Olivia Dean: From BRIT School to GRAMMY Award-winner
'Man I Need' has been everywhere the last few months!
Olivia Dean is seriously the woman of the moment right now. Showing musical promise from a very young age, Olivia made her way through the BRIT School - using social media to gain a fanbase before growing in popularity enough to write and sing 'It Isn't Perfect But It Might Be' for Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy.
Many of her songs have been massive hits - with 'Dive', 'The Hardest Part', 'Nice to Each Other', 'So Easy (To Fall in Love)' and - of course - the HUGE 'Man I Need'. And let's not forget her gorgeous duet with Sam Fender on 'Rein Me In'! Here's everything you need to know...
How old is Olivia Dean?
Her birthday is 14th March 1999, making her currently 27-years-old and a Pisces. Her middle name is Lauryn, a tribute to Lauryn Hill of the Fugees.
Where is she from?
Olivia was born in Haringey in London, to her mum Christine Dean and her dad, whose name is not publicly known. They've apparently been married for 30 years, and Olivia has a younger brother.
Her dad is English and her mum Christine is Jamaican-Guyanese, whose own mother emigrated to the UK in the Windrush generation. Christine is a lawyer and the former deputy leader of the Women's Equality Party.
Olivia also has a famous cousin - Ashley Walters, who started out as a member of So Solid Crew before turning his hand to acting, being recognisable from the likes of Top Boy, A Thousand Blows and Adolescence.
How tall is she?
A lot of people are interested in Olivia Dean's height, but unfortunately there's nothing official or confirmed about how tall she is. Some fans online have guessed at around 5ft 7in.
How did Olivia Dean get famous?
Olivia showed musical promise from a young age, performing in school shows and in a gospel choir, although she's described herself as "quite shy" as a child. She was accepted into the BRIT School at 15, a schoolmate of fellow artist RAYE, studying musical theatre for two years before reflecting that it wasn't her true passion and switching to songwriting.
After a performance at her high school graduation, she was spotted by Emily Braham who became her manager and got her an audition to be a backing singer for Rudimental when she was just 17-years-old.
She then self-released her first single 'Reason to Stay' in 2018, and received a feature credit on Rudimental's 2019 album 'Toast to Our Differences' on track 'Adrenaline'. Olivia signed a record deal with Virgin EMI Records, and released her first EP 'OK Love You Bye'.
She then performed various gigs and released her second EP, but after a video of her performance at The Jazz Cafe went viral on TikTok, she soon had much more of a following - leading to her debut album release in 2023.
Which are her biggest songs?
'The Hardest Part'
Released on 7th August 2020, 'The Hardest Part' entered the charts in March 2026, reaching a peak of Number 19. It's been certified Platinum in the UK. It was the lead single from Olivia's EP 'What Am I Gonna Do on Sundays?' and also appeared on her debut album 'Messy'.
'Dive'
Released on 28th March 2023 as the third single from 'Messy', 'Dive' peaked at Number 17 in the UK and has been certified Platinum in the UK. She told Genius about the song: "This song is just one of those honest songs. It's really pure and from the heart and I think people like to fall in love even though they say they don't.
"I was listening to Diana Ross. I was listening to The Supremes. I'm very like a Motown head. I think I went through a phase of writing a lot of quite sad breakup music and I was like I want to write something light. I was falling in love which is, you know, crazy. But a nice feeling and it's just really changed my mindset. I think I'm happier because of it."
'It Isn't Perfect But It Might Be'
Olivia had a huge break in 2025, writing 'It Isn't Perfect But It Might Be' for the soundtrack of Bridget Jones film, Mad About The Boy. Released on 11th February 2025, it only went to Number 36 in the UK but has since been certified Gold by the BPI.
She said of the song: 'I've always loved the Bridget Jones films, they're timeless classics. After seeing Mad About the Boy I was so moved by the journey we've watched Bridget go on over the years. 'It Isn't Perfect But It Might Be' is about giving yourself permission to love again after grief, and trusting that things might just work out after all.'
'Nice to Each Other'
'Nice to Each Other' was released on 30th May 2025 as the lead single from Olivia's second album, 'The Art of Loving'. It went to Number 4 in the UK charts and has been certified Platinum.
She explained in a press release at the time that the song was "about the push and pull of exploring your independence in dating. It's about enjoying someone in the present and allowing it to be both light and meaningful. I think this song and video represents a playfulness in me that I'm excited for people to see."
'Rein Me In' (with Sam Fender)
'Rein Me In' was originally a song by Sam Fender that appeared on his third album, 'People Watching'. After his label sent Olivia a song from his album to do a "remix" of and sing on, Sam pushed for her to choose her own from the record.
He explained on Instagram: 'I wrote Rein Me In 5 years ago. I never thought it was a single, never mind one as big as this, but here we are! The label originally only sent Olivia one song, I said we should give her the album to choose from - so we did and she chose ‘Rein Me In’. She made it her own.'
He also said when the song was released: "If I collaborate with another artist on one of my songs, I prefer they write a new part and make it their own, rather than singing whatever I’ve already written. Olivia added a female perspective to ‘Rein Me In’, and I think it’s all the better for it."
The pair performed the remix of the song at Sam's London Stadium performance in June 2025, and again at his St. James' Park show later that month. It eventually went to Number 1, becoming the longest-charting song in the Top 40 before going to the top spot. It's been certified 2x Platinum, and also won Song of the Year at The BRITs 2026.
'Man I Need'
Olivia released 'Man I Need' as the third single from 'The Art of Loving', peaking at Number 1 in the UK and being certified 3x Platinum. It was nominated for Song of the Year at The BRIT Awards, but lost out... To Olivia on 'Rein Me In'!
