“The Art of Loving,” Olivia Dean’s breakthrough album released on Sept. 26, 2025. It quickly reached No. 8 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and No.1 on the U.K. Official Albums Chart. Fans worldwide connected with Dean’s soulful and vulnerable songwriting, which fueled the album’s success on social media platforms.
This success is mainly driven by her three hit singles that were released before her sophomore album: “Man I Need,” “Nice to Each Other” and “Lady Lady.” These tracks explore the complexities of love, but specifically self-love and navigating relationships. Dean emerged as the first British female to acquire three U.K. top 10 singles since Adele.
Her sudden surge in popularity seemingly happened overnight; however, Dean is no stranger to the music industry. Olivia Dean is an English singer and songwriter from London. She received three nominations at the 2024 BRIT Awards: Best New Artist, Best Pop Act and British Artist of the Year. She also wrote, “It Isn’t Perfect But It Might Be,” the lead single and end-credits track for “Bridget Jones Diary: The Mixtape.” For Dean, the song is about the difficulty of granting yourself permission to love again after grief and embracing whatever the future holds. A longtime fan of these films, she felt that being part of the project helped launch her career to a whole other level. Growing up, Dean loved theater, choir and taught herself to play piano. She always knew from a young age that music and the arts would be her calling.
Olivia Dean began her musical career at 17 as a backing vocalist for Rudimental. Initially, this opportunity helped her gain recognition and paved the way for her own releases. Although, she started garnering widespread attention with her debut EP, “OK Love You Bye,” which greatly contributed to her rising spotlight.
Her debut album, “Messy,” released in 2023, was critically acclaimed and earned a Mercury Prize nomination. The album fuses soul, funk and pop while exploring themes of love, relationships and sense of self.
Olivia Dean isn’t confined to a single genre; she effortlessly moves between styles such as soul, jazz, R&B and pop in unique and intriguing ways. Throughout “The Art of Loving,” she maintains a warm, angelic voice and her lyrics are introspective and emotionally open as she reveals her vivid perspective on love and life. She has credited renowned musicians such as Amy Whinehouse, Adele and Lauryn Hill for inspiring her work today. Dean is recognized for her focus on emotional honesty, authenticity and relatability throughout her work, striking a chord with her audience.
“The Art of Loving” for Olivia Dean was about exploring the spectrum of love in all its forms: romantic, platonic and self-love. Dean embraces the flaws and nuances of love throughout the album. For example, in the song, “So Easy (To Fall in Love),” she expresses her desire for genuine connection and longing to be loved. The album also explores the grace of finding independence, as heard in the track, “Baby Steps,” which acknowledges that practicing self-love takes time. Dean also highlights the importance of nurturing friendships, especially in times of heartbreak.
Fans have responded to Dean’s album with an abundance of praise and positivity. The record resonates with listeners by emphasizing personal-well being, exploring hope after pain and celebrating love in its many forms. Critics and listeners alike have hailed it as the “album of the year,” applauding Dean’s artistic growth as both a vocalist and a songwriter. Fans also described it as a “no-skip album,” noting that every track holds their attention from start to finish. The only criticism is that it’s too short because it left fans wishing for more songs. Enthusiasm for the album has spread across social media, encouraging others to give it a listen. It has become a defining soundtrack for the fall, drawing even more fans to Dean’s music and her sincere portrayal of love’s highs and lows.
On Aug. 22, 2025, Olivia Dean announced “The Art of Loving Live” tour across the United Kingdom and Europe for spring 2026, along with an expanded leg in Oceania. Shows sold out quickly, in Brussels it sold out in just nine minutes. Additional dates were added days later due to high demand. The tour will be Dean’s largest yet, marking another milestone in her growing popularity.
Olivia Dean will also join Sabrina Carpenter’s “Short n’ Sweet” tour as a special guest. In a short time, Dean has blossomed into a rising star. She is also set to make her “Saturday Night Live” debut as the musical guest in an upcoming episode hosted by Glen Powell. With each new project, she continues to radiate further, proving that she is on the road to become a prominent voice in the music industry.
Olivia Dean’s pop success story, a dream she’s had since childhood, is one for the books. But her latest album and approach to music go far beyond chart success and going viral. For Dean, creating music is a form of self-expression and a way to share her ongoing journey with the world. Her songs have moved listeners profoundly, reminding them to stay true to themselves and to find love within before anything else.
