Who Is Eddie Burns? The Producer Behind Clairo and Frank Ocean Is Reportedly Dating Olivia Dean
When Olivia Dean and Eddie Burns were seen holding hands at Wimbledon in July 2025, most of the attention landed on Dean — the Grammy-winning singer who performed on Saturday Night Live just months earlier. But Burns, a Chicago-based drummer and producer with credits alongside Clairo, Frank Ocean, Dominic Fike, and Omar Apollo, has been building a quietly formidable career of his own. Here’s what the public record tells us about both of them.
Their First Sighting
Dean and Burns were seen arriving together at The Championships, Wimbledon holding hands, which sparked speculation about a romantic relationship. They were later seen in March 2026 together as they stepped out during Fashion Week in Paris, France. Neither person has confirmed anything.
Dean, when asked in an October 2025 interview with Glamour whether she was seeing anyone, replied, “I’d rather not comment.” She offered a window into how she thinks about privacy and her 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 songs but draws a hard line at narrating her private life for tabloid consumption.
Eddie Burns’ Music Career
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 that same interview, Burns described how the city shaped him: “In Chicago, we do it because we love it, and it’s a place that is an agent for creativity.”
His 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 — Chicago’s massive arena, home to the Bulls and Blackhawks. That venue carried particular weight for Burns, who reflected on a personal crossroads between sports and music.
“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 a drummer during Clairo’s Charm Tour, further cementing his reputation as a go-to collaborator for artists building textured, emotionally resonant live shows.
Before Burns, 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 a Grammy for Best New Artist in February 2025.
Production of this article included the use of AI. It was reviewed and edited by a team of content specialists.
