Words: Isabella Nixon

Photos: Paigge

‘What Am I Gonna Do On Sundays?’, asks LDN resident photographer Isabella Nixon. Watch English neo-soul singer Olivia Dean at her sold-out Hammersmith Apollo show, of course! As part of three heartfelt yet thrilling performances, Dean dishes out classy moves, powerful vocals, and genuine gratefulness for her fans. With a stage full of talented musicians, a large-lit mirror, and colourful lighting, this third and final performance was not one to miss.

Wearing one of three statement dresses she had for the London dates, Olivia took the stage, as the crowd loudly applauded in excitement. First on the setlist was ‘UFO’, in which the curtain gracefully lifted during the end of the first chorus. Notable songs included ‘Messy’, Olivia’s latest album’s title track, her 2020 hit single ‘What Am I Gonna Do On Sundays?’, and ‘Carmen’ from Messy, a powerful anthem dedicated to her grandmother.

“So, when I sang this song last night, I got quite emotional, so I’m going to try not to cry this time. This is a song about my Granny – she’s just a legend.

To give you context, so you know what I’m singing about, she came to this country (England) when she was eighteen – never been on a plane before, and decided to switch up her life. She moved to Peckham, had my mum, my mum had me.. people like this deserve to be celebrated, so this is for my Granny. This is Carmen”

Olivia’s title track of her new album, Messy.

‘I hope this song feels like a hug to you, because it feels like one to me’.

During the set, Olivia also announced that she’s currently making new music, before performing a new song titled ‘Touching Toes’, followed by another original later in the set, titled ‘Time’.

‘This song is a little doodle I’ve been working on’ – Olivia on Touching Toes.

‘ My life has changed so much recently – I’m so grateful, but also scared. This song, time, well, what to do with your time? What’s the right thing to do in your life? This song is about wanting to do the right thing’ – Olivia on unreleased song, ‘Time’.

After performing some of her hits, Olivia gracefully moved to the piano to perform a few more laid-back numbers, such as ‘Everybody’s Crazy’, ‘I Could Be A Florist’, and ‘Dangerously Easy’.

“This next tune is about anxiety – who here has anxiety? Yeah.. it’s a shitter. This song, ‘Everybody’s Crazy’ was written when I felt quite delusional. We all go tough times, so don’t beat yourself up when you’re having a bad day guys” – Olivia on ‘Everybody’s Crazy’.

I’ve been to many gigs in my life, but I’ve never been to a gig where the artist truly shares the journey of each song with their fanbase. As a new fan who doesn’t know every single song, I definitely left at the end with a detailed understanding of each song, wanting to listen more and more. It takes guts for artists to share their raw emotions and experiences with their fans, but Olivia does this effortlessly. She brought a sense of class alongside mesmerising vocal melismas and resilience. Olivia is definitely an artist to follow and keep up to date with.

Now, as Olivia would say… ‘OK Love you, bye!‘

Listen to Olivia Dean’s Messy below and catch the neo-soul singer for yourself this summer up and down the county including Love Supreme Jazz Festival this July.