OCTOBER 10, 2025 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | By Megan Neton
Until Olivia Dean’s second studio album “The Art of Loving,” came out on Sept. 26., I had heard her name, listened to a few of her songs like “Dive” from her debut album “Messy” (2023) and seen videos of her dancing. Still, for the most part, I had not given Olivia Dean much thought. However, after listening to her new album, I’ll likely listen to every album she releases in the future.
Dean is an English singer-songwriter who has been topping the British charts for months. In an interview with Apple Music, she described her new album as “real, fresh and honest.”
The prelude to the album “The Art of Loving (Intro)” lays the groundwork for the central theme of the album: an exploration of love in every form and capacity. The reference to bell hooks’ book, “All About Love,” with the line “Something lost and something gained,” perfectly sums up the feel of the album. There are good moments and there are bad ones, but in Dean’s own words, “love’s never wasted when it’s shared.”
Dean is known for her upbeat tracks, and this album is full of them. “Nice to Each Other” explores the concept of wanting to keep a romantic partner at a distance, but instead of taking on a sad tone, the song feels incredibly freeing.
Dean basically says, “Hey! I like you, but not as much as I’ll probably like someone in the future. But we can have a lot of fun for now!” The lyrics, matched with the catchy beat and Dean’s clear-toned voice, make it a simple yet great song. Following “Nice to Each Other,” the songs “Lady Lady,” “So Easy (To Fall In Love)” and “Man I Need” also belong in the category of tracks you can dance to—and arguably more importantly, songs you won’t cry to.
Despite the album’s upbeat feel, it is Dean’s saddest album yet. While exploring the concept of love, Dean finds herself amidst heartbreak in the song “Loud.” She questions her romantic relationship with someone, writing, “And you weren’t allowed to come around and throw my heart about.”
Similar to “Loud,” Dean explores heartbreak further in the song “Let Alone the One You Love.” The raw emotion in the song, mixed with Dean’s soulful voice, examines the delicate balance between self-respect and fighting for a relationship.
Dean, along with her co-writers Bastian Langebaek, Deschanel Gordon and Max Wolfgang, came together on this piece to write something that encompasses the feelings of both betrayal and love.
The lyrics, “And if you knew me at all / You wouldn’t try to keep me small / Who would do that to a friend / Let alone the one you love,” make this the perfect song to listen to after a relationship or romantic entanglement ends.
While the central concept of the album is exploring love through a romantic lens, other forms of love are deemed equally valuable by Dean. In the song “I’ve Seen It,” Dean sings about the many forms in which love has appeared in her life.
She sings, “I’ve seen it dance with friends around the table / In Eleanor, Rosie, and Louise,” highlighting the value of her female friendships. And while a few of the songs on the album detail painful experiences, their melodies keep the album feeling upbeat and, for the most part, optimistic—which is true to Dean’s nature.
This album does not reinvent the wheel, but it is far from cringey. If anything, it’s a classic—one you can turn on while getting ready for a night out with friends, or one you might need to listen to after somebody breaks your heart.
“The Art of Loving” is a big step for Dean, who has been topping the British charts since its release. The concept of the album, its musical production and the simplicity of its style make it the perfect album to listen to while in the shower or driving.
Dean’s album offers a realistic portrayal of love, while also highlighting that love is not something that fulfills you, but rather something that comes from within, as Dean sings, “I know it’s somewhere in my chest / I guess it’s been inside me all along.”