Oliva Dean
“Man I Need”

Slide into cozy Sunday-morning vibes with Joe and Toby as they dive into Olivia Dean’s “Man I Need” from her new album The Art of Loving. They unpack why this track is exploding right now, trace the album’s inspirations (bell hooks’ All About Love and a Mickalene Thomas installation), and explore the record’s intentional warmth — “fearless joy” delivered with classic, less-is-more production and a spotlight on Dean’s voice.

In this episode:

• Why “Man I Need” became the pick—and what makes the whole album vinyl-worthy. • The art-as-antidote conversation: simplicity, authenticity, and choosing collaborators with purpose. • Lineage and influences: Whitney to Sade to Amy/Alicia echoes—without sounding retro-stuck. • Crafting in a “house of love”: eight weeks, a favorite piano, and a feel of warmth. • Healing and creative practice: nature, community, volunteering, and the “ten-things” reset list.

Tell us your top four tracks from The Art of Loving. Drop a comment and keep the conversation going.

Like this one? Joe and Toby speak at events — the same conversation, on a stage.