Jade Thirlwall hopes to "surprise people" with her solo music

The singer told The Independent: "There's still so much that people don't know about me, so I was eager to surprise people, poke the bear a bit.

"I did feel anxious about p****** people off or any sort of backlash, but I have to write about what my experiences are - I'm not going to sugarcoat it. It is, you know, my reality."

Jade acknowledged that her solo work is "a lot more personal" than Little Mix's music.

The 'Angel of My Dreams' hitmaker explained: "With Little Mix it was break-up songs and female empowerment music, which I love, but I'm doing it in my own way now. Now it's a lot more personal to me. It's for the gays and the gals."

Jade admits that she's been "heavily influenced" by the LGBTQ community, and that influence shines through in her solo music.

The pop star said: "It just naturally happens. I've been heavily influenced by that culture, whether it's the club scene or my family and friends around me in London."

Despite this, Jade acknowledged that she's walking a "tricky tightrope" with her new music.

The singer - who joined Little Mix as a teenager, after auditioning on the UK version of 'The X Factor' - explained: "Like 'yas queen' and all that s*** ... It's a tricky tightrope to navigate, because I think, as an ally, you don't want to do too much."