Eddie Burns: The Producer Behind Clairo and Frank Ocean Who’s Reportedly Dating Olivia Dean
A Grammy-nominated singer and a Chicago drummer have been spotted out and about since July 2025. The singer — Olivia Dean — you probably know. The drummer, Eddie Burns, you should.
Burns is a music producer whose collaborative résumé already includes Clairo, Frank Ocean, Dominic Fike and Omar Apollo. The sightings with Dean have pulled him into a different kind of spotlight, but his work has been building toward broader recognition for years.
The First Spotting
Dean and Burns were seen arriving together at Wimbledon in July 2025 holding hands, sparking speculation about a romantic relationship. They were later seen in March 2026 together as they stepped out during Fashion Week in Paris, France. Neither has confirmed anything.
When asked in an October 2025 interview with Glamour whether she was seeing anyone, Dean replied, “I’d rather not comment.” She offered a window into her broader thinking about privacy and art: “I’m always talking about my own life. But I really want people to think about themselves when they’re listening to [my music too].”
She shares the raw material of her experiences through songwriting but draws a hard line at narrating her private life for tabloid consumption.
Who Is Eddie Burns?
Burns started playing drums at age 6. According to an interview with The Daily Northwestern published in March 2025, his father is a classical trumpet player who influenced his early interest in music.
His roots in Chicago’s creative ecosystem run deep. “In Chicago, we do it because we love it, and it’s a place that is an agent for creativity,” Burns told the outlet.
The collaboration with Clairo dates back to 2018. Burns produced her song 4EVER and performed with her when she opened for Khalid at the United Center — the massive arena home to the Bulls and Blackhawks. That venue held particular weight for Burns, who’d once weighed a different path entirely.
“I accepted, in that moment, I would never make it to the league,” Burns told The Daily Northwestern, referencing his decision to pursue music over basketball. “But then we played (at) the United Center and I was like, ‘Maybe, in a way, I did make it to the league.’”
He later served as drummer during Clairo’s Charm Tour, cementing his reputation as a go-to collaborator for artists building textured, emotionally resonant live shows.
Before the Burns sighting, Dean had been linked to Harry Styles after the two were seen spending time together multiple times in fall 2024. Neither Dean nor Styles confirmed a relationship. Styles is now believed to be dating actress Zoë Kravitz.
Dean also discussed her approach to dating more broadly in a Nylon interview, saying she no longer uses dating apps. “I don’t love that it’s like, ‘You could have whoever you want.’ Just swipe, swipe, swipe. It all feels a bit too disposable.”
Her professional momentum, meanwhile, has been hard to miss. Dean performed on Saturday Night Live in November 2025 and won for Best New Artist at the 2026 Grammy Awards.
Production of this article included the use of AI. It was reviewed and edited by a team of content specialists.
