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Olivia Dean

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Olivia Dean
Birth nameOlivia Lauryn Dean
Born (1999-03-14) 14 March 1999 (age 25)
London Borough of Haringey, England
GenresNeo soul, Motown
OccupationSinger
Years active2017–present
LabelsAMF Records, EMI

Olivia Lauryn Dean (born 14 March 1999) is an English neo soul singer.[1] She has released one studio album: Messy (2023) and five EPs. In 2021, Dean was named the breakthrough artist of the year by Amazon Music and, in 2023, Dean was selected as BBC Music Introducing Artist of the Year.

Biography

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Early life

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Dean was born in the London Borough of Haringey to an English father and a Jamaican-Guyanese mother.[2] Her grandmother immigrated to the UK from Guyana at age 18 as part of the Windrush generation.[3] Her middle name "Lauryn" is inspired from Lauryn Hill, of whom her parents are big fans.[2] She grew up in Highams Park[4] and sometimes felt othered for being of mixed-race.[3] Her father often listened to music and they would dance around the kitchen together.[5] In primary school, she sang "Tomorrow" from the musical Annie in a competition and was so nervous that she initially turned her back to the audience and started crying from stage fright, although she did win second place.[3][2] She took musical theatre lessons in a Saturday school and participated in a gospel choir.[3][6] At age 15, she was accepted to the BRIT School and travelled a 3-hour round trip every day to attend school.[3][7][8] At first, she studied theatre, but she switched disciplines to songwriting and convinced her mother to buy a second-hand piano.[3]

Career

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Dean began writing songs at age 16, teaching herself the guitar and piano.[8] She performed at her graduation concert.[3] She attracted the attention of Emily Braham, a young woman who she hired as her manager.[3][8][9]

Braham got Dean into an audition with Rudimental, who hired Dean as a backing vocalist at age 17.[2][3] Her first show was at the Sziget Festival in front of 16,000 people.[3] She was featured on Rudimental's single "Adrenaline" on the album Toast to Our Differences (2019).[3] She said that she was not good in the position as she often sang the tune instead of just the harmony.[2]

In November 2019, she released her debut EP, OK Love You Bye, recorded in a converted east London pub.[3][10] After it was streamed millions of times, she was offered and signed a recording contract with EMI.[3] Her second EP, What Am I Gonna Do On Sundays?, was released in December 2020.[11]

In 2021, Dean recorded an exclusive version of Nat King Cole's "The Christmas Song" for Amazon's Christmas Originals line-up, which charted at number 19 in the UK singles chart.[12][13] That year, she was named the breakthrough artist of the year by Amazon Music.[14]

In 2023, Dean was selected as BBC Music Introducing Artist of the Year.[15]

In June 2023, she released her debut album, Messy.[1]

Dean performed at Glastonbury Festival 2024.

Artistry and influences

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Dean has cited Lauryn Hill, Amy Winehouse, Adele, Carole King and the Supremes as inspirations.[7][5]

Her music is described as "devastating heartbreak ballads and sing-along self-love anthems".[2]

Personal life

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Dean is a brand ambassador for Chanel.[2] In 2020, her mother became the deputy leader of the Women's Equality Party.[2] Dean only works with female directors for her music videos and describes herself as "a very strong feminist".[2]

Tours

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Headlining

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  • UK / Europe (April/May 2024)[16]

Discography

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Studio albums

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List of studio albums, with selected details and chart positions
Title Details Peak chart positions
UK
[17]
Messy
  • Released: 30 June 2023[1]
  • Label: Virgin EMI
  • Formats: CD, cassette, digital download, streaming, vinyl
 4

EPs

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List of EPs, with selected details
Title Details
Ok Love You Bye
What Am I Gonna Do on Sundays?
  • Released: 4 December 2020[11]
  • Label: AMF / EMI
Olivia Dean If You Know What I Mean
  • Released: 4 June 2021
  • Label: UMG Recordings
Growth
  • Released: 30 July 2021[18]
  • Label: AMF / EMI
Ladies Room
  • Released: 29 September 2023[19]
  • Label: EMI

Singles

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  • "Reason to Stay" (2018)
  • "Password Change" (2019)
  • "Baby Come Home" (2020)
  • "Crosswords" (2020)
  • "The Hardest Part" (2020)
  • "Merry Christmas Everyone" (2020)
  • "Echo" (2020)
  • "Be My Own Boyfriend" (2021)[20]
  • "Slowly" (2021)[21]
  • "The Christmas Song" (2021) UK #19
  • "Danger" (2022)
  • "UFO" (2023)
  • "Dive" (2023)
  • "Carmen" (2023)
  • "The Hardest Part" (2023) (with Leon Bridges)[22] – No. 20 Adult Alternative Songs[23]
  • "Ladies Room" (2023)
  • "Time" (2024)
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Music videos

