Soundcheck with Ethan

By: Ethan Barrocas

People will think I’m crazy for saying this, but I believe Addison Rae is the next biggest thing in pop music. It sounds absurd. I mean, a TikTok influencer turned pop star – so many have tried and failed. But miraculously Addison has transcended stereotypes and come out on top. How did she do it? 

Addison Rae first came to fame in 2019, becoming one of the most followed influencers on TikTok. Throughout the pandemic, she was everywhere, from starting a makeup line that got cancelled, acting, and randomly being friends with Kourtney Kardashian.  In 2021, she decided to try something new. Music. She debuted her first-ever song, “Obsessed.” 

Saying “Obsessed” was received well would be correct…if it were opposite day. People thought she was being a try-hard, showing this self-obsessed narrative. The music video that followed featured some very questionable dancing. Almost all the comments said, “Go Girl! Give us nothing!” Many assumed she was doing this for a cash grab. Eventually, the controversy of the song died down.

However, just as the buzz around her dwindled, somebody leaked a bunch of Addison’s unreleased music. Addison said in a 2025 Rolling Stone article that leaks crushed her and made her consider not returning to music, but this benefited her so much. These songs were great. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a step in the right direction. People started to become interested in what she had to offer, so in 2023, Addison released AR, a four-track EP that contained some of the leaked tracks. The EP was met with positive acclaim, both critically and by audiences. We see Addison shine herself in a new light on this record, especially on songs like “I Got It Bad” and “Nothing On (But The Radio),” which is an unreleased Lady Gaga song. She also collaborates with Charli XCX on the song “2 die 4.”

(Cover of AR)

Meeting Charli was a turning point for Addison. She helped mentor Addison in the right direction, even having Addison feature on Charli’s remix of “Von Dutch” in 2024. Addison expresses how much confidence Charli has instilled in her. Charli feels the same about Addison, saying, “She writes exactly like me, when I work with her it’s like working with myself” (Charli XCX, Therapuss, 2024). 

(Charli XCX and Addison Rae performing “Von Dutch”)

Before the release of their remix, Addison stopped posting. She started to uniquely market herself. Back when she was just an influencer, her posts didn’t give people insight into who Addison was. She realized this and took a step back from social media. People began wondering where she went, and questions kept coming after she decided to archive a bunch of her posts on Instagram. These choices created a mysterious energy in her, which the remix helped boost. The hype from the remix would follow her through the summer, eventually causing her to release one of the best pop songs of 2024.

(Addison Rae at the 2024 MTV Awards)

“Diet Pepsi” dropped on August 9th, 2024. I was mesmerized.  Addison serves this Lana Del Rey vibe with airy vocals, singing about love and the lustful adventures she wants to experience with her partner. It’s also reminiscent of 2000s Britney songs, especially “Touch Of My Hand.” This track was a crucial step in Addison showing her authentic self to the world. She’s transformed musically and mentally, telling the world she’s grown up. 

“Diet Pepsi” found its home on TikTok and went viral, amassing over five hundred thousand videos. It even peaked at number fifty-five on the Billboard Hot 100. The hard work finally paid off, and Addison started to get the respect she deserved. People were drawn to her, going as far as calling her the next “it girl.”

 The music video that followed was a complete 180 from the Addison everyone used to know. She goes full Americana, which can also go back to the Lana Del Rey inspiration. She sensually distracts the driver in the car, goes crazy over an ice cream sundae, does cartwheels, and plays with an American flag. What stood out to me the most was the song she played at the beginning of the video. It sounds like a siren song, which blessed my eardrums two months after the release of “Diet Pepsi.”

(Addison Rae in the  “Diet Pepsi”music video)

“Aquamarine” was released on October 25th, 2024. In this track, Addison takes a big influence from Madonna’s Ray of Light era, even referencing it in lyrics like, “I’m the ray of light.”  Addison told Harper’s Bazaar, “This song is about transforming and finding what message you want to tell and what story you want to tell through your life” (Rae, Harper’s Bazaar, 2024). The track feels lush, and the production feels dreamy. The instrumental is very electronic-heavy, relying on synths, making it sound hypnotic. The song takes a direct nod to the 2006 film, Aquamarine. She says in the song that she’s “transforming and realigning,” which references the film and how the character can transform into a mermaid, but it also references Addison’s rebrand and how she is transforming into this new, confident version of herself. It’s a perfect follow-up to “Diet Pepsi,” continuing to showcase this new side to her.

The music video for “Aquamarine” took place in Paris, showing Addison relinquishing her fear of judgment. She embraces her newfound freedom and lets herself go. It keeps the same lustful flavor from the “Diet Pepsi” music video but adds a more creative approach to it. Just like a mermaid, she dives into the magic this song evokes. The ending has this big dance moment, it feels like Addison is putting you into a trance with her graceful movements.

