With her breakout album, The Art of Loving, a show-stopping Saturday Night Live (SNL) debut and a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist, British singer and songwriter Olivia Dean has solidified her place as one of today’s most compelling young artists, effortlessly blending soul, pop, R&B and jazz.
Born and raised in London, England, Dean grew up surrounded by music, where she participated in musical theater, singing competitions and gospel choir groups, citing artists such as Lauryn Hill and Carole King as early musical inspirations. Graduating from the BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology in Croydon, England, she started gaining popularity with the release of her first album, Messy, in 2023, which reached the number four spot on the UK charts.
Dean reached new heights this year, beginning with opening for pop megastar Sabrina Carpenter’s Short’N Sweet Tour, and being nominated for the 2026 Grammy awards alongside singers like Lola Young, KATSEYE and Addison Rae. Her global reach has exploded—what was 5.6 million monthly Spotify listeners last December has jumped to 53 million monthly listeners as of now. Her second album, The Art of Loving—which came out earlier this past September—made history, with Dean becoming the first female solo artist in the UK to debut at the number one spot simultaneously in both the singles, for her smash hit “Man I Need,” and album charts. This momentum has propelled her to international stardom, growing a dedicated, global audience relatively early in her career.
For many listeners, Dean’s 34-minute-long second studio album, The Art of Loving, served as an introduction to her music. “There’s a groove to it that’s different. I became an instant fan,” Gavin Cameron ’26 said.
Much of that distinctiveness stems from the jazz influences woven throughout Dean’s music. By mixing different genres like R&B, neo-soul and jazz, Dean has managed to create a unique sound within the world of pop music. Jazz vocalist Sona Kempner ’26 was introduced by other artists to Dean, as she is deeply influenced by jazz singers. “I really like hearing jazz progressions outside of jazz music, and I loved her voice. I was immediately hooked,” Kempner said.
photo courtesy of Vidigami
Kempner’s admiration for Dean prompted her to suggest Dean’s song “So Easy (To Fall in Love)” for Lick-Wilmerding High School’s fall jazz concert. Instrumental Music Teacher Jason Gillenwater readily agreed, crediting Dean’s jazz influences as the factor that differentiates her music from other pop stars. “She reminds me of Amy Winehouse. They are both heavily influenced by jazz and soul singers of the ’50s and ’60s. It’s nice that sound in a modern context is popular. She sounds really good,” Gillenwater said.
Her rise is not only because of her poignant sound, but also the strength of her songwriting abilities. Olivia Dean superfan Taylor Koo ’26 attributed Dean’s intimate and sincere songwriting prowess and talented vocal range as reasons for her newfound popularity. “I’m obsessed. Her voice is so beautiful, and she makes really simple lyrics sound amazing,” Koo said.
Another defining element of Dean’s ascent is her infectious onstage energy and natural charisma as a performer. Her SNL debut in particular showcased her vocal control, dynamic stage presence and ability to connect with the audience beyond the stage. “Her SNL performance was incredible. She’s got so much energy and it’s really fun to watch,” Kempner said.
Riding the momentum of her celebrated SNL musical guest performance, Dean currently has three songs charting in the UK Top 10—“So Easy (To Fall in Love),” “Rein Me In” and “Man I Need”—a testament to her musical impact. She recently announced a 52-date arena tour across North America and Europe, solidifying her transition to a global headliner. The tour will bring her to San Francisco’s Chase Center on July 10 and 11.
Olivia Dean has already established a sound that’s unmistakably hers. And her current trajectory suggests there is much more ahead!
