Rein Me In

"Rein Me In"
Single by Sam Fender and Olivia Dean
from the album People Watching (Deluxe)
Released20 June 2025 (2025-06-20)
GenreFolk[1]
Length5:37
LabelPolydor
Songwriters
  • Sam Fender
  • Olivia Dean
ProducerSam Fender
Sam Fender singles chronology
"Tyrants"
(2025) 		"Rein Me In"
(2025) 		"Talk to You"
(2025)
Olivia Dean singles chronology
"Nice to Each Other"
(2025) 		"Rein Me In"
(2025) 		"Lady Lady"
(2025)
Music video
"Rein Me In" on YouTube

"Rein Me In" is a song by English singer-songwriter Sam Fender featuring English singer-songwriter Olivia Dean. It is a remix of the song of the same name from Fender's third studio album People Watching.[2] It was released on 20 June 2025 as the sixth single from the album, reaching number-one on the Irish Singles Chart and number five on the UK singles chart and being nominated at the Brit Awards for Song of the Year.[3]

Background and release

"Rein Me In" was originally included as the eighth track of Fender's third studio album People Watching. The song was written by Fender himself and produced with Adam Granduciel, Markus Dravs, Joe Atkinson and Dean Thompson. "Rein Me In" is about self-sabotage in romantic relationships. In the song, Fender "is too afraid to be 'reined in' by love and instead rejects anyone who gets too close". The lyrics are set over a jazzy instrumental that includes piano and saxophone.[4][5]

Fender debuted the remix during a 6 June show at London Stadium, bringing Dean on stage to perform it. Videos of the performance went viral.[6] The two performed the remix again on 15 June at Fender's St. James' Park concert. Fender announced the official release of the remix on 20 June, stating that Dean "added a female perspective to 'Rein Me In,' and I think it's all the better for it". Dean said that "Rein Me In" was her favourite song from the album.[7]

Critical reception

The original version of "Rein Me In" received praise from music critics. Sarah Bea Milner of Screen Rant called the song "catchy" and "earnest", writing that "Fender's mumblecore tenor works particularly well against bright guitar and solid bass groove."[8] Brianna Corrine of Atwood Magazine noted that it "explores a different, lighter side of Fender’s capabilities" compared to the rest of the album.[9] Writing for Billboard, Thomas Smith and Sophie Williams described the song as a "starkly arranged epic [...] with a vocal performance that delivers the type of passion and intensity that, the closer you listen, you can feel in your chest".[5]

The remix was also well-received by critics. Nick Levine of the Official Charts Company called it a "stellar collaboration".[10] Blunt Magazine's Jake Fitzpatrick wrote that the "stormy, tender and anthemic" remix was "a love letter to the kind of songwriting that knows when to burn slow".[11] Rolling Stone UK included the song in their weekly Hot New Songs playlist.[12]

Music video

A music video directed by Daniel Broadley was released alongside the remix on 20 June. It shows footage of Fender and Dean during their debut performance of the song on 6 June.[7]

Track listings

Digital single

  1. "Rein Me In" – 5:39

Digital single

  1. "Rein Me In" (live at London Stadium / extended version) – 6:53
  2. "Rein Me In" (edit) – 4:03
  3. "Rein Me In" (duet version) – 5:39
  4. "Rein Me In" (solo) – 5:39

7" single

  1. "Rein Me In" – 5:39
  2. "Rein Me In" (live at London Stadium / extended version) – 6:53

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for "Rein Me In"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[22] Gold 35,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[23] Gold 15,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[24] Platinum 600,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Rein Me In"
Region Date Version Format Label(s) Ref.
Various 20 June 2025 Original
Polydor [25]
27 June 2025 Live at London Stadium [26]
United Kingdom 28 November 2025
  • Original
  • Live at London Stadium
 7" single [27]

References

  1. ^ Hague, Lauren (21 February 2025). "Sam Fender – People Watching". Clash. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  2. ^ Williams, Sophie (20 June 2025). "Sam Fender Unveils 'Rein Me In' Collab With Olivia Dean: Listen Here". Billboard. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  3. ^ Dunworth, Liberty (21 January 2026). "BRIT Awards 2026: here are all the nominees". NME. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  4. ^ Brainard, Tessa (27 February 2025). "Album Review: 'People Watching' - Sam Fender". Pop Passion Blog. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  5. ^ a b Smith, Thomas; Williams, Sophie (20 February 2025). "Every Song From Sam Fender's 'People Watching' Album Ranked: Critic's Picks". Billboard. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  6. ^ Murray, Robin (20 June 2025). "Sam Fender, Olivia Dean Duet On 'Rein Me In'". Clash. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  7. ^ a b Dunworth, Liverty (20 June 2025). "Sam Fender and Olivia Dean officially release 'Rein Me In' duet". NME. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  8. ^ Milner, Sarah Bea (25 February 2025). "Sam Fender's New Album: Every Song On People Watching Ranked". Screen Rant. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  9. ^ Corrine, Brianna (5 March 2025). "'I'm Not Preaching, I'm Just Talking': Sam Fender's 'People Watching' Is a Masterpiece of Reflection, Resilience, & Raw Humanity". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  10. ^ Levine, Nick (20 June 2025). "New Music Friday: Benson Boone, YUNGBLUD, JADE, HAIM and more". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  11. ^ Fitzpatrick, Jake (21 June 2025). "Sam Fender and Olivia Dean Give 'Rein Me In' the Duet Treatment". Blunt Magazine. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  12. ^ "Just Mustard, CMAT and Sam Fender & Olivia Dean lead our Hot New Songs playlist". Rolling Stone UK. 20 June 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  13. ^ "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. 16 February 2026. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  14. ^ "Same Fender Chart History (Global Excl. US)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
  15. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart on 13/2/2026 – Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
  16. ^ "Top Radio Hits Lithuania Weekly Chart: Jul 17, 2025". TopHit. 18 July 2025. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
  17. ^ "Dutch Single Tip 14/02/2026" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
  18. ^ "Official Top 40 Singles". Recorded Music NZ. 13 February 2026. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  19. ^ "Rein Me In". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
  20. ^ "Top Radio Hits Lithuania Monthly Chart: July 2025". TopHit. 1 August 2025. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
  21. ^ Smith, Carl (26 December 2025). "The Official biggest songs of 2025". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
  22. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2025 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  23. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Sam Fender – Rein Me In". Radioscope. Retrieved 24 January 2026. Type Rein Me In in the "Search:" field and press Enter.
  24. ^ "British single certifications – Sam Fender and Olivia Dean – Rein Me In". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  25. ^ "Rein Me In - Single by Sam Fender & Olivia Dean on Apple Music". Apple Music - Web Player. 20 June 2025. Archived from the original on 7 December 2025. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  26. ^ "Rein Me In (Live At London Stadium) - Single by Sam Fender & Olivia Dean on Apple Music". Apple Music - Web Player. 27 June 2025. Archived from the original on 7 December 2025. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  27. ^ "Rein Me In". Record Store Day. Archived from the original on 13 November 2025. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
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