Olivia Dean | The Art of Loving Review

by Darnell Jackson

If groove is how truth moves through time, Olivia Dean’s The Art of Loving is truth in steady motion. The record struts, sways, and shimmers, built on pocket-first production where every instrument builds the groove for Dean’s sensual singing.

The opener “Nice To Each Other” introduces Dean’s warm, playful tone with a laid-back shuffle that is half soft-rock, half R&B. The rhythm section plays like a unit with the bass answering drums, drums teasing back. “Lady Lady” expands that conversation with percussion layers that evoke the feel of a summer block party as Dean’s phrasing conjures joy tinged with reflection.

“So Easy (To Fall in Love)” radiates happiness through rhythmic clarity with the snare on 2 and 4, hi-hat patterns whispering sixteenths, and guitar adding sparkle on the off-beats. It’s the kind of groove that makes you grin because it simply feels good. Dean’s singing is flirtatious and alluring.

When “Let Alone the One You Love” drops into its 6/8 feel, the album stretches into blues-gospel fusion, think church tempo meets power-ballad hued with R&B. Dean rides the pocket with micro-timing precision, slightly behind the beat during verses and center-leaning in choruses, proof she understands groove as elasticity.

“Man I Need” delivers pure pop-R&B motion with tight snare, punchy bass, bright synth-stabs, and “Loud” flips dynamics entirely with acoustic guitar leading to a cinematic crescendo. Throughout, Dean trusts rhythm as narrative as she sings through her angelic range. Even when tempo slows, the pulse persists, reminding listeners that love’s heartbeat never really rests.