The Art of Loving is Olivia Dean’s second album and was released on September 26, 2025. The album is a dive into different forms of love: romantic, platonic, self, and everything in between. Dean expressed the hard work she put into this album, producing songs that walk listeners through the highs and lows of love in a soul, pop, and jazz record. Dean is from England and started writing music at 16. She taught herself guitar and piano and released her first album, Messy, in 2023. Dean continues her career through songwriting and is going on tour for The Art of Loving in 2026.
Highlighted Songs
Nice to Each Other is the leading single and the second track from Olivia Dean’s second album, The Art of Loving. It was released on May 30, 2025, almost four months before the rest of her album was released. The song encapsulates how it feels to be in a “give-and-take” relationship and accompanies a very calm and comforting musical energy. This song is one of her hit songs and is loved by all.
Man I Need is a happy upbeat song that combines smooth beats with catchy lyrics. Dean’s delivery captures the feelings of longing and searching for love. Dean delivers each line with character and emotion, giving the song an authentic feel. Overall, it is a very fun and cheerful song that’s great to listen to with friends.
Baby Steps is a slow, emotional song with intricate meaning behind the theme of moving on. Her choice of the lyrics of “Right, left, baby steps / I’ll be my own pair of safe hands” successfully describes the journey of self-sufficiency, creating an idea of individuality. Dean’s reminder to take things one step at a time is both grounding and profoundly moving.
Let alone the one you love is a very raw and passionate song that captures the complex feeling of going through a heartbreak. The melody is very powerful yet soothing, which draws listeners in. Her vocals are very powerful, which adds to the emotion that is created by the lyrics. In this song, Dean is very vulnerable with her emotions and shows the less attractive, bittersweet side of love.
Stats on the Album
On October 3, 2025, The Art Of Loving debuted straight in at Number 1. That same week, her single, Man I Need, ascended to the top of the Official Singles Chart. Dean has received many titles in the wake of her music career. She became the first British female solo artist to score the rare Official Chart double since Adele four years prior in 2021. As her popularity has grown, her achievements have as well. Another recent accomplishment for Dean is her Grammy nomination for “Best New Artist”. If the last month has proven anything for Olivia Dean, the love that the world has for her will only grow.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olivia_Dean
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Art_of_Loving_(album)
https://www.stayfreeradioip.com/post/olivia-dean-baby-steps-meaning-and-review
https://www.officialcharts.com/albums/olivia-dean-the-art-of-loving/
