Leonor's 'It’s Not Me, It’s You' Is A Love Letter to Transformation: EP Review
When Leonor steps into the room — or into your headphones — you don’t just hear her, you feel her. With her new EP ‘It’s Not Me, It’s You’, released July 25, 2025, she delivers more than just a soundtrack to moving on. This is a complete story of transformation and all its stages.
Produced entirely by Quixk Made It and mixed and mastered by MixedByMcDuffie, the project captures the moment a woman reclaims her voice, lets go of who or what no longer serves her, and steps boldly into her next season.
After the first listen, one thing is clear: this is an EP just as much about saying goodbye to a love gone wrong as it is about welcoming the stronger, wiser version of yourself that rose from its ashes. While the backstory may involve heartbreak, the message is not about staying in sorrow. It’s about rising.
For women who are tired of music that keeps them stuck in sadness, this EP provides the blueprint on how to leave behind the tears and emerge with clarity, confidence, and renewed power.
A Closer Look at Leonor
Leonor Susu Savimbi, born in Zaire, Angola and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, is no stranger to reinvention. After immigrating to the U.S. at just four years old, she grew up navigating two cultures, learning to merge her roots with her reality. That blending is heard loud and clear in her music, which fuses Afro-Pop and R&B seamlessly in both English and Portuguese.
She made her debut in 2020 with ‘Islands’, a promising introduction to her sound and storytelling. Since then, she’s graced stages across the Las Vegas Valley and beyond, including performances at The Paris Hotel, The Space, and the Berklee College of Music. She’s also gained traction with fan-favorite tracks like “Ain’t Feelin’ You No More,” which recently got a remix featuring fellow Vegas artists LinaDrae and Tiffanne LeMay.
Still, ‘It’s Not Me, It’s You’ marks a new chapter for Leonor. It shows us a version of the songstress who is fully in control of her pen, her production, and her perspective. The project was shaped by a tight-knit creative circle that understood her personally, making way for a final product that is emotionally honest and sonically clean. Where ‘Islands’ was the realization of her voice, It’s Not Me, It’s You is the realization of her power.
EP Concept and Execution
From the opening track to the last beat, this EP is built on the theme of rebirth. Inspired by a breakup in 2022, the project is not about heartbreak in the traditional sense. Instead, it’s about what comes after.
In a recent interview with Aniea of the Las Vegas Review Journal, Leonor revealed she created this body of work to show others what’s possible after pain — that you can come out on the other side stronger, clearer, and better. That sentiment is captured visually as well, with the cover art showing Leonor dressed in pink surrounded by matching flames, a symbol of femininity and transformation in one striking image.
The lyrics throughout the project reflect this evolution. From “Meant For Me” to “She’s Back” Leonor sings with a clarity that is sharp but not bitter, empowered but not hardened. Each song reinforces a message often missing from mainstream music: women can evolve, detach, and move on without having to explain themselves.
Standout Tracks and Lyrics
“Ain’t Feelin You No More” is a standout for its confidence and relatability. Yes, it is catchy. Yes, the beat slaps. But more than that, it sends a clear message. In a world where women are often asked to justify their decisions, Leonor flips the script and simply states her truth. She no longer feels the same and is under no obligation to remain in a space that no longer serves her regardless of how anyone else feels about it. When it comes to her life, she’s in the driver seat.
Production across the EP feels intimate and intentional. Instead of overpowering her vocals, the instrumentals give Leonor room to breathe and deliver her message. Her voice shines as the lead instrument, with just enough melodic texture to keep things fresh and emotional.
How It Compares
In a time when singles dominate and cohesive storytelling often takes a back seat, ‘It’s Not Me, It’s You’ feels like a return to the art of the EP. Leonor took one lived experience — a breakup — and turned it into a journey. From track to track, the project flows naturally, each song contributing to the larger story of liberation and self-renewal.
Many artists today are chasing moments. Leonor, on the other hand, is building movements. While other projects may come and go, this EP is designed to last. It stands as a body of work that women can come back to whenever they need to remember their worth, tap back into their power, or simply heal in good company.
The impact is already being felt. Her release party was packed, filled with people who weren’t just there for the music, but for the message. From Gen Z girls singing every word to aunties in the back vibing with pride, the room reflected the diverse reach of Leonor’s voice and vision.
Rating: 4.0 out of 5
‘It’s Not Me, It’s You’ earns a solid 4.0 out of 5 for its bold concept, cohesive sound, and emotional honesty. Leonor has delivered more than just a breakup project. She has given listeners a toolkit for rising, glowing, and walking away from what no longer serves them — and doing it with class, clarity, and conviction.
This is what it looks like when an artist knows who she is, what she wants to say, and exactly how she wants to say it. ‘It’s Not Me, It’s You’ is not only the title — it is the declaration.