Upon the song's release, Olivia explained that it was "a song about knowing how you deserve to be loved and not being afraid to ask for it. It's forward, sexy, fun. It's made for dancing."
'So Easy (To Fall in Love)'
The fourth single from her second album, Olivia released 'So Easy (To Fall in Love)' on 26th September 2025 - the same day as the album. It peaked at Number 2, being kept off the top spot by her own song, 'Rein Me In' with Sam Fender, and has been certified Platinum.
Olivia explained the song to Elle: "I've had songs in the past that I've specifically written to uplift other women. Men, of course, can take what they want to take from it, music is for everybody, but I'm such a strong feminist, and I can't help but let that seep into my music.
"I've had friends go on first dates and be so caught up in worrying if the other person will like them and thinking about what they can be to slot into this person's life without actually stopping to think, 'Hang on a minute. Maybe this date is me just checking if I like them,' rather than putting all the emphasis on them liking you.
"I just wanted to say, 'You'd be really easy to fall in love with. Anyone will be lucky to have you in their life.' And it's easy to forget that sometimes. So I think this song is just a pat on the back when you're going out the door on your first date."
Does Olivia Dean write her own songs?
She does. Olivia is credited as a songwriter for every song on both of her albums, with co-writer credits also appearing for Matt Hales AKA Aqualung, Tre Jean-Marie, Amy Allen and Tobias Jesso Jr., who have all co-written songs for Olivia's contemporaries. Michael Stafford AKA Maverick Sabre also appears as a co-writer on 'A Couple Minutes'.
How many albums has Olivia Dean released?
Olivia has released two albums so far - her debut album 'Messy' was released in 2023 and 'The Art of Loving' came out in 2025.
'Messy'
Olivia's debut album 'Messy' was released on 30th June 2023, peaking at Number 4 in the UK and receiving a Gold certification from the BPI. It was shortlisted for the coveted Mercury Prize in 2023, and featured hits like 'Dive', 'The Hardest Part' and 'Carmen' - which was inspired by and dedicated to her grandmother, who moved to the UK as part of the Windrush generation.
She told Dork about why the album was dedicated to her gran: "I knew quite early on that I wanted the whole album to be dedicated to her. I was thinking about the reason I’m able to be where I am and signed to a label and living in London and making an album like this is that when my granny was 18, four years younger than I am now, she just changed her whole life."
'The Art of Loving'
She put her follow-up record, 'The Art of Loving', out on 26th September 2025, shooting straight to Number 1 in the UK charts and spending a total of seven weeks at the top spot. It's been certified Platinum by the BPI and contains major hits 'Nice to Each Other', 'So Easy (To Fall in Love)' and 'Man I Need'.
She told Elle about making the record: "I thought that I would like to write an album reflecting on my understanding of love ... It’s obviously a topic that a lot of people have written songs about, I’m very aware, but I don’t think that takes away from the importance of it. I just think it was very healing for me to make."
Live albums and EPs
Olivia has also put out two live albums - Live at the Jazz Café in October 2021 and Live at Eventim Apollo in December 2024.
Her EPs are: 'Ok Love You Bye' (2019), 'What Am I Gonna Do on Sundays?' (2020), 'Olivia Dean If You Know What I Mean' (2021), 'Growth' (2021) and 'With Love' (2025) as a Record Store Day exclusive.
Has she won any awards?
She certainly has! Olivia has won four BRIT Awards, one GRAMMY Award and three MOBOs, as well as being nominated for Ivor Novello Awards and the 2023 Mercury Prize.
After being nominated in three categories at The BRITs in 2024, she stormed the show in 2026 - taking home British Artist of the Year, Best Pop Act, British Album of the Year for 'The Art of Loving' and Song of the Year for 'Rein Me In' with Sam Fender.
2026 was a huge year for Olivia, as she also took home Best New Artist at the GRAMMY Awards, as well as being nominated at the Ivor Novello Awards in the Best Album category for 'The Art of Loving' and Most Performed Work for 'Man I Need'.
At the MOBOs 2026, she won Album of the Year for 'The Art of Loving', Song of the Year for 'Man I Need' and Best Female Act.
Has she been on tour?
She certainly has. Her first "headline tour" was the 'From Me To You' tour in 2020, which saw Olivia performing from a yellow van during the COVID-19 pandemic to brighten people's days.
Olivia then went on a more typical tour in 2023, performing seven dates around the UK before heading over to Europe. She did the same again in 2024 - a year which also included a performance at Glastonbury Festival - before heading over to the US and Canada in 2025.
She will embark on 'The Art of Loving Live' tour in April 2026, performing 52 shows across the UK, Ireland, Europe, the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
What genre is Olivia Dean?
It's quite difficult to put her in a box like this! But she would probably fall into the categories of pop, a touch of R'n'B, even a little bit of soul given how rich her voice is, and Motown on certain songs.
Is she married?
She's not married, but Olivia is dating Eddie Burns, with the pair attending Wimbledon together in July 2025 where they could be seen publicly holding hands and posing for photos together.
Eddie is a drummer, who has performed with the likes of Lana Del Rey, Dominic Fike and Clairo, and is also in his own band called Les Sons du Cosmos.
Why is her Instagram pink?
Olivia won the Instagram Ring Awards 2025, which "celebrate those who aren’t afraid to take creative chances and do it their way". Apparently, Olivia won the gong for "using warmth, honesty, and intimacy to connect with her audience both onstage and online."
The reward for winning is the ability to change the background colour of the Instagram profile to whatever she chooses, as well as a golden ring around her profile picture whenever she post an Instagram Story.
Read more:
RAYE: From BRIT school to six-time BRIT Award winner
GRAMMY Awards 2026: All the winners
Your ultimate recap of The BRIT Awards 2026