this case, the album was named in honor of Jesy Nelson, who left Little Mix in December of 2020.
“Confetti” was the only song that included Nelson’s creative input, so it was only fitting that this album would truly become her swan song. The title track includes sounds that are very relevant in hit songs from the 2000s, which emphasizes a celebration of life and freedom from the one that caused a broken heart.
In the context of Nelson’s departure, which was due to mental health issues from expectations of being in a girl group, I think this track truly marks a new chapter in her life as she is now focusing on herself and her well-being.
The beats and lyrics in this track make the perfect combination in a meaningful pop song that portrays the importance of enjoying yourself and the ones around you.
After listening to the album all the way through, Confetti does stand out to me from the other albums as this one offers a variety of sounds, harmonies, and unique lyrics. Little Mix always brings something original to the table when it comes to their music, which is primarily the reason for their overwhelming success.
As the group is now going through a new change in their career, I’m looking forward to seeing what new music they have in store for years to come.