The Art of Loving, according to Olivia Dean

What does Olivia Dean have to say or even teach about the art of loving? Many have tried before and failed spectacularly. Or maybe we just didn’t pay enough attention. That’s what artists do to you: Never Date an Artist because they’ll inebriate your senses and sedate your survival instincts. Before you know it, you’ll forgo all reason for a song… or a fantastic album.

Artist – OLIVIA DEAN

Album – The Art of Loving (2025)

The world may look upside down at the moment, but Olivia Dean’s career is exactly where it should be: she is the British artist who has received the most awards and accolades so far this year. I haven’t counted them all, but she definitely took home an impressive number, including the Grammy for Best New Artist, MOBO Awards for Best Female Act, Album of the Year (The Art of Loving), and Song of the Year (”Man I Need”), and four BRIT Awards — Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year (with Sam Fender), and Best Pop Act.

In sum, if it weren’t for the mandatory spring and summer tour and the pressure of staying relevant in an unforgiving music industry, Olivia Dean could just put her feet up for the rest of 2026.

I confess I’m impressed. Olivia’s persona and voice didn’t immediately catch my interest, but I wasn’t paying attention. My senses only surrendered to her talent when “Man I Need” became completely inescapable. “What is she actually saying?”, I thought, intrigued. But more on my conjectures later. First, the Album of the Year 2026 at the MOBO and BRIT Awards: The Art of Loving.

The Art of Loving

When I eventually listened to the whole album, I didn’t press play thinking Olivia Dean had finally broken the code on how to love and leave unscathed on the other side. I believe that to be impossible, actually. “What does this young woman have to say or even teach about the ‘art of loving’ that others haven’t figured out centuries ago?”, I questioned.

Yes, I prejudged the message based on her age (26 at the time) and my assumption of a lack of life experience. Beware of time, because as life stretches on, it gifts you an entitled sense of arrogance. Don’t misuse it — you’ll learn in time.

What’s so special about the album?

So, what’s so special about Olivia Dean’s Art of Loving? Nothing, and everything at the same time. Based on her work so far, Olivia will not go down in history as the most impressive female voice that the neo-soul, jazzy neo-soul, or soul-pop has ever seen. However, the warm, slightly raspy tone of her words draws you in, even though it somewhat contrasts with the stylish girl-next-door persona she brings to the stage and her videos. I love those dresses, by the way!

Olivia Dean’s strengths? Relatability, fresh talent, and irresistible charm. Her being a BRIT School alumnus is no coincidence. Adele, Amy Winehouse, Jessie J, Leona Lewis, and RAYE are other famous alumni of the same performing and creative arts institution. Also, there’s something vintage about Olivia’s songs. But in the current musical environment dominated more by algorithms and singles than actual thoughtful studio productions, Olivia sounds like a welcome novelty.  

Listening to Olivia is just… easy. She’s not trying to overly impress, looks quite down-to-earth, and has a delightful voice. She’s the perfect mixture! Just what we need in this world of confusion, conflict, and disarray. See, if you listen to The Art of Loving, you won’t feel any of that — for 37 minutes, you’ll be insulated from all the outside cacophony. Enjoy it, because not all recent albums provide the same degree of protection and enjoyment.

On the other hand (there’s always a but), if your heart has recently been through an emotional rollercoaster, you might want to brace yourself for songs such as “Loud” and “Baby Steps”. If it helps, I’m glad to say she comes out stronger on the other side. You will too — just don’t date an artist in the meantime… or ever!

12 songs and a dozen lessons

Aren’t we all looking for love? We may not be actively searching for it at the moment, but the thought is there, isn’t it? You may not want a relationship right now, which is valid, but doesn’t the image of a strong connection with someone who ticks all the boxes immediately make you smile and wonder ‘if only’?

Well, The Art of Loving doesn’t teach you how to love, nor how to be successful in the pursuit of it. Mostly, and depending on your life experience, you’ll have some dejà vu moments, reminisce about the past, or hope that your heart finds the strength to heal after all it was put through.

As Olivia says in the Intro, “it wasn’t all for nothing”.  In other words, listening to the album may not yield the practical results you’re looking for, but it will offer you some knowledge — even if you feel you don’t have new lessons to learn, reviewing the main topics won’t hurt.

Olivia Dean’s Four Stages of Love

Infatuation, sweet delusion, heartbreak, and reflection: these are the different stages Olivia goes through in the album. The Art of Loving tells a story, and Olivia doesn’t sugarcoat any part of it. Obviously, listening to the album is the best option to fully understand the message, but in case you haven’t listened to all of it yet, here’s a quick recap:

Intro

We’ve already tackled that (see above).

