Dive

The song Dive, by Olivia Dean, is one of those pieces that invite you to immerse yourself in the pure feeling of falling in love. Dean herself describes it as a very honest song, born from a moment in her life when, after a period of writing more melancholic music, she felt the need to capture something lighter. At that time, she was listening a lot to Diana Ross and The Supremes, immersed in the sound of Motown, and found herself falling in love, an experience that, she says, changed her perspective and made her feel happier. The song's production, with its references to that classic sound, along with elements of alt pop, neo soul, and contemporary R&B, was very well received. Its "vintage" sound has been highlighted, with horn arrangements, rhythms reminiscent of the 60s, and even a simulated vinyl crackle. A Baroque air has also been noted, with a slow tempo and piano touches, evoking Dilla's influence.

This track, released on March 28, 2023, is part of Olivia Dean's first studio album, titled Messy. The composition of Dive was handled by Dean herself, along with Bastian Langebaek and Max Wolfgang. The production involved the collaboration of Langebaek, Tre Jean-Marie, and Matt Hales. The music video, filmed in Hastings and directed by Candice Lo, seeks to reflect the duality of that feeling of letting go when falling in love, contrasting the freedom of running towards the beach with the potential claustrophobia of the city. Despite the recording day being windy, cold, and rainy, Dean found beauty in that English climatic reality, also enjoying the local hospitality. The album Messy, released on June 30, 2023, aimed to capture the "imperfection" of early adulthood, a concept that led to the change of the original title, Between Islands, to Messy, to better reflect the chaotic and sincere nature of the compositions.