A Guide to Olivia Dean for New Fans

This November, the Grammy Awards announced their nominees for the highly anticipated Best New Artist category, which highlights artists who are still early in their careers but show exceptional promise.

One of this year's well-deserved nominees is breakout star Olivia Dean. 

Graphic by Rory McNamara

Dean’s jazz and neo-soul-influenced tracks set her apart from other pop singers today. Her catchy single, “Man I Need,” and her album, “The Art of Loving,” nabbed internet fame and the attention of pop lovers worldwide. On TikTok, over 1 million posts feature “Man I Need” in the background. 

New fan Keona Blanks first heard Dean’s music on Instagram reels. She said the artist's welcoming aura is what drew her in. 

“I really like her velvety voice – it’s so soothing,” Blanks said. “Her music feels like a warm shower.”

Comment sections on posts about Dean echo Blanks’ feelings about the artist. Commenters said her music is reminiscent of Sunday mornings and 2000s romantic comedies that romanticize life. 

I've had Dean’s music on repeat ever since last fall, when I was lucky enough to have discovered her. She's my second most listened to artist of the year, according to the music tracking app Last.fm. As an established fan, watching her grow and receive more recognition is exciting.

To any new fans reading, here is some personalized advice on how to explore her music. I hope this guide helps you find a song you love. 

My biggest recommendation is to fully listen to her most recent album, “The Art of Loving,” as the following suggestions are based on five popular songs from the album.

If you like the big-band pop sound in “Man I Need,” you might like:

• “Dive” 

• “It Isn’t Perfect But It Might Be” 

• “Echo” 

If you like her more relaxed romantic pop songs like “Nice To Each Other,” listen to: 

• “Touching Toes” 

• “Time” 

• “Float” 

If you prefer the yearning and slow soulful vibes of “A Couple Minutes,” I recommend:

• “Dangerously Easy”

• “Cross My Mind” 

• “Slowly” 

If you’ve been liking the jazz-forward and optimistic “So Easy (To Fall In Love),” you might like: 

• “No One’s Watching Me”

• “Ladies Room” 

If you like the passionate and heartbroken vibe of “Let Alone The One You Love,” listen to:

• “Loud” 

• “Out” 

Dean is the kind of artist who deserves the spotlight. Even if you deviate from my guide, I encourage you to check her music out.