Everything to know before Olivia Dean takes over Mumbai (and your heart)

If there is one thing you need to know about me before we talk about Olivia Dean, it is this: I might be her biggest fan. My work desk currently has a giant poster of her staring back at me, so when I say Olivia Dean coming to Mumbai is a very big deal, I mean very big deal. You might know her from 'Man I Need', but for me, Olivia Dean is pure happiness, the queen of good vibes, dreamy outfits, flowy silhouettes, ruffles and, quite possibly, the best curly-girl energy in pop. And now, finally, I get to see her perform live.

Dean has the rare ability to change the mood of a room simply by pressing play. Her music sits somewhere between soul, R&B, jazz, Motown, funk, and pop, with a warmth that makes even an ordinary Tuesday feel like golden hour. It is the music you put on while getting ready with your friends, cooking dinner with someone you love, or dramatically staring out of a train window. Live, that warmth becomes something else entirely: expect to arrive ready to listen and leave wanting to dance.

Then there are the clothes. Dean’s style is almost an extension of her music, romantic, playful, glamorous, and wonderfully unfussy. Her stylist, Simone Beyene, has helped shape a wardrobe of long dresses, ruffles, fluid silhouettes, and vintage-inspired clothes that feels dreamy without ever looking overly constructed. She doesn’t just wear clothes; she looks like she is having fun in them. There is a reason watching her can instantly lift your mood.

But behind the good vibes is an artist with plenty to say. The Art of Loving had the biggest opening week for a British female artist since Adele’s 30 in 2021, and made Dean the first female solo artist to have four singles in the UK Top 10 simultaneously. She subsequently won the Grammy for Best New Artist and took home four BRIT Awards, cementing what her fans already knew: this is an artist having a very big moment.

What makes her music feel so intimate, however, is that Dean doesn’t really do fiction. She has spoken about writing only about things she has actually lived through, treating her songs almost like diary entries she can revisit years later. After renting a house in East London, bringing in her piano and inviting collaborators into the space, she created The Art of Loving in an environment designed to feel warm, personal and authentic.

That honesty runs through everything from Dive, about allowing yourself to become vulnerable in love, to 'Man I Need', a glorious reminder to know your worth, and 'Nice To Each Other', which explores staying open while holding on to your independence.

So, before Olivia Dean takes the stage in Mumbai, know this: you are not just going to see someone sing 'Man I Need'. You are stepping into her world, a little romantic, a little soulful, extremely stylish and very, very joyful. And if my giant poster is anything to go by, I will be having the time of my life.

Image credits: Getty Images 

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