One of the most exciting names in music right now is Olivia Dean. Known for her warm, soulful blend of R&B and neo-soul, she has a rare ability to connect with listeners through vocals that feel both intimate and deeply sincere. Her recent win for Best New Artist at the 2026 Grammy Awards marks a major milestone, confirming her rise as one of the most promising new voices in the global music scene.
Born Olivia Lauryn Dean on March 14, 1999, in Haringey, London, she grew up in Highams Park in North London. With an English father and a Jamaican-Guyanese mother, Olivia was raised in a culturally rich environment that strongly shaped her artistic outlook and musical taste.
Music was always part of her life. Her father’s vinyl collection filled their home with sound, while her mother introduced her to neo-soul. Olivia began singing in church as a child, later teaching herself guitar and piano around the age of 16. She also attended musical theatre classes every Saturday before enrolling at the BRIT School, one of the UK’s most respected institutions for performing arts.
Her career began to take shape when she started busking around London’s South Bank at 17. In August 2018, she uploaded a cover of “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” to YouTube, quickly drawing attention. Just a few months later, she released her debut single “Reason to Stay,” which gained millions of streams and led to record deals with AMF Records and Virgin EMI. She followed this with the single “OK Love You Bye” and her first EP in November 2019.
Olivia’s music is known for its honest storytelling, often exploring love, relationships, and personal growth through smooth, easy-listening soul and neo-soul sounds. This approach earned her widespread praise and set the stage for her debut album Messy, featuring fan-favorite tracks like “Dive” that clearly define her signature style.
In 2024, she signed with Capitol Records and released her second album, The Art of Loving, in 2025. Inspired by the writings of feminist author bell hooks, the album reflects on the emotional complexity of love. Its lead single “Man I Need” became a global hit, reaching No. 1 in several countries and climbing to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. Songs such as “Nice to Each Other,” “Lady Lady,” and “So Easy (To Fall In Love)” further strengthened her critical and commercial success.
She also made history as the first solo female artist to place four songs in the UK Top 10 at the same time. Along the way, she received major industry recognition, including Amazon Music’s Breakthrough Artist of the Year, BBC Music Introducing Artist of the Year, and Billboard Rookie of the Year in 2025. All of this led to her Grammy win in February 2026, where she delivered an emotional acceptance speech thanking her family and her grandmother, who has been a lasting source of inspiration.
Beyond music, Olivia’s effortless style and quiet confidence have caught the attention of the fashion world. She is currently a brand ambassador for CHANEL and a key face of Burberry Her fragrance campaigns, further establishing her as a modern style icon.
More than just a talented singer, Olivia Dean stands out for her honesty, emotional depth, and ability to make people feel seen through her music. As one of the defining new artists of her generation, her journey is only just beginning—and the world is clearly listening.
