If the first image that pops into your head at the mention of Addison Rae is a pretty girl doing viral TikTok dances, 2025 could be the year that changes. After a successful record promotion cycle culminating in the June 6 release of her debut album “Addison,” Rae has now successfully settled into the carefully curated identity of a niche pop princess.
Rae sprung to prominence in 2019 as part of the first wave of viral TikTok stars, quickly figuring out that she could gain money and a large following by consistently posting on the platform. Unbeknownst to most viewers, her goal was always to perform; social media was simply a means of acquiring the connections and resources necessary to make it out of her small Louisiana hometown and do so. Once she’d captured the world’s attention at an extreme level through TikTok, she could finally use that exposure to pursue her lifelong passion of achieving stardom and artistry.
Though the influencer-to-musician pipeline is something we have seen before — Troye Sivan is an early example of this — the transition usually feels clumsy and forced. We struggle to consider former TikTok dancers as potential serious musicians (think Dixie D’Amelio’s attempt at music), and we tend to view their forays into music as inauthentic cash grabs.
Rae is certainly no stranger to accusations of inauthenticity, especially after the release of her 2023 EP, “AR,” but she has made a concerted effort to prove those claims wrong. A major reason why her “Addison” popstar persona rebrand has been so successful is because her drive is intrinsic and her artistry feels completely genuine; another, of course, is that the art is genuinely good and interesting, something the modern pop market can often struggle to produce.
On this record, Rae displays a sense of self-awareness and humor about herself, but her creative vision is also executed with undeniable confidence. It is clear she is out to prove herself as an artist and shake off her former TikTok star persona, and the music speaks to this, portraying her as a glamorous diva with a strong sense of identity. Rae’s new popstar persona is rooted in an air of believing herself to be special and novel, with the whole world anticipating her next move. Like “Aquamarine,” the second single of this record cycle suggests: “The world is my oyster/And I’m the only girl.”
“Addison” was created exclusively by a small all-female team of writers and producers. Rae worked closely with up-and-coming producer Elvira Anderfjard and musician Luka Kloser, who produced and helped write the entire album. Additionally, songwriter Tove Burman contributed by working on the writing sessions of album interlude “Lost & Found,” as well as the record’s strange and heady third single “High Fashion.”
The “Addison” soundscape is rich and feverish, employing dizzying dance beats and dreamy stacked vocals. The tracks switch from undeniably danceable to deliciously siren-like, offering substantial sonic variety in just 33 minutes. There are lyrical themes of dancing all night, feeling free, driving with the windows down, striking a pose and getting lost in the music; each song feels like a captured feeling in a bottle of sound.
Consisting of a total of 12 songs, the album begins with “New York,” a frenzied ode to the Big Apple set to an infectiously fast beat. “Love New York, love New York, love New York,” Rae sings in the frenetic chorus, like a hypnotic chant. Preceding the decadently catchy but widely digestible “Diet Pepsi” on the track list, the song captures your attention and pulls you headfirst into the album listening experience.
The “Addison” album campaign has made it clear that Rae is an eager student of pop music and culture, studying the ancient texts of Britney and Madonna to enhance her own artistic image. She references her pop influences by name in standout track “Money is Everything,” but insists that she has her own unique artistry to offer: “The girl I used to be is still the girl inside of me!” she scream-sings before an explosive chorus.
Although Rae’s sonic pop inspirations are present all over this album, they are incorporated to varying degrees of success; “Summer Forever” comes to mind, which feels a bit like a ham-fisted Lana Del Rey impression. In a more successful attempt at channeling her inspirations, there is a clear Britney Spears influence on “Fame is a Gun,” which bears resemblance to Spears’ “Piece of Me” in that it breaks a kind of parasocial fourth wall, displaying Rae’s startling self-awareness of how she is perceived. This song makes a general statement about the capriciousness of fame: “Fame is a gun and I point it blind,” but delivers it with an air of drama and campiness: “You got a front row seat and I/I got a taste of the glamorous life.”
Alongside the hedonistic, carefree moments on this record, its moodier, more downtempo tracks offer personal insight into Rae’s own self-perception and insecurities. In the first verse of “Times Like These,” she wonders, “Do I eat what I want tonight/Or will it make me feel less tight?” Her song “In the Rain” is about emotional release, intent on a message of protecting one’s heart and peace. These reflective moments add layers of depth to the project, making the album feel balanced and well-rounded.
In an interview with Zane Lowe, Rae spoke about challenging the public’s expectations of her creative capabilities, saying that she feels more comfortable in the freedom of taking risks and letting go of expectations rather than trying to appeal to what people want from her. She understands that an interest in her music may have been born of an ironic curiosity, and that there will inevitably be people who misconstrue her intentions or find her art disingenuous. Despite this, she shakes off these perceptions and stays true to her vision, as she sings on “In the Rain:” “Misunderstood, but I’m not gonna sweat it.”
Rae’s desire to be a star and to explore her artistry is felt throughout this album from the first to final track. Although her vocal and performance skills leave room for improvement, there is no doubt that she has ambition and a strong creative vision. She seems hungry for success, and “Addison” is a solid first effort towards achieving it.
