The Dream (The Favors album)

The Dream
Studio album by
the Favors
ReleasedSeptember 19, 2025
Length38:09
LabelDarkroom
ProducerFinneas
Ashe chronology
Willson
(2024)
The Dream
(2025)
Finneas chronology
For Cryin' Out Loud!
(2024)
The Dream
(2025)
Singles from The Dream
  1. "The Little Mess You Made"
    Released: June 6, 2025
  2. "The Hudson"
    Released: July 11, 2025
  3. "Times Square Jesus"
    Released: August 13, 2025

The Dream is the debut studio album by the American supergroup the Favors, composed of American singer-songwriters Ashe and Finneas. It was released through Darkroom Records on September 19, 2025.

Background

In 2021, Ashe and Finneas collaborated on "Till Forever Falls Apart", which was featured on her first album Ashlyn.[1]

In February 2025, an anonymous Instagram account was created under the name @weshouldmakeaband. The account began posting mysterious, vintage camcorder-style snippets of Finneas and Ashe making music. They both further went on with posting hints on their respective accounts. They most notably posted the Austin City Limits festival lineup with a hidden artist slot, which was assumed to be for the band.[2] Speculation continued to rise as the two began to confirm a collaboration in their live performances. Ashe made an appearance at Finneas's For Cryin' Out Loud! Tour stop in Los Angeles in March, where they performed the unreleased song "Lake George".[2] Prior to the release of "The Little Mess You Made", Ashe performed a part of the song while she was opening for Gracie Abrams on The Secret of Us Tour in Australia, while Finneas simultaneously performed a part of the song in Germany during his tour.[2]

The album was announced on June 3, 2025.[3]

Promotion

The Favors released their debut single on June 6, 2025, titled "The Little Mess You Made".[4] "The Hudson" was released on July 11, 2025, as the second single.[5][6] The third single titled "Times Square Jesus" was released on August 13, 2025.[7][8] The group announced their An Evening With the Favors Tour in July 2025.[9] The tour will stop in Los Angeles, Morrison, and New York City, while also performing twice at the Austin City Limits Music Festival.[10]

Tour

On July 15, 2025, The Favors announced a three date North American tour visiting Los Angeles, Morrison, and New York City.[9]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Dork4/5[11]

Dork described The Dream as "theatrical, tender and quietly devastating", highlighting its "rich harmonies, playful detours, and songwriting that balances depth with just the right amount of daft". The review further characterized the record as "full of humour, heartbreak and unexpected joy", while noting that its "little messy" and "very human" qualities made it "all the better for it".[11] Melodic Magazine wrote that the album "isn't just a debut—it feels like the kind of record artists spend years building toward", praising it as "deeply emotional, beautifully crafted, and full of surprises". They added that it showcases "each member's strengths while never losing its sense of cohesion or heart".[12]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Finneas O'Connell and Ashlyn Willson; "The Dream", "Times Square Jesus", "David's Brother", "Someday I'll Be Back in Hollywood", and "Home Sweet Home" written with Matthew Fildey and David Marinelli.

The Dream track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Restless Little Heart"0:55
2."The Dream"3:19
3."Moonshine"3:06
4."The Little Mess You Made"3:21
5."The Hudson"3:36
6."Ordinary People"1:29
7."Necessary Evils"3:13
8."Times Square Jesus"4:15
9."David's Brother"3:37
10."Lake George"4:19
11."Someday I'll Be Back In Hollywood" (with Marinelli)3:31
12."Home Sweet Home"3:28
Total length:38:09

Personnel

Credits were adapted from Tidal.[13]

The Favors

  • Ashe – vocals (all tracks), keyboards (tracks 1–3, 5–8, 10–12)
  • Finneas – vocals, synthesizer, upright piano, production, engineering (all tracks); percussion (1–5, 8–12), acoustic guitar (1–4, 6–12), bass (1–3, 5–7, 10, 12), keyboards (3, 9), guitar (11)

