As a pretty avid concert-goer, I love to see an artist put on a show. Costume changes, background dancers, elaborate sets. I love to see the theatrics, but there’s also something so refreshing about a simple and elegant performance.
And over the past few months, that’s exactly what we’ve seen from British singer-songwriter Olivia Dean.
Dean’s discography is a blend of pop, modern soul and jazz — it’s classy and soulful but still has that pop-music touch in some of her songs. Her tracks have found their way onto a variety of my playlists.
Dean made a quieter entrance into the industry before her career skyrocketed over the past several months — and it’s a testament to her character as an artist.
“It really has felt like the old-fashioned way, and I like that,” Dean told The Sydney Morning Herald. “I’m not someone who’s interested in rushing success. I’m not trying to do any tricks to get there quicker.”
Dean began releasing singles in 2019, followed by several EPs, before releasing her first album “Messy” in 2023. And just recently, Dean released her sophomore album “The Art of Loving” in September.
One of the album’s singles, “Man I Need,” quickly went viral after its early release in August — the song that, in my opinion, really put her and her career in the spotlight. It being released as a single before the album, and going viral, built up anticipation and excitement for the album.
“Man I Need” was her first Billboard Hot 100 Hit, first sitting at No. 82 in September and later climbing to No. 25 in early October. At the time of publication, “Man I Need” is at No. 4, just below singer-songwriters Taylor Swift, HUNTRIX: EJAE, Audrey Nuna & REI AMI and Alex Warren.
The artist herself made her Billboard Artist 100 list debut on Sept. 20, placed at No. 89. Dean hit her peak position on Nov. 15, making it in the top 10 by securing the No. 7 spot, where she remains as of publication.
Dean’s music is not only climbing charts in the U.S., but the artist is making a mark on the industry across the globe too.
On Spotify, Dean is within the top 100 artists in the world, sitting at No. 58 with nearly 50 million monthly listeners at the time of publication.
Dean’s music has been trending across social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, with users posting the app’s typical content, like lip-syncing videos. But clips from her live performances have garnered significant attention as well, with users sharing how much they like her stage presence and sophisticated style.
And that’s also thanks to her stylist, Simone Beyene.
“Sometimes, they’re sequinned—lime-green Mithridate, backless Coperni halternecks, square-necked 16Arlington. Other times, they’re fringed and bobbled, like a feathered gown from David Koma or a white mini from Feben,” Vogue Australia wrote. “Conner Ives, McQueen. Knwls, Rat & Boa, Chopova Lowena—if there’s an up-and-coming label, preferably English and unreservedly vivacious, you can expect Dean to adopt it on tour.”
The 26-year-old is doing something unlike today’s biggest stars in the industry. And that’s not to shade a concert full of those theatrics. Of course, I was at Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour” in a costume of my own. But as I’m growing older I’ve gravitated towards artists like Dean more than ever before. And in such a fast-paced world, especially as a college student, Dean’s music creates an outlet to slow things down.
Dean just recently wrapped up her time as an opener for singer Sabrina Carpenter’s final leg of her “Short n’-Sweet Tour” — performing in Pittsburgh, Nashville and New York.
And now, she’s going on a tour of her own, bigger than ever before. On her 2026 “The Art of Loving Tour,” Dean is set to headline across venues in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Australia. Dean will take the stage at major U.S. venues including Madison Square Garden, TD Garden in Boston, Chase Center in San Francisco, Toyota Center in Houston and more.
Tickets went on sale Nov. 18 and quickly sold out across venues with eager fans, but greedy scalpers too. Resale ticket prices went for as high as $800 – $900, leading to Dean calling out ticket-selling platforms in an Instagram story post.
“Ticketmaster, Live Nation, AEG: You are providing a disgusting service. The prices at which you’re allowing tickets to be re-sold is vile and completely against our wishes. Live music should be affordable and accessible and we need to find a new way of making that possible. BE BETTER,” Dean wrote.
Dean followed up a few days later, after her and her team worked to solve the issue — and it’s one that many face when purchasing concert tickets.
“Ticketmaster and AXS have agreed to refund the difference to anyone who has paid over face value for a ticket and will cap all future ticket resale prices to face value for the North American run of the tour,” Dean wrote. “Thank you for your patience and I’m looking forward to seeing all you real humans at the show.”
If you haven’t listened to Dean’s music yet, I strongly encourage you to. Then you too will experience ‘The Art of Loving’ Olivia Dean.
