How Olivia Dean turned a bell hooks classic into a chart-topping musical phenomenon
In short: Olivia Dean’s second studio album, The Art of Loving, became an international sensation by blending pop and R&B with neo-soul and jazz influences. Inspired by the writings of bell hooks, the record’s creation in a converted East London house resulted in a critically acclaimed, diaristic exploration of modern romance.
Released on 26 September 2025, The Art of Loving marked a significant evolution for British singer-songwriter Olivia Dean. Following her 2023 debut, Messy, Dean spent eight weeks in early 2025 transforming a grand East London house into a live-work studio. The project was deeply personal, with Dean aiming to reflect on her life over the preceding two years. She drew thematic inspiration from bell hooks’ writings and an art exhibition by Mickalene Thomas, viewing the act of singing about love as a vulnerable, healing gesture.
The twelve-track album incorporates a diverse sonic palette, including bossa nova, Motown, and soft rock elements. Critics praised the record for its maturity and authenticity, with review aggregators like Metacritic assigning it a score of 84 out of 100. While some reviewers noted a reliance on retro pastiche, the consensus highlighted Dean's versatile, warm vocals and diaristic lyrics as the album's core strengths. The project also saw commercial success, earning a Brit Award for British Album of the Year and achieving double platinum status in the UK.
The album’s performance was historic, particularly in the UK and Australia. In the UK, Dean became the first British solo female artist since 2021 to simultaneously top the albums and singles charts. In New Zealand, she surpassed a 50-year-old record previously held by ABBA for the most weeks at number one for both an album and a related single. Despite this success, the project has faced legal scrutiny, with a lawsuit filed in October 2026 alleging that the track 'I've Seen It' copied a 1981 single by Grover Washington Jr. and Bill Withers.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: The Art of Loving (album)
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