Olivia Dean’s The Art Of Loving Album Review

“The lyrics that you're scared to say are probably the best ones,” Olivia Dean told NTS Radio. “They're always the ones where people are like, ‘Oh, that one really got me.’” Fair to say, Olivia Dean got me in her new album, The Art of Loving.

Across 12 tracks and 34 minutes, the English singer-songwriter delivers a beautiful, cohesive, and sincere body of work that turns every listener into a hopeless romantic. Yet beyond the lyricism and the lush palette of sounds that shape the album, it’s Olivia’s vocals that truly stand out. In fact, it wouldn’t be fair to compare this record to any other popular release of the year. Olivia is in her own lane, moving one step at a time.

The album opens with a stripped-down intro titled “The Art of Loving,” where Olivia declares the record’s theme in just a few words. “It wasn’t all for nothing,” she sings, before adding, “Something lost and something gained.” That’s what love is all about. Almost no artist has ever reminded me of the emotional precision of a young Adele on 19, but Olivia does in this opening track.

“Nice to Each Other” follows as a natural continuation, both sonically and lyrically. It’s one of the album’s most upbeat and playful moments, a retro-leaning ode to the back-and-forth of a relationship where both partners can be “hooligans” to one another. It’s no surprise Olivia chose it as the lead single: it’s radio-ready, fun, and warm, the kind of track you’d want to hear on The Breakfast Show. Even on a cloudy day, “Nice to Each Other” feels like sunlight.

“Lady Lady” shifts the tone toward introspection. Though I can only admire it from the outside, it feels aspirational, the kind of song I’d want my future daughters to sing out loud: “Lady, lady, she’s the man, she’s got a master plan.” Accompanied by a black-and-white music video featuring young women and children dancing ballet, it carries the same tenderness and warmth that define Olivia’s voice.

“Close Up” emerges as one of the album’s true standouts. It opens with haunting piano chords, like something you might hear in a dimly lit jazz bar, before the drums kick in and make you sway instinctively. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what makes the song so captivating. Perhaps it’s the vulnerability in the pre-chorus, where Olivia asks, “How can you get close to someone you keep out of reach?”, or the understated ache in her delivery of, “’Cause you don’t make it easy, now I’m all close up.” Whatever the reason, the result is quietly mesmerizing.

“So Easy (To Fall in Love)” brings modern jazz sensibilities to the forefront, all smooth, elegant, and effortlessly romantic. But it’s “Let Alone The One You Love” that truly anchors the record. It’s one of those rare songs that remind you why we fall in love with music in the first place. You might blast it on a Saturday night or return to it months later just to feel that spark again. The way the piano complements Olivia’s vulnerable delivery is simply fascinating. Positioned midway through the album, it feels intentional and deeply effective. By this point, we’ve come to understand Olivia, her perspective, emotional range, and what she’s trying to communicate through this record. It’s a beautiful and well-earned climax.

“Man I Need” initially didn’t resonate with me, perhaps because it had already gone viral on TikTok. Admittedly, I find most TikTok trends exhausting. But hearing it in the context of the full album changed my mind. The momentum Olivia is building through social media is undeniable, yet the real story lies in the strength of the music itself. The production and visuals are refined, the kind of polish that comes when an artist and their team fully believe in her potential. Olivia might very well win a BRIT for this track.

“Loud” feels cinematic, a powerhouse that makes it easy to imagine Olivia recording a James Bond theme one day. Its opening guitar carries a faint familiarity reminiscent of “The Boy Is Mine,” while the song’s overall storytelling evokes “Skyfall.” It’s hard to listen without picturing a movie title sequence. Olivia is bringing the Bond theme home again!

“Baby Steps” stands out as a masterclass in subtle songwriting — from the resonating lyrics like “now there’s no one to text when the plane lands,” and “if I'm out on Friday night, it'll be me turnin' on them lights,” to the rhythmic repetition in the chorus “ba-ba-ba-baby steps.” Before the album concludes, “A Couple of Minutes” ties everything together in a gentle reflection that captures the record’s essence. “Love is never wasted,” Olivia sings. And after listening to The Art of Loving, it’s hard not to believe her.

Overall, the album is beautifully produced and thoughtfully delivered. It could have benefited from a slightly longer runtime, as a few moments feel familiar, yet the upbeat tracks in particular carry an undeniable spark. There is something here for everyone, with songs for those chasing summer bops and others for those seeking sincerity—the kind of heartfelt music that has been missing from our ears for quite some time.