Olivia Dean is en route to being the ninth woman in a row to win Best New Artist at the Grammys. Like many previous winners, she’s been releasing music for almost a decade and—by virtue of TikTok’s algorithm—appears to have blown up overnight, boasting over 51 million monthly Spotify listeners as of December. This experience can be jarring—see Chappell Roan’s cynical take on celebrity life—but as she rises in fame, Dean continues to release music, bringing love and soul to the stage.
Her most recent album, The Art of Loving, came out in September, but the record's hit track “Man I Need” still ranks #4 on both the Billboard UK Singles and Hot 100 charts as of December. This sudden growth may seem arbitrary or unwarranted. But by simply reading her lyrics, particularly those of her most recent hits, it’s clear what’s caused her rise to fame: people are tired of modern dating, and Olivia Dean allows them to feel authentically. Her discography explores the entire spectrum of love, from shitty breakups to the freedom of single life to the beauty of a strong relationship. These different parts of love aren’t mutually exclusive; they’re all part of the same continuum.
A recent performance of her song “A Couple Minutes” on ColorsxStudio’s A Color Show has blown up on social media. Singing in her pretty green two–piece, she reflects on a past relationship and reminisces on its beauty, expressing how “love’s never wasted when it’s shared.” The love we experience, especially in relationships that end with care for the other, is always something of value. Caring is important in a world of “nonchalance” and “situationships,” and her listeners feel this deeply. Social media is full of complaints about the modern dating scene, with millions feeling that they'll never be able to experience authentic love. “A Couple Minutes,” like many of Dean’s songs, evokes nostalgia for past relationships and encourages listeners to never regret loving, even if the love eventually fades away.
But to Dean, love isn’t only an experience to be shared between people—it’s something that changes you from the inside. In her song “Baby Steps,” she takes her listeners on a journey of self–growth. Even when there’s “no one to text when the plane lands / or to call when it’s taking off,” being single isn’t “the end, it’s the making of.” It’s a period where the growing pains of moving on are to be enjoyed, never regretted. She’ll be her “own pair of safe hands” as she takes those baby steps towards joy and a renewed sense of self in the aftermath of a break–up—and she encourages others to do the same. Nostalgia for a past relationship doesn’t devalue your self–love journey, it feeds it. Honoring the version of yourself that loved someone else and the vulnerability that came with it is part of building up your self–worth. Shame for your past will only stunt your emotional growth, while acceptance of your present creates a foundation for stronger love in the future, be it toward yourself or others.
This emphasis on internal love isn’t new for Dean. Her 2021 track “Be My Own Boyfriend” complements this perfectly in the wake of Vogue’s recent “Is Having a Boyfriend Embarrassing Now?” piece spotlighting a shift among women away from relationships and towards self–love. Singing “lately I’ve been just what I need / stole my heart and I’m gonna be my own boyfriend,” Dean gives her listeners an outlet to express their inner confidence. She can’t do disingenuous relationships anymore, especially not with “all these men [she’s] so much better than.” Self–love is in season, whether you’re in a relationship or not. What makes Olivia Dean unique is that she never asks her audience to pick a side on the battleground of singlehood and partnership—she values both, as well as the moments in between them.
When she turns inward, Dean’s lyrics become especially poignant. That message becomes even more striking in the song’s bridge: “catch me out in Paris on my ones / stay out dancing ‘til the dance is done / I got me, I don’t need anyone.” The freedom of being alone in a foreign city, free to do whatever you want, whenever you want, mirrors the freedom she describes. The freedom of being anchored in yourself has an appealing prospect for those feeling stuck in the depths of the modern dating scene.
Still, for those who hope to love another, “Man I Need” allows listeners to confidently express their expectations for a lover, coming from a state of self–respect and worth. Dean knows what she deserves and has no problem asking for it. Despite being the first track off of The Art of Loving, “Man I Need” acts as a culmination of Dean’s personal growth. She has reached a point where she knows she’s “the perfect mix of Saturday night and the rest of your life,” as sung in “So Easy (To Fall in Love).” She openly expresses her worth to her potential partner and expects a relationship with someone worth her while.
Her listeners may fall anywhere along Dean’s own journey. Whether they’ve just gotten out of a relationship or are enjoying the beauty of the love they have for themselves, Dean has written about it all. As this generation’s queen of love, Olivia Dean evokes a range of emotions in her audience, encouraging them to appreciate every form of love that exists, be it in the past, present, or future. Dean’s music is refreshing in an era of apathetic attachments. It complements a recent public shift towards self–love, especially among women, without diminishing the value of loving someone else. If you ask me, I’d say her chances at that Grammy look pretty good.
