Olivia Dean, born March 14, 1999, in Haringey, North London, England, to an English father and Jamaican-Guyanese mother, began her music career at age 16 by self-teaching guitar and piano. She gained initial experience as a backing vocalist for Rudimental at 17 and released her debut single 'Reason to Stay' in 2018, followed by the EP OK Love You Bye after signing with AMF Records and Virgin EMI. Her style blends soul, pop, jazz, and R&B, often exploring themes of love and heartbreak. Her debut album Messy (2023) reached number four on the UK albums chart, earned a Mercury Prize nomination, and featured the hit 'Dive'. Dean's second album, The Art of Loving (2025), includes popular tracks 'Man I Need' and 'So Easy (to Fall in Love)'. She has received nominations such as Best R&B/Soul Video at the UK Music Video Awards. Known for her engaging live performances, including the 2021 EP Live at the Jazz Cafe which highlights her personality through spoken interludes, Dean has toured extensively, from COVID-era van shows to international festivals.