Olivia Dean Secures Grammy for Best New Artist

British singer Olivia Dean has solidified her position as one of pop music's most notable breakout stars by winning the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in Los Angeles on Sunday.

Dean entered the ceremony as the leading contender, propelled by her joyful and soulful romantic pop tracks such as "Man I Need" and "So Easy (To Fall In Love)," which achieved transatlantic success last year.

Despite facing competition from fellow British artist Lola Young and R&B musician Leon Thoma, Dean emerged victorious, becoming the first British artist to win Best New Artist since Dua Lipa in 2019.

"I'm up here as a grand-daughter of an immigrant," she remarked during her acceptance speech. "I'm a product of bravery and I think those people ought to be celebrated."

"We're nothing without each other," she added.

Dean also delivered an energetic performance of her UK chart-topping single "Man I Need," which was previously named BBC Radio 1's biggest song of 2025.

Her golden gramophone trophy distinguishes her as one of pop's most promising new talents, joining a prestigious list of past Best New Artist winners including Amy Winehouse, Billie Eilish, Adele, and Olivia Rodrigo.

She received her award from last year's winner, pop star Chappell Roan.

A Journey of Musical Evolution

This achievement represents the culmination of a gradual rise that began with Dean's debut EP, OK Love You Bye, released in 2019.

Since then, she has explored various genres and sounds before embracing the soft, jazz-inflected tones of her second album, The Art of Loving.

Born and raised in Highams Park, north-east London, Dean aspired to be a singer from an early age.

While she observed her cousin, So Solid Crew rapper and actor Ashley Walters, achieve chart success, it was another London artist who truly inspired her.

"People always try and say something cool when they talk about their first record - but I remember my Granny taking me to Woolworths to buy Leona Lewis's A Moment Like This on CD single," she told two years ago.

Her debut album, Messy, was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize; however, it was last year's The Art of Loving that significantly elevated her profile.

The album, an intimate exploration of love and relationships, reached number one on the UK album charts and produced three simultaneous Top 10 singles.

The entire record was written and recorded in a rented house in East London, where Dean chose to work without high-profile writers, inviting her closest collaborators to spend two weeks mixing sessions alongside late-night conversations over good food and "lots of red wine."

This relaxed and spontaneous approach permeates the album, which conveys stories of love and loss with an informal, confiding tone, akin to a close friend sharing secrets.

Breakout Single and Creative Process

"Man I Need" became Dean's breakthrough single in the United States, reaching number two on the Billboard charts. Speaking on the podcast …And The Writer Is, she revealed the song's inspirations.

"I came in that day and there was a lot of energy in the room," she recalled. "And I was like, 'Guys, let's make something really fun. I want to make something I can dance to. I want to make something that when I perform live, it's just gonna be like a Tangfastic.'"

"We started with the drum beat and I was like, 'Yeah, I want to do something kind of like Michael [Jackson]'s The Way You Make Me Feel-esque.'"

"And I sat at the Wurly [a Wurlitzer electric piano] and we kind of just, like, wrote it."

Her music's distinctiveness extends beyond the sound.

Early in her career, Dean resisted being categorized solely as an R&B artist, noting that her music spans genres including pop, alternative, folk, and throwback soul.

"I have sometimes felt quite boxed in, like I have to make 'urban' music," she stated, "but I feel like I can do anything."

Advocacy for Fans and Industry Impact

Last year, Dean attracted attention for demanding and securing refunds for fans who purchased resale tickets for her US tour through Ticketmaster.

She penned an open letter to ticketing companies after some tickets were resold at prices exceeding 14 times their original face value, with some listings surpassing $1,000 (£750).

Dean described the practice as "disgusting" and "vile," prompting Ticketmaster to implement a price cap on resale tickets and offer refunds to fans "for any markup they already paid" on its platform.

Her willingness to advocate for her fans earned her widespread praise within the music industry, including from Sir Elton John, w...