Messy

The first time Olivia Dean embarked on creating a full album, her intention was to capture that feeling of "imperfection" that accompanies the early years of adulthood. The project, initially titled Between Islands, a nod to her British and Caribbean roots, mutated during the recording process. The final title, Messy, emerged to more faithfully capture the chaotic and sincere essence of the compositions that were being born. This debut album, released on June 30, 2023, under the EMI Records label, soon found its place. Messy climbed to fourth place on the UK Albums Chart and received recognition from the British Phonographic Industry with a silver disc.

Furthermore, in 2023, Dean's work was considered for the prestigious Mercury Prize. The musical ideas for this project were contributed by Andrew Sarlo, Matthew Hales, and Olivia Dean herself.