Despite reports of a heavy one last night, Olivia Dean is impressively chipper first thing on a Thursday morning. “I’m just very, very happy at the moment,” the 24-year-old singer-songwriter grins, speaking over the patchy Wi-Fi connection of a recording studio just outside Hereford.
Currently on a residential writing trip with fellow BRIT School graduate Rachel Chinouriri, Dean definitely has plenty to celebrate. Last week, she completed her biggest-ever tour of the UK and Europe, playing to more than 10,000 fans in total. The week before, she was announced as one of the headliners of Somerset House’s Summer Series, with her show going on to be the first to sell out. Most excitingly, just 24 hours before we speak, she announced her long-awaited debut album, Messy, currently set for release at the end of June.
Written and recorded with Lianne La Havas-collaborator Matt Hales, the 12-track collection looks set to cement the south London-based star’s reputation as one of the UK’s brightest young voices — not to mention surprise a few people with the scope of her vision. Informed by influences as diverse as Clairo, Carole King and Mac Miller, the songwriting on display extends from the pared-back piano balladry of ‘Everybody’s Crazy’ to the more maximalist, Motown shimmer of ‘Dive’, via the tender, steel pan-dappled grooves of ‘Carmen’.
This story is from the June/July 2023 edition of Rolling Stone UK.
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This story is from the June/July 2023 edition of Rolling Stone UK.
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