In a time where pop or rap music often focuses on the tragedy of heartbreak, chaos or proving your worth to somebody else, Your 2026 Best New Artist Olivia Dean offers something different, something so beautiful.
If you’ve been on TikTok recently, you’ve probably heard her viral audio “Whoever that person is that you’re like. Wow. I really love you. Like I have so much love for you. Talk to yourself that same way. The exact same way.” Or her hit song “a couple minutes,” it’s simple, disarming and gentle, which is exactly the point. Olivia Dean’s music feels like being emotionally cared for.
With her warm, honeyed vocals and tender lyricism, Dean doesn’t just sing about love; she redefines it. Songs like “Dive,” “Be My Own Boyfriend,” and “The Hardest Part” explore vulnerability without self-destruction. Instead of centering the idea behind longing or insecurity, she leans into reassurance. At a cultural moment when social media constantly pressures us to perform, to look better, do more and achieve faster, Dean’s music invites us to slow down. Platforms built on comparison have quietly eroded our ability to feel content with ourselves. We scroll past curated lives and absorb the message that we are always behind, always lacking. Individuality gets filtered. Self-worth becomes quantified. Olivia Dean disrupts that narrative.
Her songs don’t chase validation; they model it from within. “Be My Own Boyfriend” isn’t just a catchy title; it’s the idea that you can romance yourself, celebrate yourself and prioritize your own emotional needs, which feels almost rebellious in a culture that thrives on external approval. Dean gently reminds listeners that loving yourself is not selfish; it’s foundational.
What makes her artistry so rare in pop music is that it doesn’t demand intensity to feel meaningful. There’s no dramatic belting to prove emotions or vulnerability. Instead, her softness becomes her strength. The stripped-back instrumentals allow her words to breathe, making space for listeners to sit with their own feelings rather than run from them. And maybe that’s why her viral audio resonates so deeply. When was the last time you spoke to yourself the way you speak to someone you love? When was the last time you offered yourself grace without conditions?
Dean’s music doesn’t just soundtrack our lives, it subtly teaches us how to live them with more care. It encourages us to notice small joys, honor our boundaries and treat our inner dialogue with tenderness. In a hyper-digital world that constantly asks us to be louder, faster and better, Olivia Dean whispers something far more powerful: you are already enough. So maybe this month isn’t just about love, being someone’s valentine or going out, etc. — maybe it’s about practicing the kind of love that starts inward.
Turn on an Olivia Dean song. Put your phone down. And try, even for three minutes, to talk to yourself the same way you would someone you truly adore. Happy Love (Olivia Dean) Month!