Olivia Dean needs him to be the man she needs. But the rest of us clearly need her in our playlists!

“Man I Need” is a song by English singer-songwriter Olivia Dean, released on August 2025, as the third single from her second studio album, The Art of Loving. The track was written by Dean, Tobias Jesso Jr., and Zach Nahome. Nahome is the sole producer of the track. Unrelated to his work with Olivia, Jesso was the first ever winner of Songwriter of the Year at the 2023 Grammy Awards.

Stop Making Me Read Between the Lines

The lyrical composition is refreshing. There is a striking confidence that doesn’t spill over to arrogance. There is openness and vulnerability without a hint of desperation. Nothing about the song is overdramatic. There is little embellishment. She preaches about the love she deserves and she isn’t afraid to speak on it.

I love my poetry. I don’t judge vulgarity. But there is also beauty in clarity. And with this record, Olivia capitalised on just that and made art.

I’d Like to Think You Feel the Same Way

Am I the only one whose spirits are lifted when listening to her voice? Based on the song, she doesn’t have everything figured out. Yet, she commands a powers that will get her through the ordeal. There is no sense of aggression. There’s simply a radiance and a glow, the kind I have not heard in music since listening to Des’ree or Corrine Bailey Rae. And that energy is just infectious and I just want that all over me.

It’s Like a Type of Alchemy

Her opening lines of “Talk to me, talk to me” could easily be mixed with a gospel record. The laid back, jazz vibe is amplified by the piano and subtle horn accents used in the instrumentation. Her soulful and sensual vocal performance brings the rhythm and blues. And I never thought I’d appreciate a bossa nova reference but here we are. The elements worked together to make this record a future classic.

Conclusion

Breaking out for new artists is getting more difficult nowadays. And the way up and coming musicians stick to a formula is not surprising but also doesn’t pay off as well. And with the risk Olivia Dean has taken, she’s being rewarded. People need a breath of fresh air and she’s given us that.