perspective of a protagonist who cycles through different personas in an attempt to win over the person he loves. This narrative device is reflected directly in the album’s playful song titles, including “Hannah Montana,” “Iron Man,” and “Elvis.” As O’Connor explains, the character is “tired of dreaming and becoming all these people in the pursuit of that dream,” giving the album its title.
The record was written across the world—in New York, Toronto, Rome, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Los Angeles—often with just a laptop and portable speakers. Most of the songs were born on guitar, marking a departure from his previous process and resulting in a collection defined by “classic songwriting, gentle melodies, curious hooks, and distinctive production”. Musically, it occupies a liminal space between soul, pop, and classic singer-songwriter storytelling.
🤝 The Collaborations: A New Era of Openness
The most significant shift on Dream Fatigue is O’Connor’s decision to embrace collaboration after years of working largely alone. “To let people in is to let them take the thing out of you as well,” he explained, describing the vulnerability of sharing his creative space. The result is his most collaborative album to date, and the guest list is genuinely eclectic.
| Collaborator | Contribution | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Daniel Caesar | Featured on “Indecision” | The first taste of the album, released in August 2026. The pair performed it together at Caesar’s sold-out O2 Arena show. |
| Brendan Yates (Turnstile) | Featured on “Elvis” | The collaboration was debuted live at an intimate underplay at London’s Village Underground ahead of All Points East. |
| Mustafa | Featured on “The Colosseum”; also co-executive producer | O’Connor praised Mustafa as “a phenomenal storyteller through lyricism”. |
| Dev Hynes (Blood Orange) | Contributor | O’Connor called him “a true 20-year legend with impeccable taste”. |
| Taylor Skye (Jockstrap) | Contributor | One of several new creative connections on the record. |
| dexter in the newsagent | Contributor | Another collaborator expanding the album’s sonic palette. |
Behind the boards, the album is co-executive produced by Mustafa and Dylan Wiggins (known for his work with Rosalía and Justin Bieber). “Hannah Montana” also features production from Swedish composer Simon Hessman, who has previously worked with Yung Lean and 21 Savage.
🎸 The Sound and Reception: “His Most Self-Assured Album Yet”
Early impressions suggest that the collaborative approach has paid off. Pre-release coverage describes Dream Fatigue as “his most self-assured album yet,” with the singles indicating a sound that blends the optimism of Pony and Who Cares? with the raw emotional introspection of The Alexander Technique. The through-line is O’Connor’s gift for melody and his ability to pair it with lyrics that feel both direct and emotionally candid.
The rollout has been immersive. O’Connor teased the album through a global photobooth treasure hunt and a series of intimate fan house shows across the UK, Ireland, and Southeast Asia, where fans could shape their own setlists from his decade-long catalogue. The connection between his old material and the new songs has been a defining feature of the Dream Fatigue era, grounding the album’s more expansive production in the intimate, direct songwriting that first won him his audience.
💎The Bottom Line
is not just another Rex Orange County album. It is a deliberate step into a more crowded, collaborative, and conceptually ambitious territory. By letting other artists into his process—and by writing through the lens of a character rather than himself—O’Connor has produced a record that feels both familiar and newly expansive. The guest list is impressive, but the real story is the willingness to be vulnerable enough to share the creative space. For an artist who built his reputation on diary-like intimacy, that is a significant evolution.
Dream Fatigue is out now via Secret Signals. The album is available on all major streaming platforms.
