There’s a certain warmth in Olivia Dean’s music that’s hard to pin down, something timeless, but completely her own. Whether she’s writing about heartbreak, self-love or figuring things out in real time, her songs feel personal without being confessional. Nice To Each Other and Lady Lady, two early singles from her upcoming album The Art of Loving, are perfect examples of her ability to make quiet moments feel universal, and they’ve both become fan favourites in the lead-up to her new era.
Olivia Dean’s Early Life and Musical Roots
Before the BRIT nominations and the Bridget Jones soundtrack placements, Olivia Dean was just a London kid with Lauryn Hill on repeat, taking the long train to BRIT School every day, writing songs in her bedroom, and slowly carving out her space in UK soul.
Born in Haringey, North London in 1999, Olivia is of mixed English and Jamaican-Guyanese heritage. Her middle name, Lauryn, is a direct nod to Lauryn Hill, one of her parents’ favourites. Her mother, a former teacher and now deputy leader of the Women’s Equality Party, has been a huge influence, politically and personally. Olivia often credits her mum for shaping her feminist values and commitment to working with women in the music industry, especially behind the scenes.
Growing up, she sang in gospel choirs, starred in school musicals, and eventually got into the BRIT School. She started in theatre, but quickly switched to songwriting, convincing her mum to buy a second-hand piano so she could teach herself at home.
The Breakthrough Years (2019–2023)
At just 17, Olivia’s music caught the ear of manager Emily Braham, who helped her land an audition with Rudimental. She got the gig as a backing vocalist — her first show? Performing for 16,000 people at a festival in Hungary.
From there, she featured on Rudimental’s Adrenaline and began carving out her solo sound. Her debut EP OK Love You Bye came in 2019, recorded in a converted East London pub. It racked up millions of streams and landed her a deal with EMI.
By 2021, she’d been named Amazon Music’s Breakthrough Artist of the Year. In 2023, she earned a Mercury Prize nomination for her debut album Messy, a rich, soul-infused project with standout tracks like “The Hardest Part”, “Be My Own Boyfriend”, and “Dive”.
The Art of Loving and a New Era
Now Olivia Dean is back with The Art of Loving, her highly anticipated second album, due later this year. Where Messycaptured emotional rawness in the aftermath of heartbreak, The Art of Loving looks at what comes next: the in-between moments, the awkward starts, the vulnerability of learning how to love again, especially yourself.
Early singles Nice To Each Other and Lady Lady earned critical praise for their soft strength and lyrical maturity, while her newest single Man I Need brings more energy, bounce, and forward motion. It’s playful, punchy, and signals a new side to Olivia’s artistry, more confident, less cautious.
Touring the World in 2025 and 2026
Alongside the album rollout, Olivia is heading back on the road. She’ll support Sam Fender on tour, join Sabrina Carpenter at BST Hyde Park, and take on her own Across The Atlantic US and Canada tour.
In 2026, she’s headlining shows across the UK and Europe, with dates in London, Manchester, Berlin, and Paris already announced. And for the first time, Olivia will perform in Australia and New Zealand — a huge milestone in her growing international career.
What Does Olivia Dean Sound Like?
Think: Amy Winehouse meets Adele, with the softness of Corinne Bailey Rae and the soul of Lianne La Havas. Her musical DNA also includes The Supremes, Carole King, and a bit of Lauryn Hill, which shows in the way she balances retro influences with modern emotional honesty.
Her sound leans toward warm, stripped-back soul-pop, but it’s her writing that keeps people coming back, honest, emotional, and unafraid to sit in the grey areas of love and identity.
No, Olivia Dean Isn’t Dating Harry Styles
Because someone always asks: no, Olivia Dean and Harry Styles aren’t together. While both sit comfortably in the cool-Brit-pop space and have mutual fashion house affiliations, there’s no confirmed link, romantic or otherwise.
That said, don’t be shocked if they wind up on the same festival lineup sometime soon.
Whether you discovered her through a Bridget Jones soundtrack, a TikTok scroll, or just stumbled on her NPR Tiny Desk, Olivia Dean is quickly becoming one of the most emotionally articulate voices in British music.
And if The Art of Loving is any indication — she’s just getting started.
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