(Addison Rae in the “Aquamarine” music video)

On Valentine’s Day, 2025, Addison released her third single and my favorite song from her, “High Fashion.” The lyrics are witty, celebrating her love for fashion. She expresses wearing clothing as an exhilarating rush of confidence. She sings, “I don’t need your drugs, I’d rather get high fashion.” It’s a cheeky way to reference how she prefers expressing herself rather than falling in love. The electronic synths on “High Fashion” are entrancing, reminding me a lot of SOPHIE’s “Is It Cold In The Water?” It has this buildup in the, and it keeps building until it stops and starts all over again. The production feels minimalistic, but it’s lavish, crafted perfectly as if the song is haute couture.

(Album cover of “High Fashion”)

The music video for “High Fashion” is a visual wonder. It’s trippy and glamorous, with visuals illuminating Addison’s love for fashion. She becomes the embodiment of chic, but also pays homage to her role models in life. She wears a pair of ruby slippers as a nod to Dorthy from Wizard Of Oz, or a stunning gold dress that was worn by Gypsy Rose Lee. She even has multiple references to Britney Spears, subtly hiding a Fantasy perfume bottle by Britney, or making a direct reference to Britney’s 2002 Bob Mackie bra look. The music video also takes place in Britney’s home state of Louisiana, featuring unique visuals of eating beignets, burning sugar cane, dancing in the rain, and contorting herself in a room full of chalk. I want to emphasize the burning sugar cane, Addison said in the Vevo Footnotes for “High Fashion” that the burning of the sugar cane ties back to the beignets she’s eating in the beginning, signifying a rebirth. “High Fashion” is Addison Rae flaunting her artistry effortlessly, making it look easy.

(Addison Rae in the “High Fashion” music video)

On April 8th, 2025, Addison teased a new song on social media, which featured her rollerskating in a cute pink dress with her headphones on. Ten days later, her newest track, “Headphones On” was released. This is Addison’s most personal track yet, singing about the things she can’t change in her life, like her parents’ divorce or feelings of jealousy, but it also serves as a beacon of hope for her. She sings, “Guess I gotta accept the pain, need a cigarette to make me feel better.” Addison accepts the things she cannot change and learns to find comfort in that. She knows there’s light at the end of the tunnel and uses music to help her travel to a brighter day. The influences on this song remind me a lot of Björk intertwined with Madonna, and a dash of Mariah Carey.  It has this R&B, new jack swing mood to it, which is different compared to what she has released in the past. 

The music video for “Headphones On” is a phantasmagoria of escapism. It’s shot in Iceland, showing Addison feeling carefree as ever. She puts on her headphones as she rides a mechanical horse and teleports to another world, free from pain, sporting a pink wig and riding this gorgeous Icelandic horse. She holds onto her inner child, pretending like she’s in a music video. 

(Album cover for “Headphones On” by Addison Rae)

This metamorphosis in Addison is nothing short of extraordinary. She emerged from her cocoon and spread her wings beyond anyone’s expectations. She’s rebuilt herself piece by piece, evolving into the best version of herself. Addison’s transformation reached a new height on April 23rd, 2025 when she finally announced her first-ever album, Addison, releasing June 6th. The album cover is hazy and a clear reference to 90s/early 2000s album covers. Everyone is revved up for this release with hype circulating all over the internet. She’s served us some of the freshest music so far, and I cannot wait to see what that album holds in store.

(Album cover for Addison)

Cites:

Olson, Samantha. “Addison Rae Revealed How She *really* Feels about That 2022 Music Leak.” Cosmopolitan, 21 Jan. 2025, http://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/music/a63494642/addison-rae-debut-album-leak-reaction/. 

Wickes, Hanna. “Addison Rae and Charli XCX’s Friendship Timeline.” J, 18 Sept. 2024, http://www.j-14.com/posts/addison-rae-and-charli-xcxs-friendship-timeline/. 

Frank, Jason P. “Addison Rae Boldly Asks: ‘Is Diet Pepsi Okay?’” Vulture, Vulture, 9 Aug. 2024, http://www.vulture.com/article/addison-rae-diet-pepsi-music-video.html. 

honest. YouTube, YouTube, 16 Nov. 2024, http://www.youtube.com/watch?si=wBVzKKwpqSyR9V29&v=vFQtwbBUdvE&feature=youtu.be. 

Reardon, Nicky. YouTube, YouTube, 16 Sept. 2024, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUVWcnwveJw. 

zoeunlimited. YouTube, YouTube, 17 Oct. 2024, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZdvtiHkgKU&t=10s. 

YouTube, YouTube, 19 Nov. 2024, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdoFL9imWJ8. 

​​SiriusXM. YouTube, YouTube, 17 Sept. 2024, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ELFc2UwANI. 

Addison Rae – High Fashion Lyrics | Genius Lyrics, genius.com/Addison-rae-high-fashion-lyrics. Accessed 18 May 2025. 

Addison Rae – Headphones on Lyrics | Genius Lyrics, genius.com/Addison-rae-headphones-on-lyrics. Accessed 18 May 2025.