Olivia Dean’s second studio album, “The Art of Loving,” is a soulful, intentional ode to all the different forms of love that life brings. The record, which released Sept. 26, combines a jazzy vintage vibe with modern lyrical themes, all driven by Dean’s magnetism and powerful voice.
“The Art of Loving” follows Dean’s first studio album, “Messy,” which was released in June 2023. In a TikTok caption on Aug. 13, Dean briefly detailed the creative process for her newest record, which she and her collaborators produced in a studio in East London.
“I brought my piano from home and all my favorite people and tried to create things that felt like warmth,” she wrote in the post.
The lead single for this album, “Nice to Each Other,” was released in May, and the song does a great job setting up the record’s atmospheric and sonic tone. It’s a breezy track about craving romantic companionship, but wanting to take it easy without labeling the commitment. In the era of situationships, this is an especially relatable sentiment.
Lyrically, this record is driven by a sense of unwavering optimism. “Love’s never wasted when it’s shared,” she sings on “A Couple Minutes.” It’s this sentiment that becomes somewhat of a thesis statement for the record. Even on the album’s more moody tracks about heartbreak and healing, there is always a sense of hopefulness present that drives each lyrical narrative.
It’s refreshing to hear a female artist sing about romantic love in a way that is not so painfully male-centered. During a year of records such as Sabrina Carpenter’s “Man’s Best Friend,” which does revolve heavily around her experiences with men, Dean’s perspective of love feels necessary and welcome.
Dean views love as a pleasant addition to an already fulfilled life. The way she sings about it on this album, Dean seems to think of romance not as a gaping hole in her life that needs to be filled but rather something she is open to making space for.
That sentiment is clear on songs like “So Easy (To Fall in Love)” on which she sings “There’s heaven in my heart/And we could find you some space.” She is content with herself and her life already, a romantic partner would only add to that fullness. Dean is expressing that romantic love would be welcome, but it wouldn’t define her.
This song is an album highlight for me, embodying that same lyrical theme of Dean’s bold, confident approach to love. “I’m the perfect mix of Saturday night and the rest of your life/Anyone with a heart would agree,” she insists shamelessly on the chorus. In this song, Dean comes across not as cocky but as smooth and self-assured, and it’s absolutely charming.
Dean’s strong self-confidence is also present throughout this entire record. In “Let Alone the One You Love,” she is unashamed of her ambitions and individuality and refuses to tolerate being stifled: “If you knew me at all/You wouldn’t try to keep me small,” she scolds the subject of the song.
The record’s third pre-released single “Man I Need” comes across as one of the best representations of Dean’s personality and confidence. The song is a playful, flirty invitation to a potential lover with an infectious chorus. She knows who she wants, what she wants from them, and isn’t afraid to say it.
“Tell me you got something to give, I want it/I kinda like it when you call me wonderful,” she sings on the chorus. She knows her worth and desires, and she expresses this with an assured conviction. Even more than that, it’s simply a fun song.
“I’ve Seen It” ends the album on a sentimental note. It’s a beautifully simple song that explores the ways love can be found almost anywhere you look if you choose to see it. “I know it’s somewhere in my chest/I guess it’s been inside me all along,” she realizes on the album’s closing lyrics.
Delivered through Dean’s confident demeanor and charismatic voice, “The Art of Loving” is a heartwarming appreciation of all the different forms love can take. This record has the potential to resonate with an extremely wide audience. The music is not only eloquently sincere, but perfect to have as a background soundtrack to everyday life. Dean’s vocal talent, stage presence and effortless charisma make her a deeply compelling performer to watch and listen to.
