Olivia Dean — Sofar Sounds, London, 2020

This live performance was recorded on 10 August 2020 for Sofar Sounds in London, the intimate concert series known for its unusual venues and its quiet, attentive audiences. The live set showcases Olivia Dean, a British singer born in London and a rising figure in a pop style shaded with soul and R&B, marked by personal songwriting and a warm voice. In 2020 the artist was still early in her career, several years before the recognition brought by her first albums and her Mercury Prize nomination. The stripped-back, acoustic Sofar format suits her repertoire particularly well: songs carried by their lyrics, by the nuances of interpretation and by a direct closeness to the listener. Filmed in the characteristic conditions of the London brand, this session offers a glimpse of the emerging British pop-soul scene of the time and of the developmental work of a young singer-songwriter. The exact setlist of this recording is not reliably documented, but the performance reflects the stage presence and vocal sensitivity that have since earned Olivia Dean her reputation with audiences and critics alike.