What happens when the northern charm of Sam Fender collides with the smooth soul of Olivia Dean? After getting a taste of it at Sam Fender’s stadium shows in the UK, we’ve now been blessed with a studio recording of their collaboration on ‘Rein Me In’ and this duet feels like eavesdropping on the aftermath of a heartbreak in real time. Originally a solo song from Fender’s People Watching album, this new version transforms the track into a conversational, emotionally charged exchange between the two artists. This collaboration has layers, let’s unfold.
The song ‘Rein Me In’ is a lyrical reflection of emotional vulnerability and the fear of spiraling out of control. It captures the internal struggle of someone who’s aware that they’re pushing boundaries and is silently pleading for someone to ground them. The song is an example of Sam Fender’s talent for introspective and vulnerable lyrics.
With this duet version, the song evolves into a dialogue: two people dealing with the push-and-pull of love, longing, and the need for emotional rescue. Olivia Dean’s part in the song adds a new perspective to the story, dealing with this other person fleeing from their emotions. This collaboration is a great example of how the meaning of a song can expand by adding a second voice and story in it. Olivia Dean wrote her own verse for this song, to the liking of Sam Fender:
“If I collaborate with another artist on one of my songs, I prefer they write a new part and make it their own, rather than singing whatever I’ve already written,” Fender says. “Olivia added a female perspective to ‘Rein Me In’, and I think it’s all the better for it.”
Sonically, Olivia Dean and Sam Fender’s voices complement each other tremendously. Mixing an indie-rock sound with a soul sound is not an obvious choice, but this duet proves its success. Expectations were high after this song’s debut in Sam Fender’s London stadium show – where Olivia Dean opened as the support act – and we must note that the live performance gives this song an extra kick. In the studio version, Olivia Dean’s voice is less powerful, which turns the song into a more humble version rather than the live version that is full of emotion. Nonetheless, this song is a great product of two incredibly talented artists and is absolutely on our list of best collaborations of the year.
Written by: Marloes Joosen
Edited by: Shanna Henselmans
