How Olivia Dean’s last Australia visit helped shape her new album ‘The Art Of Loving’
When Olivia Dean was last in Australia she discovered the energy she wanted to weave into her second album, The Art of Loving.
The joy and fun she felt while testing out music on festival stages in summer was exactly what she wanted to replicate in the studio.
“I think it was my last chunk of touring and live performance,” Olivia told Mornings’ Lucy Smith.
“I was about to just that that joy and and bring it into the studio and think about what audiences would like and like to dance to. I think [that] tour was like the perfect little send off into studio mode for me.”
After testing out a couple of tracks while on tour down under, Olivia knew she wanted to create an atmosphere of comfort in the studio to really feel at ease while recording.
Knowing that the only place she could genuinely connect with her deeper feelings and true warmth was in her own home, she brought her East London flat to the studio. Well, the essentials at least.
“We were able to rent this house for eight weeks and bring in my piano from my house,” Olivia said.
“I brought in photo frames, my mugs and my slippers. So those home comforts, but also the band that I toured with … it just felt very communal. A gathering of people in a moment in time.”
“I really felt like we captured a moment in time. It was just warm.”
So what does Olivia Dean want The Art of Loving to be for her fans? Her ultimate desire is for the record to be one we pull out when we need it most – when we need to be held, loved, and understood.
“Something that maybe you could return to in the future if you’re going through a break up or you’re falling in love the way that I returned to my favourite albums when I need them in my life,” she said.
“The whole way through the process, whenever I was saying ‘is this finished?’ I was like ‘Is it warm? Does this feel warm enough?’ and I think that was a really good reference word for me to help me complete the process.”
The Art of Loving is out now, and is our feature album this week on triple j.
