24 year old East Londoner, Olivia Dean, has been releasing singles and EP's for the last five years, building herself a dedicated following. The last 12 months have been particularly exciting for her as an artist, having supported Loyle Carner at the OVO Arena Wembley, completing a sold out headline UK tour, plus performing an incredible set at the iconic Glastonbury Festival. To top it all off, she has just released her highly anticipated debut album 'Messy'.

Growing up singing in a gospel choir, taking musical theatre classes, and attending the BRIT school, it's clear that Olivia Dean was a child surrounded by music, destined to fall into a musical life. Raised around an eclectic mixture of music, including reggae, soul and, as she got older, the world of indie music, there are plenty of sources of inspiration for her own song writing and sound which you can hear throughout her music.

Her first break came when she was just 17 years old, on a collaboration with UK electronic group Rudimental on their track 'Adrenaline'. Off the back of this, she released her first solo music in 2019 with her debut single 'Password Change', and her debut EP 'OK Love You Bye'. This collection of songs was the perfect introduction to the kind of artist Olivia Dean is - someone who isn't afraid to tap into her vulnerable side. The EP delves into her own relationship complications and self growth, topics which any young adult can relate to. It's this relatability that's been one of her appeals as an artist, and began winning over the hearts of fans.

Continuing to release singles over the coming years, 2020 saw the release of 'The Hardest Part', a record which was received with a mass reception from fans and music critics alike. It fuses classic soulful sounds with a contemporary pop flare, with a video taking inspiration from The Supremes that has amassed an impressive 2.4m views on YouTube.

A few years on, she has performed to a sold out KOKO, Roundhouse and The Jazz Cafe in London, had her songs go viral on TikTok, and found fans in the likes of Elton John. With a cross-generational and cross-genre fanbase built up, it really does feel like the perfect time for her to have released her debut album.

'Messy' makes nods to neo-soul and jazz, without pigeonholing itself into one specific category, and in our opinion it is the perfect soundtrack to the summer. Not only has it received praise from publications like NME and The New York Times, but other artists like Stormzy have commended her work as well.

This is only the beginning for Olivia Dean, and we can't wait to see where her career takes her, but for now, you can catch her live on tour in April 2024! Make sure to grab your tickets before they're gone.