Olivia Dean on Learning to Embrace Her Own Messy Self With Her Debut Album
Life tends to get a lot easier once we accept and embrace that it can get a bit messy, and English soul-pop singer-songwriter Olivia Dean knows this very well.
Last week, she released her highly anticipated debut album Messy, detailing her own journey of self-acceptance, navigating love and independence as well as accepting the state of the world around her across 12 genre-bending tracks. Her irresistible and poignant vocals would stand out in any crowd—including the crowded U.K. pop scene—while weaving stories that are at once vulnerable, witty and real. We also had the honor of speaking with Olivia to dive even deeper into the album with her, and she answered all of our most burning questions in the interview below.
Sweety High: What does the album name Messy mean to you? Why did that title track feel like the perfect summation of this group of songs?
Olivia Dean: The word "messy" is often used in a negative way. I wanted to flip it on its head and start owning my messiness. Complexity is the spice of life, and I want everyone to stop pretending like they have everything together all the time. I was so obsessed with perfection when it came to making music that it was holding me back from finishing anything. To me, Messy means acceptance of our human-ness.
SH: What do you feel are the overarching themes of the album? What kind of feel do you hope fans take away from it?
OD: The album explores themes of learning to fall in love again, the fear that comes with it and finding independence within that still. It's about being grateful for where you came from. I hope it is warm and comforting, intimate and relatable. I hope it is something people want to come back to 🙂
(Photo credit: PETRO)
SH: How would you describe the album's sound? Production-wise, how did you go about bringing these tracks to life?
OD: I decided not to tie myself too strongly to one genre with this album. As a music lover, I have quite an eclectic taste, and there are no rules! There are tracks like "Dive" and "The Hardest Part" that have a Motown feeling, "Danger" and "Messy" explore qualities of bossa nova and "I Could Be a Florist" and "Everybody's Crazy" feel like more classic ballads. It was really important to have as much live instrumentation on the album as possible. I wanted it to feel human and alive.
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SH: How do you feel that these songs represent where you all are in life right now?
OD: I think these songs will always be a snapshot of me during my early 20s. They remind me to embrace imperfection not just in myself but in the world around me.
(Photo credit: PETRO)
SH: What's your favorite song on the album? Why?
OD: I think it would have to be the title track, "Messy." But it changes every day. Production-wise, I've wanted to make a track like this for a while. I listen to a lot of psychedelic folk/indie, so it felt awesome to incorporate that into my sound. I wrote that song as a hug to myself, so whenever I sing it, I feel very warm.
SH: Was there anything that surprised you about the process of recording and putting together your debut album?
OD: Once all the songs were chosen, the recording process and getting all the songs finished was actually quite easy and straightforward. I trusted my intuition and the musicians we were working with and didn't overthink it too much.
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SH: How are you feeling about releasing this debut album to the world?
OD: I'm feeling proud and really trying to be present and enjoy the feeling of completing something and sharing it with the world. You can't please everyone! But as long I'm happy with the music and it feels real and authentic, that's all that matters 🙂
(Photo credit: PETRO)
SH: Is there anything else you'd like to add?
OD: Tell your friends you love them and allow yourself to be Messy, okay! I'm on your side!
For more insights into our favorite new music, click HERE to read our interview with Lyn Lapid on her latest EP, to love in the 21st century.