There are certain cities that have a knack for raising and nurturing musical talent. Also, there are cities that are known for attracting musical talent. However, there are very few cities that can do both. Atlanta, Los Angeles, Toronto and New York fall into that category, so does London. Just this year, Def Pen has posted new projects from Avelino, ENNY, Santan Dave, Jorja Smith and several others. Some artists flock to London for its resources and others are born there. Either way, the city continues to produced dope new projects week after week. This week, rising singer, songwriter and all-around creative Olivia Dean takes center stage.
Earlier this year, Olivia Dean’s If You Know What I Mean arrived on Apple Music. In just four quick tracks, her light, yet captivating voice drove listeners to nearly break the replay button after hearing tracks like “The Hardest Part” and “Reason To Stay.” In an era of captivating vocalists and songwriters like Snoh Aalegra and Lucky Daye, simply standing out and capturing an audience is tough. Yet, Olivia Dean has accomplished just that. She’s vulnerable, relatable and above all else, she can sing. Therefore, when she releases a new EP like Growth with songs like “Float” and “Be My Own Boyfriend,” it’s impossible not to press play.
