Don't Say Love

Pinnock signed a solo record contract with Warner Records in February 2022.[5] In May, following their Confetti Tour, Little Mix announced an extended hiatus in order to pursue solo careers.[6] In March 2023, Pinnock shared that she had been working with producer Kuk Harrell.[7] In May, her manager stated that a music video, as well as "photos and trailers", were being worked on.[8] The single's artwork was inspired by Pinnock paying homage to Mariah Carey's The Emancipation of Mimi album cover.[9]

On 5 June 2023, Pinnock initiated speculations about her debut, tweeting the hashtag "#LeighAnneIsComing" and encouraging fans to join her Discord server.[10] She wiped her Instagram profile and posted a 26-second teaser video of the song, then titled "DSL";[10][11] the video, described as "futuristic", shows Pinnock dressed in an "sparkling sequinned leotard".[10][12][13]

On 8 June, she announced the single and posted the cover art, revealing that she had waited an "incredibly long time" to do so. The song was made available to pre-order and pre-save on streaming platforms.[8] In an interview with British Vogue, Pinnock shared an exclusive 16 second preview of the music video.[14] Leigh-Anne continued to tease the song and the music video with daily uploads featuring behind the scene footage and visuals teasers of the music video.[15] The single and its music video were released on 16 June 2023.[16] The song received its debut performance at Capital Up Close with Lucozade Zero.[17] It was later performed at Vevo's London Studios.[18]

On 21 July 2023 a remix of "Don't Say Love" by Mas Tiempo featuring rapper Skepta and grime MC Jammer was released.[19] An R&B remix of the song was released on 4 August 2023.[20]

Carl Smith of the Official Charts Company described "Don't Say Love" as a song that "fuses elements of dance with a hint of nostalgic UK garage".[1] Leigh-Anne described the track as a mixture of R&B, amapiano, UK garage, afrobeats, and pop, and stated that, lyrically, it is about wanting to be loved,[14] "[expressing] the pain and frustration that came with feeling invisible and unheard for so much of [her] career."[2]

Billboard's Lars Brandle described the track as a "beats-heavy nugget with lashings of UK garage", with lyrics about someone who "no longer seeks external validation and who seeks to regain back their confidence after feeling unheard misunderstood".[16] Rolling Stone's Tomás Mier described it "as an upbeat dance-pop track."[2] Charlotte Manning from Attitude, described "Don't say Love". "as the track opens with thumping beats, which give off an uber cool garage vibe."[21]

The music video for "Don't Say Love" was directed by Emil Nava.[22] Leigh-Anne said that the video is about "trying to escape the feeling of being overlooked and undervalued", adding that she wanted to get across emotions of "frustration, sadness, [and] anger" through the video.[14] Jenke Ahmed styled the video; there are eight different "looks" in the video.[14] She further noted that the music video is a visual representation of her "finding [her] voice".[16]

At the end of the music video Leigh-Anne teased the second single release with a teaser of the next song titled "My Love".[23]

Following its release, Harrison Brocklehurst from The Tab included "Don't Say Love" in his list of the best solo singles from former girl group members, describing it as "absolutely astounding [...] fresh, chic, [and] effortlessly cool."[24] Gay Times' Lewis Corner described it as an "infectious new song with a cinematic visual that positions [Leigh-Anne] as an exciting force in pop in her own right."[22]

Charlotte Manning from Attitude, described "Don't Say Love" as a "pop anthem", giving praise to the song's lyrics and to Leigh-Anne vocals.[21] NME's Kyann-Sian Williams described the track as "dance–pop" with influences track of garage and house-inspired that "sees the star deal in the complexities of love".[25] Steffanee Wang from Nylon described it as a "00s, breakbeat pop banger."[26]