It’s not every day that one knows their life’s calling before they’ve finished primary school. Olivia Dean, the latest burgeoning artist fronting DHL’s FAST-TRACK program, is one of the lucky few. Dean has been fascinated by music for as long as she can remember. “I think at age eight, I was like, ‘I really want to do music properly, forever.’ I remember feeling really strongly about that,” she recalls.

The London-born vocalist began penning her own songs at 16 years old while studying musical theater at the prestigious BRIT School. It was there that Dean became enamored with powerhouse performers like Aretha Franklin, The Supremes, and “not everything, but most things” from the ‘70s, curating eclectic playlists that would become the foundation of her soulful sound.

Now, charting a path of her own in the realm of pop-soul through unwavering authenticity and unapologetic vulnerability, Dean has commanded the attention of music’s masses, garnering coveted laurels including Amazon Breakthrough Artist Of The Year and BBC Music Introducing Artist of the Year. Most recently, her 2023 debut album, Messy, was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize and scored three Brit Awards nominations. For the 24-year-old, making this record was a way to celebrate the beauty in life’s messiness.“It's an album about flipping the idea of messiness on its head, from being this negative word to this positive thing,” she explains. “It was about accepting life's complexities and imperfections and sharing them with others.”

Ahead of her sold-out tour in Europe, DHL’s FAST-TRACK program whisked the musician away to Brazil. No stranger to the electrifying energy of Rio, Dean was reunited with friends and the students at Vivendo Um Sonho Surf (VUSS) — a local surf school in Rocinha — which she discovered while visiting the city last year.  This time around, she had the chance to join in on the fun and hang out on the beach with the students. "They're just really cool kids. They're all so friendly and kind to each other and clearly have such a love for being at the beach,” the pop-soul phenom shared.

DHL, DHL

Bonded by their mutual affinity for the Brazilian surf community, DHL and Dean also joined forces to donate much-needed equipment to VUSS, ensuring the school is able to continue making waves with the youth of Rocinha. But this wasn’t the only treat the dynamic duo had in store for Rio. 

Delivering an intimate performance courtesy of DHL, the rising star took center stage at the iconic Fundição Progresso venue in the city’s flourishing music district. Though unexpected rain threatened to put a damper on her performance, fans braved the downpour to hear beloved tracks, including the uplifting masterpiece “Dive.” The experience has already gone down as one of the Dean’s favorite live performances. “It was packed out, and from the first note, the crowd was singing along to every word, so loudly and unapologetically. It couldn't have been a more warm room. I feel very lucky that I got to have that experience.”

Much like the DHL FAST-TRACK artists who came before her—including Zoe Wees, easy life, and Jax Jones—Dean is sure to rocket to even greater heights as she continues to hone her craft. Besides an upcoming tour, the songwriter will be performing at Coachella and is already hard at work on new music. While she couldn’t give too much away, she teases that she’s exploring new sounds, inspirations, and places to create something truly original.

Discover more from DHL's FAST-TRACK program here.