Olivia Dean | |
---|---|
Birth name | Olivia Lauryn Dean |
Born | Haringey, Greater London, England | 14 March 1999
Genres | Pop-soul, Neo-soul |
Occupation(s) | Singer |
Years active | 2017–present |
Labels | AMF Records, EMI |
Olivia Lauryn Dean (born 14 March 1999) is an English singer. She began her career working in collaboration with Rudimental. She was named Amazon Music's 2021 breakthrough artist of the year[1] and recorded an exclusive version of Nat King Cole's "The Christmas Song" for Amazon's 2021 Christmas Originals line-up,[2] which charted at number 19 in the UK singles chart.[3] In 2023, Dean was selected as BBC Music Introducing Artist of the Year.[4]
Early life
Dean was born in the London Borough of Haringey to an English father and a Jamaican-Guyanese mother. She grew up in Walthamstow. She took musical theatre lessons and participated in a gospel choir from a young age. She then attended the BRIT School.[5][6]
Influences
Dean has cited Lauryn Hill, Amy Winehouse, Carole King, and the Supremes as inspirations.[5][7]
Music videos
After recording a handful of music videos for her first singles, Dean's aesthetic took a turn in the music video for her breakout single "The Hardest Part". Filmed in London, the music video features Dean and two carbon copies of herself as back-up singer/dancers. Dean also cited The Supremes as one of her visual references for this music video.
Olivia has been outspoken about championing female artists, even going as far as to set a "rule" for herself to only work with women directors on her music videos. To quote Dean in an interview given for Number One Journal in 2021: "My music is for everyone to enjoy and relate to. But obviously, because I am a woman, it does come from a female lens. So, I feel it’s common sense for a woman to direct the videos."
Discography
Studio albums
Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
---|---|---|
UK [8] | ||
Messy |
|
4 |
EPs
Title | Details |
---|---|
Ok Love You Bye |
|
What Am I Gonna Do on Sundays? |
|
Olivia Dean If You Know What I Mean |
|
Growth |
|
Singles
- "Reason to Stay" (2018)
- "Password Change" (2019)
- "Baby Come Home" (2020)
- "Crosswords" (2020)
- "The Hardest Part" (2020)
- "Merry Christmas Everyone" (2020)
- "Echo" (2020)
- "Be My Own Boyfriend" (2021)[10]
- "Slowly" (2021)[11]
- "The Christmas Song" (2021) UK #19
- "Danger" (2022)
- "UFO" (2023)
- "Dive" (2023)
- "Carmen" (2023)
- "The Hardest Part" (2023) (with Leon Bridges)[12] – No. 20 Adult Alternative Songs[13]
- "Ladies Room" (2023)
As featured artist
- "Free" (2017)
- "Adrenaline" (2019)
- "Call Me A Lioness" (2023)
Music videos
Year | Title |
---|---|
2019 | "Password Change" |
"Ok Love You Bye" | |
2020 | "Crosswords" |
"Baby Come Home" | |
"The Hardest Part" | |
"Echo" | |
2021 | "Be My Own Boyfriend" |
"Slowly" | |
2022 | "Danger" |
2023 | "UFO" |
"Dive" |
Awards and nominations
Year | Awards | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2020 | UK Music Video Awards | Best R&B/Soul Video – UK | "Password Change" | Nominated | [14] |
2023 | Mercury Prize | — | Messy | Nominated | [15] |
References
- ↑ Sherwin, Adam (12 April 2021). "London soul singer Olivia Dean named Amazon Music 2021 Breakthrough Artist". INews. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
- ↑ "Amazon Music's exclusive Christmas songs line-up revealed". Official Charts.
- ↑ "Olivia Dean". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
- ↑ "BBC Music Introducing Artist of the Year". BBC Music. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
- 1 2 "Premiere: Olivia – 'Reason to Stay'". Wonderland. 26 October 2018. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
- ↑ Barnes, Kelsey (4 December 2020). "Olivia Dean". 1883 Magazine. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
- ↑ Nasinde, Shama (10 August 2020). "interview olivia dean". Schön!. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
- ↑ "Olivia Dean full Official Chart history". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
- ↑ Shepard, Ryan (31 July 2021). "Olivia Dean Releases Her 'Growth' EP". Def Pen.
- ↑ Murray, Robin (16 April 2021). "Olivia Dean Finds Independence With 'Be My Own Boyfriend'". Clash. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
- ↑ Campbell, Joel (9 July 2021). "Olivia Dean shares new single 'Slowly'". Voice Online. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
- ↑ "Olivia Dean Has Teamed Up with Leon Bridges for a New Version of The Hardest Part". readdork. 16 June 2023. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
- ↑ "Leon Bridges: Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
- ↑ "UK Music Video Awards 2020: all the nominations!". Promonews. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
- ↑ Snapes, Laura (27 July 2023). "Mercury Prize 2023: Arctic Monkeys tie Radiohead's record for most nominations". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 July 2023.