You haven’t heard music until you’ve listened to the melodic heaven of Olivia Dean.
Born in London, England, Olivia has been releasing music since 2018 and recently came out with her sophomore album, The Art of Loving, on September 26th of this year. It is difficult to describe Olivia’s incredible music, other than to say it encapsulates the beauty of what it means to be a human. Her style is best understood as a combination of pop, R&B, and soul, with strong influences from jazz, bossa nova, and Motown. Olivia writes songs of grace, deep emotion, and a strong understanding of oneself. Whether the lyrics explicitly say it or not, Olivia seems so sure of her writing, singing, performing, and style as a whole. You can listen to her and truly believe every word she says: she makes listeners feel seen with every relatable lyric.
Olivia is exactly the fresh sound that the music industry needs right now. She is a timeless gem who seems familiar, yet brand new. I truly believe anyone would like Olivia Dean, but fans who enjoy Lauryn Hill, Sade, Raye, Amy Winehouse, and Adele will find her to be especially compelling. Her music is honest, joyful, and warm, leaving listeners inspired to get out there and live authentically. Olivia is captivating to listen to in interviews, coming off so raw and real, and you can tell that her love is truly found in making music she enjoys. The meaning behind her music is conveyed by freedom, love, and a life without regrets or pressure.
For listeners just starting with Olivia and looking for upbeat songs, I would suggest “So Easy (To Fall In Love),” “Nice to Each Other,” “Dive,” and “Man I Need,” all capturing her beautiful and hopeful sound that makes you want to get up and dance. People who want to dig deeper into her discography and find music that puts their incomprehensible feelings into perfect songs should give “Loud,” “A Couple Minutes,” “Let Alone The One You Love,” “Close Up,” and “I’ve Seen It” a listen.
“A Couple Minutes” draws your ears in from the first second of violin, and into her heart-wrenching lyrics of the reality that is a past connection. The song envelops the daydreaming of an old love, and the gratitude a person feels when they can reflect on the life that once was with a partner. The immediate familiarity that takes over when you see a past partner or think back to being in that relationship is lovely, but the closure and awareness of leaving them behind is what is right. The expression of appreciation when Olivia sings, “love’s never wasted when it’s shared,” accepts that what once was is to be remembered fondly, while looking beyond to the reality that lies ahead.
In “Let Alone The One You Love,” Olivia expresses the emotionally heavy process of seeing a partner for who they truly are and coming to terms with how things are really playing out, despite efforts to see beyond them. Having faith that someone is different but being blindsided to their mastering of the game is what Dean translates into song. The heart-breaking reality of not being known in the way you thought you were, and realizing that you may have never known them either, is heard when Olivia sings, “if you knew me at all, you wouldn’t try to keep me small.” She conveys this message while also revealing the restricting nature of a relationship that holds you back when you are being drained of the love you give, without receiving it back.
In her summertime collaboration with artist Sam Fender, “Rein Me In” represents a relationship where one partner regrets the way they treated their lover, while the other battles the desire to work things out; they see their partner struggling to accept their connection, but they want to avoid being hurt and let down as they know their worth. Olivia sings, “we were doin’ so well, but you were scared to be held, took the easiest way out,” showing her understanding of the situation at-hand, being ready for the next steps, but being faced with her partner’s lack of commitment and fear of hurting his pride.
Olivia is a classy and elegant shining star who exudes a mature, yet playful soul. You cannot help but fall in love with her and it truly is so easy! From her curated and well thought-out wardrobe, to her powerful stage presence that draws in every audience member, to her incredible warm vocals that feel like home, to her poetic songs written from the heart, this girl has got it all and we are here to cheer her on.