Additional contributors

  • Aron Forbesmixing, engineering
  • Ruairi O'Flaherty – mastering
  • Connor Gilmore – engineering
  • David Marinelli – drums (all tracks), percussion (7, 8, 12), bass (8), synthesizer (11, 12); guitar, vocals (11)
  • Matthew Fildey – electric guitar (all tracks), bass (3, 8, 9, 11)
  • Paul Cartwright – string arrangement, violin (1–4, 6–8, 10, 12)
  • Noah Gladstone – orchestra (1, 2, 6–8, 10, 12)
  • Charles Tyler – cello (1, 2, 6–8, 10, 12)
  • Vanessa Freebairn-Smith – cello (1, 2, 6–8, 10, 12)
  • Andrew Duckles – viola (1, 2, 6–8, 10, 12)
  • Stefan Smith – viola (1, 2, 6–8, 10, 12)
  • Ben Jacobson – violin (1, 2, 6–8, 10, 12)
  • Gallia Kastner – violin (1, 2, 6–8, 10, 12)
  • Luanne Homzy – violin (1, 2, 6–8, 10, 12)

Charts

Chart performance for The Dream
Chart (2025) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[14] 57
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[15] 50
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[16] 32
French Rock & Metal Albums (SNEP)[17] 28
Portuguese Albums (AFP)[18] 86
Scottish Albums (OCC)[19] 47
UK Albums Sales (OCC)[20] 68
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[21] 27
US Billboard 200[22] 174
US Top Rock & Alternative Albums (Billboard)[23] 42

References

  1. ^ Mamo, Heran (March 2, 2021). "Finneas & Ashe Embrace an Unshakable Love in 'Till Forever Fall Apart' Duet". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 6, 2022. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c "The Favors: FINNEAS and Ashe's New Band Explained". www.genadmission.org. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  3. ^ Madarang, Charisma (June 3, 2025). "Finneas, Ashe Announce New Band, the Favors, and Debut Album". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 4, 2025. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  4. ^ Holian, Danielle (June 10, 2025). "Finneas & Ashe Find Their Voice as the Favors on "The Little Mess You Made"". Atwood Magazine. Archived from the original on June 16, 2025. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  5. ^ Safadi, Hillary (July 18, 2025). "The Favors' "The Hudson" Is A Melancholic Homage to New York". Ones to Watch. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  6. ^ Holian, Danielle (July 18, 2025). "The Favors' (FINNEAS & Ashe) "The Hudson" Is a Love Letter to the One You Almost Kept". Atwood Magazine. Archived from the original on July 19, 2025. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  7. ^ "Finneas and Ashe's the Favors Return With "Times Square Jesus"". www.hitsdailydouble.com. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  8. ^ "The Favors share album teaser, "Times Square Jesus "". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  9. ^ a b Paul, Larisha (July 15, 2025). "Finneas and Ashe Announce 'An Evening With the Favors' Tour". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on July 16, 2025. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  10. ^ Armstrong, Sam (July 16, 2025). "The Favors Announce 2025 North American Tour". uDiscover Music. Archived from the original on July 16, 2025. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  11. ^ a b Newton, Felicity (September 22, 2025). "The Favors – The Dream". Dork. United Kingdom: The Bunker Publishing Ltd. OCLC 1065354071. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  12. ^ Croteau, Hannah (September 24, 2025). "The Favors deliver a bold and beautiful debut on The Dream — Album Review". Melodic Magazine. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  13. ^ "The Dream / The Favors / Credits". Tidal. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  14. ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 29 September 2025". The ARIA Report. No. 1856. Australian Recording Industry Association. September 29, 2025. p. 6.
  15. ^ "Ultratop.be – The Favors – The Dream" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  16. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – The Favors – The Dream" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 26, 2025.
  17. ^ "Top 100 Rock & Metal Albums de la semaine 39, 2025" [Top 100 Rock & Metal Albums of Week 39, 2025] (in French). Syndicat National de l'Edition Phonographique. Retrieved September 29, 2025.
  18. ^ "Top 200 Álbuns Semana 39 de 2025" (PDF) (in European Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. p. 2. Retrieved October 1, 2025.
  19. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  20. ^ "Official Albums Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  21. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  22. ^ "Billboard 200: Week of October 4, 2025". Billboard. Retrieved September 30, 2025.
  23. ^ "Top Rock & Alternative Albums: Week of October 4, 2025". Billboard. Retrieved October 1, 2025.