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INTRODUCING – OLIVIA DEAN

THE BACKSTORY:

As well as being one of Britain’s brightest pop prospects, Olivia Dean could also put the title ‘relationship expert’ on her résumé. Indeed, after just a handful of releases, the east London songstress has quickly become pop’s go-to girl when it comes to matters of the heart. From relationship miscommunication (last year’s single ‘Password Change’) to the perils of infatuation (recent release ‘Crosswords’), the 19-year-old singer reflects candidly on her own experiences of love – and delivers songs of endearing insight and relatability. “I enjoy writing songs about people and the things they say,” she said recently. “I’m interested in little details and I think I’m a bit of a hopeless romantic.”

      A precocious talent, it’s no surprise that Olivia Dean has been nurturing her talents for a long time. At the age of eight, she already had her heart set on becoming a singer and had enrolled in musical theatre lessons. Then, in her teens, she was accepted into the prestigious BRIT school and began developing her songwriting skills (she attended around the same time as Rex Orange County, Jade Bird and GRACEY).  

      Born and raised in Walthamstow, Olivia Dean’s career officially took flight when she uploaded demos onto Soundcloud in 2018 – eventually securing her a deal with the London-based indie label AMF. Her debut EP, OK Love You Bye, released in November, provided the perfect introduction to her talents: a raw, vintage soulful sound, with echoes of Amy Winehouse and Angie Stone, combined with lyrics that navigate the human heart with searing precision. 

      Having postponed all her summer plans due to a certain you-know-what, Dean has been keeping herself busy on social media, presenting live lockdown sessions from her living room. In addition, she’s also been working on new material – songs which, no doubt, will offer plenty of comfort for those experiencing romantic turmoil.  

KEY TRACK: ‘Password Change’. Inspired by a row with her boyfriend during the 2018 World Cup, this track perfectly encapsulates Dean’s talent for crafting insightful, emotive songs from day-to-day situations. 

FOR FANS OF: Amy Winehouse, Izzy Bizu, Emeli Sande, Angie Stone.