British songbird Olivia Dean has experienced an extraordinary year, marked by significant milestones and impactful advocacy. Following her win for Best New Artist at the Grammy Awards in February, and her successful efforts to push back against Ticketmaster regarding resale price caps for her inaugural North American arena tour, the London-bred singer has much to reflect upon.

Dean shared her thoughts and experiences in a cover story for ELLE magazine’s Women in Music issue. The star, known for her hit “Nice to Each Other,” mused on her momentous Grammy night and her ascent on global charts with her breakthrough Billboard Pop Airplay No. 1 smash, “Man I Need.” Less than a week after receiving the prestigious award, Dean expressed her disbelief to the magazine, stating, “My heart is extremely full in a way that is kind of hard to even describe. I did not think that was going to happen. I can’t lie to you. I’ve never won an award for music before.” This accolade represents the highest honor she has received for her critically acclaimed sophomore album, The Art of Loving.

The Grammy win was particularly surreal for Dean, given the highly competitive roster of nominees, which included Addison Rae, Alex Warren, KATSEYE, Leon Thomas, Lola Young, sombr, and The Marías. Adding to the profound moment was her vantage point during the show, where she witnessed Lauryn Hill participate in an all-star tribute to D’Angelo. Dean revealed the deep personal connection, noting that Hill won Best New Artist the year Dean was born, 1999, and that Dean’s middle name is Lauryn, a tribute to the Fugees legend. She described the experience as “all the most serendipitous full-circle moment. I was just at home in London a couple of weeks ago on my sofa. Then suddenly I’m holding a Grammy, and Queen Latifah’s looking at me.”

Despite having a supportive network of friends and family to keep her grounded, Dean emphasized the importance of not allowing external opinions to dictate her self-perception. In a bold move following her Grammy win, she deleted all her social media apps. “I’ve been thinking about doing it for a while,” she explained. “Even though the love has been overwhelming, even that is not healthy sometimes. I don’t think you’re supposed to know everyone’s opinion about you. And I’ve decided I want to live in sweet ignorance.”

Achieving a hard-won crossover in the U.S., a dream for many British artists, Dean remains committed to ensuring her fans can join her journey. When tickets for her debut North American arena tour sold out rapidly, leaving many loyal fans unable to secure seats due to scalpers, she took decisive action. Dean demanded that Ticketmaster issue refunds to fans who were overcharged by resellers and implement price caps for future sales. She passionately stated, “There is no way that I’m going to get up on that stage and sing my heart out while somebody sits at home and makes $500 or $600 off of me and you. I want people to be able to afford to come to the show. I don’t think you need to be someone who’s got loads of money to enjoy your favorite album. Full stop.”

During an AMA lightning round with ELLE, Dean shared insights into her artistry, stating that “Nice To Each Other” best represents her as an artist, portraying her as “fun, flirty and cheeky,” with an overarching message of joy and positivity. Her earliest music memory dates back to the 1995 Disney film Pocahontas, specifically the ballad “Colors of the Wind,” which she would watch repeatedly until her family grew tired of it. Recalling the moment “Man I Need” topped the Pop Airplay chart in the U.S., Dean recounted being at an airport about to embark on Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet Tour, enjoying a pint and making a small toast to celebrate the milestone. Like many music aficionados, she named Stevie Wonder as her dream collaborator.

Olivia Dean’s The Art of Loving North American tour is set to commence on July 10 at the Chase Center in San Francisco.