Meet Olivia Dean – 2026 Grammy’s Best New Artist

By Kayla Harper

Olivia Dean took home her first Grammy Award this past Sunday for Best New Artist, after having a breakthrough year in 2025 alongside the release of her sophomore album, The Art Of Loving (September 26, 2025).

The British singer/songwriter released her debut album, Messy in 2023, peaking at No.4 on the UK albums charts. While she quickly became a glimmering indie sensation in the UK, it wasn’t until recently that she garnered mainstream attention globally.  In 2025, Dean supported Sabrina Carpenter on the final leg of her Short n’ Sweet Tour and collaborated with Sam Fender on a rendition of his song, “Rein Me In”, while both of these events certainly gained Dean more exposure, it was The Art Of Loving that kept that momentum moving.

The Art Of Loving was preceded by lead single, “Nice To Each Other”, single “Lady Lady” and of course the hit, “Man I Need”, peaking at No.2 on the Hot 100. A beautiful blend of classic neo-soul/soul and contemporary pop, Dean explores love in all its capacities on The Art Of Loving, all wrapped up in a timeless carefree, candlelight confession.

It makes sense that this romantic timelessness is what Dean aims for in the creation of her music because that’s just what it sounds like.  Despite her most recent record being released in 2025, Dean’s music sounds like something that could have come from any decade with its ability to capture the present moment whilst simultaneously being rooted in nostalgia.

In conversation with Sadie Bell for Marie Claire Dean cites Carole King’s Tapestry and D’Angelo’s Voodoo as two formative albums in her life (October 28, 2025).  Additionally revealing her namesake Lauryn Hill (named Olivia Lauren Dean after Hill) alongside Angie Stone, Jill Scott and Erykah Badu were her gateways into the world of neo-soul which has become a place of solitude and familiarity for Dean.

When she’s not writing timeless hits, or taking the stage, you might find Dean at her favourite local record stores, flipping through bins and buying albums with the most intriguing covers.  Or dancing, cooking, knitting, gaming and doing yoga while listening to said records.

Authenticity is one of the most important aspects of music to Dean and this is exactly what she strives for, telling NYLON, she could never write a song that wasn’t about her life or something that happened to her (December 2, 2025).  This sense of humanity has become increasingly sought-after in a digital world that’s now becoming even more ingenuine with the dissemination of ai. The Art Of Loving presses pause on the fast-paced, artificial society in which we live, and slows down to find joy in the simple pleasures, awareness in the present moment and peace in the past.

Despite the success of her latest record, Dean remains committed to the formula that earned her the spotlight that is –honesty/authenticiy and a genuine love for the music and art; creating what she wants and what feels right to her. The Grammy winner isn’t going anywhere soon, catch Dean on tour across the UK and Northern America throughout 2026.

Referenced In This Article: 

Bell, Sadie. “Olivia Dean Is Bringing Soul To Gen-Z”. Marie Claire. (October 28, 2025). https://www.marieclaire.com/culture/music/olivia-dean-the-art-of-loving-music-taste-interview/

Caraballo, L. Ecleen. “Olivia Dean Is For Lovers”. NYLON. (December 2, 2025). https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/olivia-dean-tour-man-i-need-the-art-of-loving-interview