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List of music videos
Year Title
2019 "Password Change"
"Ok Love You Bye"
2020 "Crosswords"
"Baby Come Home"
"The Hardest Part"
"Echo"
2021 "Be My Own Boyfriend"
"Slowly"
2022 "Danger"
2023 "UFO"
"Dive"
"Call Me A Lioness"

Awards and nominations

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Year Awards Category Nominee Result Ref
2020 UK Music Video Awards Best R&B/Soul Video – UK "Password Change" Nominated [24]
2023 Mercury Prize — Messy Nominated [25]
2024 Brit Awards Best Pop Act Herself Nominated [26]
British Artist of the Year Nominated
Best New Artist Nominated


References

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  1. ^ a b c Kheraj, Alim (30 June 2023). "Olivia Dean: Messy review – hackneyed British soul tropes do singer a disservice". The Guardian.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i VAN DYKE, ISOBEL (9 March 2023). "How Olivia Dean became a superstar without releasing an album". The Evening Standard.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Savage, Mark (3 January 2024). "BBC Sound Of 2024: How embracing chaos made Olivia Dean a breakout star". BBC News.
  4. ^ Savage, Mark (4 January 2024). "BBC Sound Of 2024: How embracing chaos made Olivia Dean a breakout star". BBC News. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  5. ^ a b Nasinde, Shama (10 August 2020). "interview olivia dean". Schön!.
  6. ^ Pareles, Jon (29 June 2023). "On Her Debut Album, Olivia Dean Is Already Pushing Ahead". The New York Times.
  7. ^ a b "Premiere: Olivia – 'Reason to Stay'". Wonderland. 26 October 2018.
  8. ^ a b c Mylrea, Hannah (27 March 2023). "Get ready for the summer of Olivia Dean". NME.
  9. ^ Baltin, Steve (9 December 2023). "Best Of 2023: Olivia Dean Mesmerizes On Debut Album, Messy". Forbes.
  10. ^ a b Watson, Kayleigh (22 November 2019). "Olivia Dean embarks on her next chapter with positivity in "OK Love You Bye"". The Line of Best Fit.
  11. ^ a b "OLIVIA DEAN HAS SHARED A NEW SONG FROM HER UPCOMING 'WHAT AM I GONNA DO ON SUNDAYS?' EP". Dork. 21 October 2020.
  12. ^ "Olivia Dean". Official Charts Company.
  13. ^ Griffiths, George (3 November 2021). "Amazon Music's exclusive Christmas songs line-up revealed". Official Charts Company.
  14. ^ Sherwin, Adam (12 April 2021). "London soul singer Olivia Dean named Amazon Music 2021 Breakthrough Artist". i.
  15. ^ "BBC Music Introducing Artist of the Year". BBC Music.
  16. ^ Carter, Daisy (1 September 2023). "OLIVIA DEAN ANNOUNCES UK AND EU HEADLINE TOUR FOR 2024". DIY.
  17. ^ "Olivia Dean full Official Chart history". Official Charts Company.
  18. ^ "OLIVIA DEAN DETAILS NEW EP 'GROWTH'". DIY. 9 July 2021.
  19. ^ Carter, Daisy (29 September 2023). "OLIVIA DEAN SHARES 'LADIES ROOM' SINGLE AND EP". DIY.
  20. ^ Murray, Robin (16 April 2021). "Olivia Dean Finds Independence With 'Be My Own Boyfriend'". Clash.
  21. ^ Saftner, EJ (15 July 2021). "Olivia Dean's "Slowly" Turns Vulnerability Into a Superpower". Ones to Watch.
  22. ^ TAYLOR, SAM (16 June 2023). "Olivia Dean Has Teamed Up with Leon Bridges for a New Version of The Hardest Part". Dork.
  23. ^ "Leon Bridges: Chart History". Billboard.
  24. ^ "UK Music Video Awards 2020: all the nominations!". Promonews. 29 September 2020.
  25. ^ Snapes, Laura (27 July 2023). "Mercury Prize 2023: Arctic Monkeys tie Radiohead's record for most nominations". The Guardian.
  26. ^ music, Guardian (2 March 2024). "Brit awards 2024 – full list of winners". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
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