By Charlotte Kerby, Deputy Features Editor
Abstract rings, matcha iced lattes, sun kissed skin and The Art of Loving by Olivia Dean. Few things in life satisfy me more. Standalone tracks from her newest album and I already feel like she’s done it again. Sliced into my soul and presented a piece of it perfectly on a plate.
I first started listening to Olivia Dean in 2021. It felt like her music completely encompassed what it was for me to be, and I felt a deep connection to the words she wove into her songs. In hindsight I had little experience of romantic love, only a glimpse of the depths true friendship could run, and lacked a real understanding of who I was. Yet, still, falling into Dean’s rhythms I felt seen.
‘Ok Love You Bye’ was the soundtrack to my great friendship break up of 2022. ‘Float’ was the predecessor to my almost ritualistic unshakeable mourning of change. And ‘The Hardest Part’ ran alongside my recognition that I deserved better from the people in my past. Yet I had barely scratched the surface of understanding within Dean’s greatest love songs, break up songs, and presentations of girlhood wrapped up in neat three minute track bows.
Four years on and I feel like Olivia Dean’s early music was a prelude to who I’d become and what I’d experience. And yet, my newfound experiences felt nostalgic, like I’d already had a preview. Listening in to Olivia’s old tunes, I realised that I’d somehow attached adult memories to my 16-year-old daydreams, all embedded into my own listening experiences. The most difficult transitions of my life and the most unexpected developments of my character have been tied together by the reliable flow of Dean’s creativity.
As such, her music has tapped into my evolution as a person in a way I didn’t really know was happening. Having consistently assigned her music to be my life’s own soundtrack, her newer music lives alongside my experiences instead of premeditating them.
‘Touching Toes’ was released days before my November trip to Paris. Entranced by the Eiffel Tower in the biting chill of the Paris November nighttime air, I somehow felt cosily warm. I realised I’d fallen in love. The release of ‘Lady Lady’ got me through August, one of my hardest and disconcerting months to date, my first taste of heartbreak.
Despite all this personal connection to her music, I hadn’t ever seen her live before. Following a main stage faux pas at Forwards Festival this summer that left us questioning our shared intelligence, my girls and I ended up at the back of the crowd to watch Dean glide across the stage.
Surrounded by either place holders for the next set or (perhaps unfair of me) those waiting for their 15 second sound bite of ‘Man I Need’ to post on their Instagram story, Dean’s loving energy sailed over the thousands of people to reach me regardless.
My girls and I spent the summer haze of the day grooving to the unbeatable vibes of Dean’s music catalogue, so Dean’s intimate show at the Trinity Centre had been a highly anticipated event for me.
Her staple corona and cup of tea stood proudly next to an ornate vase of delicate flowers resting in the dimly lit stage of the Trinity Centre. And after an hour’s wait, Dean graced the stage with as much radiance to charm us all into forgiveness from the moment she arrived.
Dressed in a long sleeved, muted tone, patchwork style dress, with a vintage feel, Dean’s hair was styled with her signature curls. Across the night Dean emphasised her choice of classic over trend, and with a creative vision as perfect as her’s it wasn’t hard to shake.
Beginning the show with her new single ‘Nice To Each Other’, Dean’s energy was tangible. Then, having explained the structure of the show with an undeniable hint of glee, Dean declared ‘Bristol you’re always a vibe!’. Next performed was ‘Lady Lady’, an obvious personal favourite of mine. A song about change in your life and spirituality, Dean danced along to her own rhythms.
One of the most cherished parts of Dean’s performance for me was her evident genuine love of music. Her dance moves only accentuated the various musical features of her songs, and coupled with her palpable passion for live performance there is always a central theme of authenticity running through her as an artist when she is on stage.
Dean then graciously played two powerful renditions of her unreleased tracks ‘Close Up’ and ‘Let Alone The One You Love’. First a ballad depicting the all too common paradoxical experience of a partner keeping you at arms length instead of close to them, and second a ballad that navigates the disappointment derived from your partner, of all people, treating you with disrespect. The energy in the room shifted towards strength and contemplation.
Next, Dean pressed pause on showcasing her musical prowess to sit down with her manager for an intimate chat about her creative processes in the making of her album.
Speaking on her inspirations for her new piece of work, Dean cited the ever present influence of hers The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, and declared a particular inspiration of ‘Stevie Wonder, what a gift to the world that man is!’.
Diving deeper, Olivia explained that her personal reflections that were poured into her highly anticipated second album stemmed mostly from her contemplations on what it is for her as an individual to love. Revealing her affinity to literature Dean confessed her connection to Bell Hooks’ All About Love, explaining that the literary work prompted her to think of ‘love as less of a fantasy that might happen to you one day if you’re lucky but more of a reality that you can cultivate’.
She explained her subsequent interrogation of love, exploring how the way she loves has been shaped by the world around her. She highlighted that her upcoming album is less of a labour of love as her last album, Messy (2023), was, but more of a creative encompassing of the love she gives, receives and experiences. Dean highlighted in particular that her creative process for this album had less pressure running through it, it was an exploratory creative process rather than feeling like she had something to prove with it.
With the talking section over for the night Dean sang another of her unreleased songs ‘So Easy (To Fall In Love)’, this track being less of a ballad and more akin to the finessed jazzy style we are so used to Olivia performing so well.
Playing her arguably most well-known single of the new album ‘Man I Need’, Dean had a sip of her corona before rounding off the evening with a gorgeous performance of ‘Dive’.
Benji Chapman
Returning home, my excitement for Dean’s new album stretched past my room. Excitedly explaining my night to my housemates and playing them videos of one of her newest songs that I know they’ll particularly love, I realise Dean’s done it again.
She’s the soundtrack to our third year of Bristol and the academic year hasn’t even begun yet. And I realised that despite all of Dean’s tracks that aligned with my romantic milestones, Dean’s music has taught me from the very start that true love needn’t just be exclusive to one person. The greatest love and happiness in life can come from your platonic friendships. If I had danced and cried to her music before any inkling of romance in my life, I can and will continue to do so regardless.
True love between friends expressed and felt in the aura of Dean’s beautiful artistry; a dream evening.
Featured Image: Charlotte KerbyHave you 'Dive'-d in to The Art of Loving yet?!
