If you aren’t already familiar with singer Olivia Dean, you’re about to be. Since the summer, the British-born darling has been lighting up the music and fashion scenes with catchy singles and captivating stage looks, and this fall she’ll be opening for Sabrina Carpenter in Pittsburgh, New York, and Nashville.
Today, the singer releases her second studio album, The Art of Loving, on which the 26-year-old pop star dives deeper into the world of love. The first single, “Nice to Each Other,” was an instant hit with Gen Z, who was both electrified by her (possible) allusions to a certain superstar ex-lover and empowered by the vulnerability of her lyrics.
In a conversation with Vogue, Dean talks about her inspirations, her favorite looks from tour, and what she plans on doing the second she gets a chance to go on holiday.
Vogue: The Art of Loving is your second studio album, and you’ve said it’s lighter and more fun than your debut album, Messy. Can you describe how your headspace changed from one album to the next?
Olivia Dean: I think generally, as a person, I’m more centered and in touch with myself than I was two years ago. This album, I would like to think, has an emotional maturity that I’ve really been working on developing in myself. I would never claim to know it all. I’m not saying I know everything about love, guys. I’m trying to work on myself and learn and be a better person, and I think that was all through writing these songs. So yeah, I think I’m just older—and hopefully a little bit wiser.