Kaktus Einarsson recruits John Grant, RAKEL and Jessica Winter for third album Factoid Happiness

The album's title emerged before much of its material was written, with Einarsson interrogating the commodification of happiness and the systems that determine what we're told to believe. "We're constantly being sold things as 'truths'; feelings, knowledge, lifestyles," he explains. "Algorithms decide what we see, what we believe, even what we think will make us happy. But a lot of that is unproven. It's a factoid. Something that feels true but isn't necessarily real."

Born and raised in Reykjavík, the former Fufanu frontman (and Damon Albarn collaborator) moves between piano-led introspection, indie-rock, funk grooves, disco rhythms and electronic textures across the record. Guest contributors include John Grant, RAKEL, Jessica Winter, and composer and pianist Thibault Gomez - who appears on new single "Borrowed Dreams".

"We used to have role models on TV we'd never meet," Einarsson notes of the song. "Now we carry thousands of virtual humans in our pockets, available 24/7, and the comparison has become overwhelming. At the same time, we're never alone. We're always in the company of someone through a screen, yet loneliness is increasing."

Elsewhere on the record, "Glycerine" draws from a family holiday in Portugal, with its reference to the "longest day" rooted in Iceland's 24-hour daylight. The track features an unplanned rap verse that Einarsson demoed himself after a featured artist fell through. "When we heard it back, it felt too honest to remove," he says.

Einarsson's previous solo work includes 2021's Kick the Ladder and 2024's Lobster Coda, the latter featuring collaborations with Nanna of Of Monsters and Men as well as Damon Albarn. His earlier band Fufanu opened for Radiohead, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Blur.

Factoid Happiness artwork

Factoid Happiness tracklist

"Borrowed Dreams" (with Thibault Gomez)
"Glycerine"
"The Decipherer" (with Rakel)
"Burning Snow"
"New Perfume"
"Situated Lovers"
"Follow" (with John Grant)
"Another Feel"
"Lemon Taste"
"3rd Time" (with Jessica Winter)