Following the success of her debut album Messy, which earned both Mercury Prize and multi-BRIT Award nominations Olivia Dean returns with ‘The Art of Loving’.
A luminous and soul-stirring new album, where across twelve tracks, Dean explores connection, growth, self-discovery, and heartbreak with a subtle tenderness that feels like a love letter written directly to the listener.
The album opens with its lead single, ‘Nice To Each Other’, an instant classic with its swinging melody, smooth vocal delivery and catchy chorus.. Olivia sings about the curiosity of a budding romance, where she’s unsure if they are “Wrong for each other, Right for each other” but they could be “Nice to each other” if they play their cards right. This song lays the perfect foundation for the album as it feels familiar and exciting - much like the feeling of a new relationship.
The record has another few radio-hits such as ‘So Easy (To Fall In Love)’ and ‘Man I Need’. Both tracks have joyful rhythms and hopeful lyricism, setting a powerful tone for the record. Olivia’s vocals dance along the beats with words fantasizing about falling in love with a new man. With lyrics like “So, come give me a call and we’ll fall into us” from ‘So Easy’ and “Just come be the man I need” in ‘Man I Need’ the topics are playful, light-hearted and flirty making them an enjoyable listen.
Olivia’s rich honey voice paired with the piano and horns throughout the album gives her music that classic timeless sound found in old-school jazz. The tracks flirt between modern pop and nostalgic soul. Many of the songs on the record have breezy and playful beats to them - making them catchy contenders for pop charts. The music videos for ‘Nice To Each Other’, ‘So Easy (To Fall In Love)’ and ‘Man I Need’ also visually play into this with classy wardrobe choices such as dresses, cinematic lighting and aesthetically pleasing backdrops.
Dean also delves into heartbreak on the album with much deeper songs, such as ‘Loud’. Unlike the other tracks, ‘Loud’ is a lot more stripped back sonically. With mainly an acoustic guitar, strings and bolder vocals, Dean illustrates deep vulnerability in this song. The emphasis on the “silence” after a romance that didn’t bloom exposes the singer in a way we don’t get to see in the more upbeat singles. Similarly, ‘Let Alone The One You Love’ explores the same melancholy of heartbreak through storytelling and honesty in lyricism. These ballads seem guaranteed to last the test of time.
Olivia wraps up the record with the delicate ‘I’ve Seen It All’ which warmly reflects on all the ways she’s witnessed love. Romantic. Platonic. In the mundane. A sweet way to end the love letter.
Speaking on the album, Olivia notes “...I’m a romantic, hopelessly, hopelessly. And I suppose I’m trying to just bring a little bit of love, and loving, back into your life.”
This is exactly what this album does. ‘The Art of Loving’ effortlessly blends warmth and honesty throughout her heartfelt depictions of romantic and platonic love. Olivia elegantly displays her mastered musical craft through her ever-resonant songwriting. With influences of pop, soul and jazz - the album makes for an easy listen.
Listen here
