Breakthrough pop-soul artist Olivia Dean is up for three gongs at the March ceremony

By Marco Marcelline

A break-out soul singer who grew up in Highams Park has been nominated for three Brit Awards.

Olivia Dean, who released her debut album Messy in June 2023, was nominated for three awards at the Brits: Artist of the Year, Best New Artist, and Pop Act.

The Highams Park singer is nominated alongside bigwigs such as Dua Lipa, Little Simz, Dave, Charli XCX, and Calvin Harris. The awards show takes place at the O2 Arena on 2nd March.

A self-taught singer songwriter and guitarist who has been performing since the age of eight, Olivia grew up locally with her mum, dad, and younger brother.

After going to primary school in Highams Park, Olivia attended the prestigious Brit School, whose alumni counts Amy Winehouse, Adele, and FKA Twigs.

As a teenager Olivia busked across London and made it through to the final of the country’s biggest street music competition.

Speaking to The Face on her upbringing, Olivia said: “I was born in Tottenham and raised in Highams Park, but I usually just say Walthamstow because people don’t know where that is. It’s on the cusp of Essex, basically. I’m an East London girl through and through.”

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In an interview with Time Out, Olivia described Highams Park as being “like a village”, with “one primary school, two pubs, and a big Tesco”.

Messy, a pop and neo-soul record, was well-received by critics and the public alike, reaching number four in the UK charts on its release and being nominated for a Mercury Award.

Reacting to the nomination news on Instagram, Olivia wrote: “As if! 3 Brits nominations, life is unbelievable.”

The 24-year-old is set to go on a UK and Europe tour in April and May this year, including three back-to-back dates at the Hammersmith Eventim Apollo. All dates bar two, in Cologne and Berlin, are sold out.

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