Underrated Artist Highlight: Olivia Dean
Olivia Lauryn Dean is a neo-soul singer from London, UK. Her music is characterized by her soft soulful voice. Dean is a skillful songwriter with an array of bubbly, sweet, romantic, and heartbreaking lyrics. She is also an outspoken advocate for female empowerment and writes songs about self-love, growth, and personal strength.
Olivia Dean can easily be compared to other famous singers like Adele, Amy Winehouse, and Lauryn Hill (who was the inspiration for her middle name). In the past few years, Olivia Dean has been considered a breakout artist within the UK.
Throughout her career, she had released countless singles and EPs but never a full debut album. As a self-proclaimed perfectionist she struggled to create something she was proud of, but after realizing that life is a mess, and that can be seen as a beautiful thing, she got to work. In 2023, she finally released a 12-track album titled Messy. Each song reflects a slightly different genre than the one before it and the one after. Dean’s power comes from her refusal to fit into boxes as simple as genre. While this may be why her music hasn’t garnered the attention it deserves, it sets her apart from others in the industry, and that is a strength, not a weakness. She doesn’t have an interest in making viral music she wants to make music that’s greatness stands the test of time.
Her album, Messy, was nominated for the 2023 Mercury Prize Album of the Year. She received three BRIT Awards nominations for Artist of the Year, Best New Artist, and Pop Act. That same year, she was also named BBC Music Introducing Artists of the Year.
Her growing success has landed her spots at many noteworthy music festivals. In 2024, she performed at the Glastonbury Festival, a 5-day music festival near Somerset, England. Last year, she also performed at the Coachella Music Festival in Indio, California. The singer has around 6.8 million monthly listeners on Spotify and many popular songs.
Some of her greatest hits are “Dive,” “Ok Love You Bye,” “The Hardest Part,” and “Touching Toes.” “Dive” reaches into the pop-soul side of her music. Layers of smooth vocals and twinkling instrumentation help present this dreamy story of falling in love. She tells the tale of abandoning her fears and diving in because it feels right and safe with this person.
Her song, “The Hardest Part,” tells a slightly different story. While this song shares similarities, with its soft vocals and a jazzy R&B beat, it gives the perspective of growing into someone new that your partner doesn’t understand. She sings about becoming a version of herself that makes her happy, and if her partner doesn’t love her for who she is in her relationship, she doesn’t want it.
She sings, “So even if I could wouldn’t go back where we started. I know you’re still waiting wondering where my heart is. Praying things won’t change, but the hardest part is you’re realizing maybe I, maybe I ain’t the same.”
Olivia Dean is a talented songwriter with a beautiful and timeless voice. Her career is taking off and people are falling in love with her music. Olivia Dean has the potential to be as big as other stars like Lola Young and Lizzy McAlpine, and arguably should be already.