“Nice To Each Other”

All I hear is ‘Let’s figure it out! ‘We may be miserable together or happy together. But let’s just try.’ Olivia has a very positive attitude towards romantic love here, and I applaud her for it. Moreover, she knows what she wants and what didn’t work in the past. ‘So, how about we meet in Italy and just figure it out?’ — Oh, the prelude to an exciting and problematic summer love… If only they could be nice to each other…

“Lady Lady”

An empowerment song. Olivia shows personal growth; she’s a new lady now. Realisation, reform, and rebirth are the three ‘R’s that guide her through this new phase in her life. “There’s room for something new”, she sings — Encouraging optimism! Pain is as natural as love. Both walk hand in hand. The difference is that Olivia refuses to empower the first to the detriment of the second. She will love again. This is The Art of Loving, after all!

“… Close Up”

“How can you get close to someone you keep out of reach?/ And where does that leave me?” This is not a math problem, and an answer from the other party is expected. We find out that Olivia didn’t get one (or, at least, a proper one) as she announces, “And now I’m all close up”. Protection mode activated. ‘Me, myself and I’ is now the new law of the land! — I wanted to cry when I read the lyrics with the song playing in the background.

“So Easy (To Fall In Love)”

Hope is restored: Olivia is ready to love again! All of a sudden, everything seems so light and easy. That charming, positive mindset that age and a touch of delusion together create is so captivating! I love her confidence and straightforwardness: “There’s no need to hide if you’re into me/’Cause I’m into you quite intimately”. Free reassurance flies out of Olivia’s mouth like a butterfly twirling in the sky on a summer afternoon. How refreshing!

“Let Alone The One You Love”

The title is self-explanatory. I’ve done that before. It takes incredible strength (and a bit of fear) to leave behind the one you love because you know you’re just not ready for that relationship. And that’s also a manifestation of love — for yourself and the other person. In this song, though, I know the other party misbehaved. How? “Who would do that to a friend, let alone the one you love?” — This line says enough, and I don’t have time to listen to both sides.

“Man I Need”

Is ‘The Man I Need’ and ‘The Man I Want’ the same person? Not every time. We know this, right? Otherwise, romantic misfortune wouldn’t even be a topic. Olivia sounds confident and sure of who she wants. But does she really pick the man she needs in the end? “Just come be the man I need”, she urges — I hear the impending sound of a broken heart.

“Something Inbetween”

Trouble in paradise? It’s not my situation, but I felt smothered and pressured by the relationship. It seems the other party doesn’t realise how taut the rope is to the point of breakage. But she’s not leaving… yet. It doesn’t have to be “all or nothing”: she’s looking for something in between. Is it possible that the man she thought she needed is no longer the man she wants? Tricky (but often factual).

“Loud”

The man played with the lady’s feelings. Why do I have the impression he ghosted her, at least emotionally, and she has no idea why (as per usual in this scenario)? So, let’s analyse the ‘facts’: she was living her merry life, then there he comes, inflates her heart with love, and… pfft, he vanishes. Now, all there’s left is painful silence. I don’t know him, but I already dislike him. And I want to cry… for her. Next song, please, before I become furious!

“Baby Steps”

Being alone is not the same as being lonely. It’s actually a great opportunity to (re)learn how to love oneself. After crawling in despair, nothing like taking baby steps to emotional recovery. The Art of Loving is also about mastering self-care.

“A Couple Minutes”

Seeing someone you once loved, but for whom you still care. Was it all a waste of time? Not for Olivia: “Love’s never wasted when it’s shared” / “And although it’s over I’ll always be there”. I had to reach this age to finally understand what Whitney Houston meant when she memorably belted out, “I will always love you”. On another note, Olivia’s song is definitely less hurtful than “Somebody I Used to Know”, which is also valid.  

“I’ve Seen It”

This song sounds like an outro. Maybe it’s on purpose. This is a nice way to end by saying that “Love is All Around” (The Troggs/Wet Wet Wet), and it manifests in different ways. Also, love is not always connected with happiness and joy. The woman who sings this song has seen the other side of love, where pain and sadness claim a place in someone’s heart. But can we fully appreciate love if we don’t experience the other side of it? Olivia has her eyes open now because she’s seen it.

What about you? What have you learned from The Art of Loving, according to Olivia Dean? And what would your Art of Loving look like — what would be the titles of your songs? I’m really curious! Leave your comment below, or send me a direct message here.