Olivia Dean admits her biggest hit ‘Man I Need’ nearly wasn’t a single

Olivia Dean's rise to fame with "Man I Need" was quite surprising.

While chatting on UK's Hits Radio, the artist explained that her popular song "Man I Need" "wasn't supposed to release as a single."

“I wasn't too sure about it. It felt a bit different," said Dean, 27.

"But as we played it during rehearsals, some band members thought, 'This one's not bad.' Then I thought, 'You know what, maybe it is,'" she added.

The host then wondered if she sensed it was a "hit" after leaving the studio.

"It wasn't like that. I knew I loved it, but wasn't sure if it reflected the whole album's story," she stated. "But I am pleased I stuck with it. There are many songs that didn't get on the album, but they might still find their place."

"Man I Need" was rolled out as a single prior to her album The Art of Loving, ultimately reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

During an episode of And The Writer Is... in October 2025, Dean shared that when they made the song, she told her team she wanted a tune to "dance to."

"We started with the drum beat, and I said, 'Yeah, let's make something like Michael [Jackson], with vibes of 'The Way You Make Me Feel,'" she recalled. "I just remember driving to and from the studio all weekend, playing it over and over, and thinking, 'Alright, if I can enjoy it repeatedly, maybe others will too."

This February, Dean was awarded Best New Artist at the 2026 Grammys. Her acceptance speech was deeply heartfelt.

"I never believed I'd be up here, let alone be nominated. Thank you so very much. I must say that an artist is nothing without their team. Emily, my dearest friend, my manager, we've been at it for a decade," she expressed. "So this is yours too, my family."

The "So Easy" performer further stated, "I want to say I'm up here as the granddaughter of an immigrant. I wouldn't be standing here without their courage, and I feel they deserve recognition. We are nothing without each other. Thank you immensely."