Eve Macdonald
Sticky, sexy, absurd: Addison Rae establishes her unique sound in debut studio album ‘Addison’ (2025).
Aptly self-titled, the listener is truly transported to Planet Rae, and invited to explore untapped dimensions of the artist. In its essence, Addison is a reintroduction; Rae asserts her legacy not only as a social media icon, but as a pop star.
Vocals
Rae has an ethereal, dreamy voice. Simultaneously raspy and sweet, she whispers into the mic with the intimacy of a late-night phone call. Often slipping into monologue, Rae prefaces songs ‘New York’, ‘Money Is Everything’ and ‘Headphones On’, and embellishes with ad libs and harmonies equally mesmerising.
“Her signature whisper-voice is refreshing and siren-like against layers of alternative-pop…”
Between the glamour and sex-appeal are pockets of sensitivity. “Misunderstood but I won’t sweat it / isn’t it all just for show?” she reveals, in one vulnerable moment of the mid-album track, ‘In The Rain’.
However, the juxtaposition between sex appeal and despair is as jarring as a TikTok ‘For You’ page. In one swipe, the app jumps from beauty adverts to socio-political disaster to cleaning tips. This social numbness has burned out Internet users – but for Rae it opens creative opportunity.
“Rae doesn’t labour any point too hard, or attempt to impose social commentary. She injects fun back into pop, and leans into an enveloping sound to set listeners free.”
Often self-examining and ironic, Addison is subversive, and sometimes out-of-touch (such as in the punchy track ‘Money Is Everything’). Regardless, Rae playfully pokes fun at her naysayers who turn their noses at the TikTok-originated stardom.
Production
A colourful track list is meshed by smooth production and satisfyingly catchy beats. Addison is heavily produced, synthesised, blurry, glitchy and addictive. Both camp and glamorous, the pop beat is reminiscent of Charlie XCX – yet distinctive enough to escape becoming a pastiche. But her influences delve beyond contemporary artists: Rae also draws from the ghost of pop past, leaning into a sultry sound reminiscent of Y2K Paris Hilton and Madonna. If the album has an electronic heartbeat, nostalgia runs through its veins.
“In a world hungry for “it girls”, Rae dishes up an immaculately eccentric pop star façade.”
‘Diet Pepsi’ is a standout track, where overlapping adlibs pulse in and out against slow-motion synths. ‘In the rain’ has similar musical depth, encapsulating a smooth, bittersweet sound, offset by Rae’s hypnotic falsetto. Her signature whisper-voice is refreshing and siren-like against layers of alternative-pop, best showcased through the songs ‘Money Is Everything’ and ‘High Fashion’.
A perfect blend of novel and familiar, it’s no wonder singles like ‘Fame Is a Gun’, ‘Headphones On’ and ‘Diet Pepsi’ have flown up the charts.
Subtle Genius
One of the most anticipated new releases of 2025, Addison hits the mark: hedonistic, silly, playful, girly and – despite an audience of pitchfork-ready online critics – unapologetically subversive.
Addison is, in a word, genius, but not in the way you might think. Rae doesn’t labour any point too hard, or attempt to impose social commentary. She injects fun back into pop, and leans into an enveloping sound to set listeners free.
In a world hungry for “it girls”, Rae dishes up an immaculately eccentric pop star façade.
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Featured image courtesy of Ralph_PH on Flickr. No changes were made to this image. Image license found here.
