British singer-songwriter Olivia Dean made her Saturday Night Live debut on November 15, performing 'Man I Need' and 'Let Alone the One You Love' from her sophomore album The Art of Loving. The 26-year-old artist, recently nominated for Best New Artist at the 2026 Grammys, delivered energetic sets alongside host Glen Powell. Her performance highlights her rising U.S. momentum, with the album reaching No. 6 on the Billboard 200.
Performance Highlights
Olivia Dean opened her SNL set with 'Man I Need,' dressed in a sparkly gold gown and backed by a full band. The track, a top 5 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, explores themes of deserving love and confidence. "It’s about knowing how you deserve to be loved and not being afraid to ask for it," Dean said in a statement upon its release. "It’s forward, sexy, fun! It’s made for dancing!" She co-wrote the song with Zach Nahome and Tobias Jesso Jr., the 2023 Grammy winner for Songwriter of the Year, who is nominated again in 2026.
For her second performance, Dean shifted to the mesmeric 'Let Alone the One You Love,' the sixth track on the album, wearing a flowing pink gown against a matching backdrop. The album was created in a East London house studio, where Dean aimed to capture warmth: "We made most of this album in a studio we built in a house in East London," she shared on Instagram. "For 8 weeks we lived in the house of loving! I brought my piano from home and all my favourite people and tried to create things that felt like warmth. Here you have a piece of my heart!"
Album and Career Context
The Art of Loving, released in September, marks Dean's follow-up to her 2023 debut Messy and has earned praise for its soul-pop grooves. Rolling Stone critic Larisha Paul noted, "Dean’s star power is radiant and fueled by more than just charisma. She grooves in perfect time with an expertly assembled band, navigating through blaring trumpets, trombones, and saxophones with a delicate attention to detail and synchronicity."
Dean, a BRIT School alum, has built U.S. crossover appeal, holding four Billboard Hot 100 entries. She recently opened for Sabrina Carpenter's Short n' Sweet tour and Sam Fender's People Watching tour, collaborating with Fender on 'Rein Me In.' Reflecting on her style, Dean told Billboard, "I’ve never been somebody who has followed trends or made music because of what else was popular at the time. I like old music, I like soul music, I like Motown. That’s what I wanted to make, and in my mind, I’m in my own lane in that way."
Upcoming Tour
Dean announced her 14-city The Art of Loving Tour for summer 2026, starting July 10 in San Francisco and concluding August 28 in Austin. Stops include Los Angeles, New York City's Madison Square Garden, Atlanta, Toronto, Las Vegas, Boston, and Houston.