Olivia Dean’s sophomore album “The Art of Loving” was released in late September. It debuted in the top 10 of six billboard charts in early October, and this past week, Dean was announced as a nominee for the Grammy’s Best New Artist award.
With the singles “Nice to Each Other,” “Lady Lady” and “Man I Need,” Dean had listeners hooked. Her soft pop sound and vulnerable lyrics made for relatable and heartfelt experiences with her music while staying true to her sound from her first album “Messy.” “Nice To Each Other” features Dean being extremely candid about her returning to a relationship without being sure that rekindling should happen. She writes that the two could be nice to each other, and that could be enough.
The other two singles feature a more empowering tone through “Lady Lady” and “Man I Need.” “Man I Need” talks about Dean’s experience with wanting to know if a person is the man she needs, or just who she wants. In “Lady Lady,” Dean is extremely transparent about how not everyone may have a plan but change and growth aren’t always linear or the same for everyone. “Man I Need” is something that people can relate to, with themes of confusion in relationships and miscommunications.
The rest of the album follows Olivia’s signature blend of pop, R&B, jazz and soul. The first track of the album, “The Art of Loving (Intro),” is just what it says: an introduction to the album, featuring an honest and thoughtful take on love and relationships. Dean says in the song, “It’s the art of loving/ it wasn’t all for nothing … you taught me something/ something lost and something gained.” These themes are told through the tracks on the album.
“Close up,” “Something Inbetween” and “A Couple Minutes” all mention the confusions and lingering feelings that can come from relationships, and how it can leave one feeling.
“Let Alone The One You Love” and “Loud” both feature how feelings can be post-relationship, thinking, “how could someone do this?” These songs feel the most raw and real from Dean, as she expresses her feelings in a way that listeners can picture or empathize with.
“So Easy (To Fall In Love)” and “Baby Steps” feature Olivia’s appreciation for herself. In “So Easy (To Fall In Love),” Dean describes attributes she feels are good about herself, and how easy she makes it to be in love with herself. In “Baby Steps,” she touches on how it can just be right foot then left foot when learning to re-love yourself.
The last track of the album, “I’ve Seen It,” feels extremely personal and is a hopeful note to leave the listeners on. It speaks about all the different ways Dean has seen love around her, and how it has been “inside her all along.” The song is sort of a beautiful homage to all the ways someone can love another person, through friendships, family and other relationships.
Overall, I encourage anyone looking for a new artist to give Olivia Dean — who is creating authentic music through self-expression — and her new album, “The Art of Loving,” a try.