Put Your ‘Headphones On’ for Addison Rae’s ‘Addison’

TikTok-royalty-turned-musician Addison Rae explores fame, fornication and freedom on her new album “Addison,” released June 6.

After featuring on a remix of Charli XCX’s “Von dutch” in early 2024, anticipation grew for Rae’s follow-up to her panned 2023 EP. In the lead-up to the album, Rae said her public persona’s reinvention — from teen influencer to musician — should be taken seriously.

“I feel like I’ve surpassed Addison Rae,” she said in an interview with Elle. “It’s just Addison now.”

“Addison” kicks off with a bold love letter to the Big Apple, “New York.” Buttery synths on the intro give way to a pulsating beat on the chorus, exploding into a fast-paced, disorienting and glitchy outro.

“Diet Pepsi” serves as the album’s lead single, detailing adolescent automotive intimacy. The evolution from innocent, young love to passionate lust is portrayed through a key change in the final chorus. “Diet Pepsi” is akin to the early work of Lana Del Rey, with blunt erotism described through a delicate, nostalgic lens. 

While not a total caricature of a Del Rey song, the track sets the precedent for the album to come — unsubtle inspiration from Rae’s favorite artists.

The forgettable “Summer Forever” overstays its welcome with painfully vague romantic lyrics coupled with breathy vocals that dissipate into the air as if they were never there.  

This pattern is continued on many of the non-single songs, like “In The Rain.” The absence of any buildup from verse to chorus leaves the track emotionally stagnant. Its multi-layered vocals on top of the light instrumental make it more fatiguing than refreshing.

Hazy interludes “Lost & Found” and “Life’s No Fun Through Clear Waters” only exist to take up space in an otherwise concise tracklist.

The soft “Fame is a Gun” succeeds as a restrained electro-pop song. A lively beat provides a needed contrast to Rae’s delicate voice, reflecting both on her music career and how her previous TikTok stardom affects her public perception.

Much of the lyrics on “Addison” delve into adolescent antics — young love, casual drug use and sexual liberation — like with the single “Aquamarine.” 

“Aquamarine / Honey, dive into me,” she sings on the chorus. “I’m not hiding anymore / I won’t hide / I’m free.” 

On the bridge, Rae’s siren-esque voice is enveloped by waves of shimmering synths, crashing up against a driving dance beat.

Rae rejects drug use in favor of couture opulence on “High Fashion,” which is underscored by revving electronic synths and sharp snaps. Although the song itself can be seen as an agent for D.A.R.E., the single’s music video sees her rolling around in a room covered in white powder.

A distorted, low-pitched wail and punchy beat provide the base to “Headphones On,” the closing track, which invites listeners to do as Rae and rely on music when life gets stressful. 

“Headphones On” serves as a thesis for the album — Rae regurgitating the work of her favorite artists into her own project. She wears her influences proudly on her sleeve, flaunting her love for musicians seen as visionary. 

“Money is Everything” makes explicit references to several pop artists over high-pitched, warbling group vocals, evoking the refrain on Charli XCX’s “Club classics.”

“And when I’m dancing, please, DJ, play Madonna,” she pleads. “Wanna roll one with Lana, get high with Gaga.”

Reminiscent of the prominent sound of Björk’s “Vespertine,” hushed vocals over a subdued club beat and computer-like flourishes characterize “Times Like These.” The song evokes the same feeling as an H&M knock-off of a high-end product. 

While “Addison” is by no means a classic, with a widened variety of sounds and themes — and a bit of emotional maturity — Addison Rae could shape up to be Gen Z’s alt pop icon.

“Addison” is available to stream everywhere.