UK culture is enjoying a renaissance in the United States. From Hamnet’s Oscar buzz to Adolescence’s television acclaim, and Harry Styles’ marathon run at Madison Square Garden, British talent is once again dominating the global stage. Now, another export is set to make waves: Olivia Dean, nominated for Best New Artist at the Grammys. With just two albums, the 26-year-old singer-songwriter has not only broken into the US market but done so while preserving a distinctive voice—a fusion of classic soul textures with sharp, modern reflections on love and relationships.
Dean’s second album, The Art of Loving (2025), cemented her status as one of the UK’s most exciting musical exports. A graduate of the BRIT School, the London-born artist has enjoyed a seamless rise from promising newcomer to established star, appearing on film soundtracks (including Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy), at Wimbledon, film premieres, and front-row seats at London Fashion Week. Her debut album, Messy (2022), had already drawn acclaim, reaching No. 4 on the UK charts and earning a Mercury Prize nomination.
For her sophomore effort, Dean and her Capitol Records team transformed an East London house into a creative hub, the so-called “House of Loving,” where she spent two months crafting the album. The release saw three simultaneous Top 10 singles, making her the first British female solo artist to achieve this since Adele in 2021. The accompanying arena tour sold out in minutes, including multiple shows at London’s O2 Arena.
The Art of Loving blends breezy melodies with profound lyricism, capturing her generation’s complex feelings about romance. Highlights include “Nice to Each Other,” a witty, gentle response to male entitlement in relationships, and the summery “Man I Need.” The torch ballad “Loud” evokes the grandeur of Adele’s Skyfall, pairing orchestral elegance with intimate piano moments as Dean reflects on heartbreak with poignant clarity.
Much of Dean’s US breakthrough can be attributed to strategic exposure, notably opening for Sam Fender at London Stadium, where the pair also released their duet, “Rein Me In.” The pairing of her soulful tone with Fender’s socially conscious rock introduced her to an engaged fanbase primed to embrace her music.
Dean’s artistry shines on stage as well as in the studio. Her 2023 Montreux Jazz Festival performance of early single “Dive” demonstrated effortless command, combining professionalism with playful charisma—a rare ability to make excellence appear natural.
As Grammy voters consider the nominees, Dean’s combination of commercial success and artistic credibility positions her as a frontrunner. Fellow Brit Lola Young impressed with the viral hit “Messy” but lacks Dean’s breadth, while US contenders like Addison Rae and Alex Warren do not match her combination of chart dominance and lyrical depth. A win would continue an eight-year streak of female artists claiming Best New Artist and mark the first British triumph since Dua Lipa in 2019.
Olivia Dean has not only written an album about love—she has shown the world how to embody it, effortlessly, in song.