While audiences were eagerly anticipating the man of her dreams, Olivia Dean gifted listeners with the anthem we didn’t know we needed.
In a candid conversation with Hits Radio on Tuesday (April 13), Dean reflected on her whirlwind success, the surreal experience of rubbing shoulders with her musical idols, and her highly anticipated tour. During the interview with host Marvin Humes, the 2026 Grammy Best New Artist revealed a surprising detail about her Billboard Hot 100 smash, “Man I Need”: the track, featured on her acclaimed album The Art of Loving, was never intended to be a single.
“I was hesitant about it,” Dean confessed regarding its initial potential. “It felt like a bit of a departure from my usual sound.”
The singer admitted that her perspective only shifted once she and her band began workshopping the song during rehearsals. When asked by Humes if she sensed the track was destined for chart-topping success upon leaving the studio, she remained humble. “I knew I loved it, but I wasn’t certain if it truly captured the essence of the entire album or the narrative I was building,” she explained. “Ultimately, I’m thrilled that I trusted my gut and moved forward with it.”
Though “Man I Need” eventually secured its place as a cornerstone of her current era, Dean noted that she left a treasure trove of other recordings on the cutting-room floor. For fans curious about the tracks that didn’t make the final cut of The Art of Loving, there may still be hope. “I might revisit them eventually,” she teased.
Her decision to push “Man I Need” as a single has proven to be a masterstroke. The song has enjoyed a stellar run, peaking at No. 2 and dominating the Top 10 for over 20 weeks. Furthermore, the track is cementing its place in history; it has simultaneously topped Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay, Pop Airplay, and Adult Pop Airplay charts. This achievement makes Dean the first female artist to sweep all three lists since Adele accomplished the feat with “Hello” in 2015-16.
You can catch the full interview with Olivia Dean below.
