If you had told someone five years ago that the best pop album of the summer would come from Addison Rae, you would have been laughed out of the room. Rae has undergone quite the evolution since her TikTok days. Initially gaining traction for her dance videos, 2021 saw her become the second most followed person on the entire platform. Addison Rae’s extremely quick rise to fame landed her a golden ticket from her hometown in Louisiana straight to the glitz and glamor of the Hype House in Los Angeles.
In 2021, Rae pivoted to music with her single “Obsessed,” garnering harsh criticism from audiences who saw the song as another cash grab from the influencer. “Obsessed” was shallow, made to be piped out of the speakers at Forever 21, and its music video was a muddle of overly enthusiastic dance choreography and confused aesthetics. In 2023, Rae released her debut EP AR, and while the songs didn’t wow listeners, Addison’s vocal performance had clearly improved. Rae even earned Charli XCX’s stamp of approval, collaborating with her on “2 Die 4” and the “Von Dutch” remix, signaling her status as a rising star in the music industry. Now, Rae’s artistic development has culminated with her debut album Addison, a project filled with 90s synths, whispery vocals, and a unique sound that cements Addison as a serious pop artist.
The album's Y2K aesthetic, evident in everything from its sparkly cover art to its production choices, feels both nostalgic and forward–looking—many of the album’s instrumentals bring to mind 2000s pop icons such as Natasha Bedingfield and Britney Spears, but its lyrical content and song structures feel very modern. By embracing collaboration, vulnerability, and authentic artistic exploration, Rae has created a debut that stands as proof that the most interesting transformations happen when artists are brave enough to take themselves seriously.
The album opens with “New York”, an ode to the Big Apple with fun synths and a club–ready energy that immediately sets the tone for the project to come. The track is completely different from anything Rae has put out in the past and serves as an effective introduction to her new and evolved sound. Though its lyrics don't necessarily break new ground, the song is effective in channeling the fast–paced energy of New York City, building up momentum towards its end and creating anticipation for the journey ahead.
"Diet Pepsi" follows after a seamless transition, and it's here that the album truly finds its footing. The single, first released in August of 2024, has already proven itself as a standout, offering a less over–produced sound than the album’s opener while maintaining that perfect summer hit quality. Rae's signature whispery vocals shine through its hazy and ethereal instrumentals, while its infectious chorus makes “Diet Pepsi” undeniably compelling. In an interview with GRAMMY.com, Rae reveals that this is the first song she made with her producers and songwriters Elvira Anderfjäard and Luka Kloser, saying “We made ‘Diet Pepsi’ the same day that we had met each other and first worked together, so it was really this cosmic, beautiful, magical thing that is so unexplainable.” The playful and effortless energy of the track perfectly set the tone for the rest of the album.
Up next is "Money is Everything," a campy declaration of financial freedom that's both fun and slightly tongue–in–cheek. At just over two minutes, the track doesn't overstay its welcome, instead delivering its message with the kind of confident brevity that characterizes much of the album. "Aquamarine’s" glittering synths bring back all your favorite memories of playing mermaids in the pool. The whispery delivery that appears throughout the album feels particularly well–suited here, supported by excellent production that creates an immersive sonic environment. It's on tracks like this that Rae's growth as a vocalist becomes most apparent.
The album's two interludes, "Lost & Found" and "Life's No Fun Through Clear Waters," provide breathing room while maintaining the album's cohesive atmosphere. “Lost & Found” vocalizes the entire theme of the album, as Addison takes us through her journey of self discovery , with the repetitive line “I lost myself and found myself again.” Meanwhile, “Life’s No Fun Through Clear Waters” incorporates violin elements and offers a trippy, transformative sound that makes it feel like a broadcast from another dimension. These shorter songs give Rae an opportunity to play around with her style and experiment with new instruments and sonic elements.
"High Fashion" may be the most unique track on the album, featuring strong, pulsing synths that create a hypnotizing backdrop for the song as it slows things down and explores themes of aspiration and desire. The track's lyrics peel back the curtain on Rae's own journey and her want for “high fashion” that gave her the drive for stardom. Her vocal performance includes interesting arpeggio work, and the song benefits from having an actual bridge section that many of her other tracks lack. "Summer Forever" is where Rae's artistic vision feels most fully realized, featuring lyrics and a vocal delivery that recall Lana Del Rey while maintaining Rae's artistic identity. The track demonstrates impressive variation between its sections, anchored by Y2K–influenced beats that feel both nostalgic and contemporary.
Though many of Rae’s tracks are unique and catchy, "In the Rain" and "Times Like These" both suffer from formulaic approaches and reflect some of her lingering weaknesses as an artist. Rae’s lyrics aren’t always the most thought–provoking, and she often has flatter performances in her verses, as if she is just trying to get through to the chorus. While "In the Rain" begins to offer commentary on public personas and alter egos, and "Times Like These" features appealing piano and chord progressions, both tracks feel somewhat interchangeable with others in Rae's catalog.
Between "In the Rain" and "Times Like These," however, lies "Fame is a Gun," an unapologetic and honest gem about Addison's relationship with fame and stardom. Here, Rae confronts the double–edged nature of her public persona, acknowledging both the power and danger that comes with her level of visibility. The song's title itself suggests the weaponized nature of celebrity—something that can protect or destroy its wielder depending on how it’s used. “Fame is a Gun” also has one of Addison’s best music videos, with extravagant and disorienting visuals that bring to mind Addison’s extreme visibility in her influencer days, as well as the popularity she amassed quickly at a very young age. The video makes clear that a lot of Rae’s visual brand is inspired by Lexee Smith, a Los Angeles based dancer and Addison’s best friend. Smith has been a creative consultant on many different parts of Addison, especially the music videos for “Fame is a Gun” and “Headphones On” with Smith’s “messy Y2K” visual style present in both.
The album concludes with "Headphones On," a more candid track and another standout song. In an interview with Variety, Rae, Anderfjäard, and Kloser explain the sounds behind “Headphones On.” The song opens with the disorienting Orbit 3 synth, suggesting it may go in a house or hyperpop direction, but it immediately switches up by launching into slower, relaxed drums and echoey vocals. The song also features rainfall and a soothing cello in the background, helping to curate a soft atmosphere. In its lyrics, Rae begins to open up about the various struggles she has faced throughout her life but how despite it all, “every good thing comes my way, so I still get dolled up.” In the Variety interview, Rae talks about the reflective energy of “Headphones On,” saying “I’m very intimate with myself and my body and everything feels very personal.” The rawness of “Headphones On” provides a perfect ending to an album that summarizes Addison’s journey up to now and builds excitement for where she will go next as an artist.
What makes Addison compelling isn't just its individual tracks, but how it functions as a cohesive statement about transformation and artistic growth. The album serves as both a summer soundtrack and introspective journey, documenting Rae's evolution from internet personality to legitimate recording artist. While some of the album’s weaker tracks reveal areas for continued development, the project’s overall strength demonstrates that Rae has successfully navigated one of entertainment's most challenging transitions.
Addison is the work of an artist who has put in the effort to evolve. In a pop landscape oversaturated with industry plants and generic sounds, Rae has delivered something genuine and surprisingly sophisticated. The girl who once danced her way to fame has now sung her way to artistic credibility—and this album suggests her transformation is just beginning.
