Welcome to the Summer of Addison Rae
Last year, Charli XCX lit a neon-green fire under the pop world with Brat — a brash, chaotic album that redefined what pop could sound like in 2024. The summer became dominated by the British singer’s viral success, seeping into the mainstream of American politics and everyday life. This summer, a thoughtful new star opens up the Brat universe to a broader audience: Addison Rae.
Known first as a TikTok star, Rae spent the past year making the case that she’s more than a viral personality. With her belting scream on a remix of ‘Von Dutch,’ the young star began her journey into the looking glass of modern dance and synth pop. Shortly thereafter, Rae released the catchy lead single ‘Diet Pepsi’ and brought it to fans on stage with XCX and her long-time collaborator Troye Sivan at the Sweat Tour.
Rae’s musical endeavors — once a side gig to social media fame — have now taken center stage as she released her debut album Addison. Far from another self-absorbed, generic pop album, Rae’s demonstrates a reverence for the past with the record. She studies up on the likes of Britney Spears and Michael Jackson, recognizing that history often echoes.
Yet the self-titled record creates a fresh, vibrant sonic space only comparable to her elder contemporaries (such as seen by Lady Gaga’s Mayhem). The singer gets an A+ not only for doing her homework, but also for modernizing and innovating music.
Leading with ambition, Rae “take[s] a bit of the Big Apple” on opener ‘New York,’ detailing her love for the city with a similar care-free attitude of XCX. Despite somewhat repetitive lyricism, she nonetheless leans into a faster, evolving production that becomes a staple throughout the album.
Appealing to the nostalgia of Gen Z’s youth, Rae laces the album with clear nods to the sound and broader pop culture of the early 2000s. On ‘Money Is Everything’ the singer makes fun, tongue-and-cheek references to Madonna, Lana Del Rey and Lady Gaga. Meanwhile, the signature ‘Aquamarine’ takes its name directly from the popular children's mermaid movie.
Overtop an euphoric, buzzing beat, ‘High Fashion’ visits serious themes of drug use, sexuality and self-expression with grace and ease. Feeling oddly familiar to listeners, the track’s subtle inspiration from her peers — such as Gaga’s ARTPOP album or Lana Del Rey’s iconic ‘High by the Beach’ — further weaves Rae into the mainstream. Perhaps that’s the point.
Meanwhile, ‘Headphones On’ relies on commonly used R&B and trip-hop notes to make an addictive earworm of a song. Manifesting her own success, Rae declares “every good thing comes my way” and listens to her favorite song, even as she sings through the pain of her parent’s divorce and difficult feelings of jealousy. Absolutely nothing is stopping Addison Rae summer from coming full force.
To cement her legacy, the star tackles the monster of fame — a timeless theme for hit singers to address — with the most complex song on the album: ‘Fame is a Gun.’ An introspective look at her experience with public attention from a young age, Rae touches on themes of innocence, wealth and wanting “more” on a hypnotizing beat. Having tasted the glamour of a rockstar’s lifestyle, the once TikToker is here to claim her rightful place in the music industry.
Addison delivers instant pop perfection. She is the new number 1. A lucky star. An enigma. Addison Rae isn’t just borrowing from pop history — she’s writing herself into it. One day, my children will discover her through some dancing AI drone trend, and I’ll smile, remembering the sweaty nights of Addison Rae's debut summer. A star is born.
Sam Raus is the David Boaz Resident Writing Fellow at Young Voices, a political analyst and public relations professional. Follow him on X: @SamRaus1.
