Olivia Dean's exotic look and iconic style can only be surpassed by the success of her latest album, The Art of Loving, which has been leading the charts for weeks.
The British pop music icon Olivia Dean (26) definitely needs no introduction. With her album The Art of Loving, released in September 2025, she’s been on top for over seven weeks, beating Adele’s legendary '30' album, which stayed for five weeks. She also snagged a Grammy for Best New Artist this February, making her the first British artist to win this title in the last seven years.
The sun is out, and I’m imagining a movie about the end of winter. It’s time to grab those sunglasses and get some good tunes playing in your headphones. Olivia Dean and her album The Art of Loving just hit right with this weather. How does she make even the most painful memories and situations feel like a warm embrace? Let’s dive into what Olivia’s really singing about and why it sounds so smooth.
Her lyrics perfectly rhyme themes like love and vulnerability with heartbreak and moving on. It’s fascinating how her words effortlessly reach the hearts of Gen Z, who collectively repeat “That lady lady, she’s the man”.
Her take on love and relationships isn’t just black and white. Maybe that’s what draws us to her work. The idea that even the real kind of love, the one that doesn’t fit into fairy tales and rom-coms, can be beautiful. You shouldn’t lose yourself to be closer to someone else – a thought found in her hit “Loud” and many others on her album.
How awesome is the time before our romantic story ends, emotional manipulation, the need to be loved through gestures and words, or wondering if we’re really too much as some people claim? She sings about having the courage to stand up and try again, this time for ourselves. Because we have that strength; it just sometimes gets overshadowed by someone else.But she admits she’d rather watch a zombie movie than a rom-com – except Love Actually, which she says is flawless. She also enjoys playing The Sims, doing yoga, and even knitting.
Rumor has it ...
In 2024, rumors spread worldwide that this young artist was dating Harry Styles, though the pair never confirmed there was anything more than friendship between them.
In July of last year, however, she was spotted holding hands with drummer Eddie Burns at Wimbledon in London, posing together for photographers. After her Grammy success, Eddie posted a photo of Olivia on social media, calling her the “People's champ”, a sweet gesture showing their ongoing relationship.
She Knew the Value of Women Early On
In an interview, she mentioned how her mom raised her with a sense of female empowerment and feminism, which naturally became part of her. Not everyone has role models in this philosophy, so she felt the need to express how valuable we all are – even through examples of love that isn’t always kind.
On NPR, she said: “I think as women, we often think about how we can be someone for others and how we can fit into their lives and improve them, while forgetting to consider what that person offers us.” Let’s admit it, those are the words of a woman who knows her worth and understands we should never have to fight for our place in someone else's heart. It’s so easy to slip into worrying about what others think of us and forget that we’re here, too, with every right to form opinions about others.
Growing Up with a Musical Mix
Although she seems to have her values and opinions sorted today, like many others, she found her path in her youth. As a woman with Guyanese-Jamaican roots, she naturally didn’t fit in among her London classmates. Eventually, she realized these traits made her unique and she didn’t need to change just to belong.
It was Olivia’s parents’ musical taste that shaped her career path – her mom with Angie Stone and Jill Scott, and her dad who loved Carole King and Al Green. She was also influenced by artists like Amy Winehouse, Aretha Franklin, and Joni Mitchell.
She knew she wanted to be a singer at eight years old when she got into her school’s musical theater. At fifteen, she was accepted into a theater course at the BRIT School and later intensely studied music. At her graduation concert, she caught the attention of Emily Braham, who became her manager.
According to Olivia, a comfort zone isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s more like a box where anyone afraid of change fits perfectly. Something natural and authentic can also come from it – like The Art of Loving. The idea that we don’t need to constantly push into decisions that scare us and become a better version of ourselves every day just to tick off boxes on our lists.
If we fear every day, every day will be scary. And I don’t want to be scared! says Olivia.
Creating The Art of Loving Album
“I love soul music. I love jazz. I love bossa nova,” Olivia says in ELLE US when asked about her musical tastes. She also admits that she didn’t aim to create music artificially. To pick a genre and write lyrics. “I’ve always wanted to make an album that’s nice to listen to. And that’s it.”
Her rebellious phrase “I don’t want a boyfriend” reflects pure yearning for authenticity. That we should be honest about what we need and not see them as lesser just because they don’t align with the majority. Not everyone wants the same things, and Olivia believes it’s unfair to say that love only stems from romantic relationships.
Rocking the 90s Style On Stage
Stylist Simone Beyene dresses Olivia in designer dresses and sets with vivid colors and patterns. They’ve been collaborating for five years, and according to Olivia, Simone has a knack for clothing and fashion. Some fashion icons shaping her style include Diana Ross, Gal Costa, and Sarah Jessica Parker from Sex and the City.
Alongside the phenomenal The Art of Loving, she’s also released the album Messy (2023) and several EPs. Everyone can find something that resonates with them from Olivia’s repertoire. Whether it’s “I don’t want a boyfriend” or “It’s so easy to fall in love”, just listen to your heart, and in this case, also to Olivia’s.
