After a gloomy period, 2025 is looking to be something of a golden year for U.K. and Irish artists: Central Cee’s debut Can’t Rush Greatness achieved U.K. rap’s highest-ever placement on the Billboard 200; Lola Young saw “Messy” become a global smash; and Wet Leg, Fontaines D.C. and Sam Fender all levelled up for their largest-ever live shows.
Olivia Dean is fast becoming the leader of the pack. The London-born musician, who melds pop with a soulful influence, is currently working her way up the Hot 100 with “Man I Need,” (No. 30) the second single from her sophomore LP, The Art of Loving. A U.K. arena tour for spring 2026 is completely sold out, including four dates at London’s 20,000-capacity O2 Arena. A clean sweep at the 2026 BRIT Awards feels somewhat inevitable.
Her story will be a reassuring one for the British industry having hit familiar benchmarks: she attended the BRIT School (famed for producing Adele and Amy Winehouse), and won a devoted audience with Mercury Prize-nominated debut LP, 2023’s Messy. She’s also toured far and wide, including well-earned slots at Glastonbury and, more recently, with collaborator Sam Fender.
But it’s Dean’s talent and personality that shines. Her vocals are perfectly balanced – never overpowering, but unmistakably memorable. She writes succinctly and powerfully on love and relationships, side-stepping clichés and favoring specificity in her songs. The Art of Loving is full of both, a record that looks set to elevate her from rising prospect to a true superstar.
These are the 12 songs from The Art of Loving ranked in order of greatness.
