Have you heard of Olivia Dean? Well you probably have heard her.. With catchy yet peaceful singles going viral to the standout songs on a lifeless retail playlist. Through her powerful vocals and touching songwriting, the soothing singer has added a refreshing soulful sound to the pop scene. Releasing her second studio album ‘The Art of Loving’ in September - the 26 year old pop star dove deeper into the world of love.
When talking about her headspace from one album to another - Dean described ‘The Art of Loving’ to be lighter and more fun than her debut album ‘Messy’.
“I think generally, as a person, I’m more centered and in touch with myself than I was two years ago. This album, I would like to think, has an emotional maturity that I’ve really been working on developing in myself. I would never claim to know it all. I’m not saying I know everything about love, guys. I’m trying to work on myself and learn and be a better person, and I think that was all through writing these songs. So yeah, I think I’m just older—and hopefully a little bit wiser.”
There would be many inspirations when creating this album, with Olivia referring to herself as “somebody that is such a sponge for things”. From listening to a lot of vinyl and crate digging, to going to exhibitions out of LA and London. She would actually take colour palette inspo for the album’s vinyl directly from a specific painting from a Brazilian modernism exhibition in London. The singer would also state how she’s got into more guitar-y music, and listens to Brazilian music, Reggae music, Ethiopian music and of course a lot of Fleetwood Mac.
With an undeniable quality of nostalgia and timelessness. Olivia effortlessly blends warmth and honesty throughout her heartfelt depictions of the many dimensions of love - romantic, platonic, self and everything in between. Every track elegantly offers an individual glimpse into the complex layers of love.
‘Nice to Each Other’ provides an introduction to the world and theme of the album. “I wanted to start with something fun - something that felt flirty but also meaningful” Filled with an infectious playfulness, there’s no wonder the song blew up on social media and introduced Dean’s music to a whole new crowd. Once again her influence from listening to Fleetwood Mac and enjoying guitar, brought this first single to life. “I really wanted to write something fun for the tour. Even though a lot of my music is quite emotional, I'm actually a really silly person.”
The initial concept of the ‘Nice to Each Other’ video potentially conveys a lot of the meaning behind the aesthetic of the album: “this idea of a black-and-white world. It was a metaphor for the way I've looked at love and relationships in a very black-and-white sense. It's either “this” or it's “that.” We're together or you're dead to me. But there's so much in between. Then it would end up being in colour. That's the point that you get to.”
Supported by three more successful singles ‘Lady Lady’, ‘Man I Need’ & ‘So Easy (To Fall In Love’, the whole body of work simply weaves sonically between easy upbeat pop songs to moody ballads. This project begins an exciting new chapter for Dean, making it clear she is one of the UK’s most promising and mesmerising artists.
Speaking on the album Olivia would note: "I don't think this is a cynical thing to say but I don't think love is just magic that happens to you, I think you've got to put the time in, it's a craft, it's like playing an instrument or any other skill… I'm a romantic, hopelessly, hopelessly. And I suppose I'm trying to just bring a little bit of love, and loving, back into your life."
Carrying on releasing beautiful visuals, incredible live performances and blending right in opening for the North American dates of Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Short n’ Sweet’ Tour. Olivia Dean is currently preparing for her own ‘The Art of Loving Live’ Tour set to start from April 2026.
But for now have a piece of her heart - ‘The Art of Loving’ available everywhere!
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